Desenvolvimento Sustentável - Fundamentos Quantitativos

Objectives

Attain a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the fundamental quantitative concepts and tools underlying the analysis of sustainable development, based on thermodynamics and economics.

Syllabus

(1) Definition and core concepts of sustainable development, including the sustainable development goals. (2) Balance equations in ecology and economics (energy, mass and entropy balances; national accounting identities). (3) Core concepts and methods in equilibrium thermodynamics, consumer theory and producer theory (common approach as constrained optimization). (4) Markets, market failures, externalities, pollution economics. (5) Ethics. (6) Thermodynamics and information in growing systems: metabolism of organisms and theory of economic growth. (7) The four industrial revolutions and the concept of a sustainable fourth industrial revolution. (8) Quantitative sustainability assessment methods based on thermodynamics and economics (cost-benefit analysis, life cycle assessment, input-output analysis). (9) Planetary boundaries and sustainability indicators (economic and biophysical).

Prerequisites

No suggested prerequisites.

Cross Competence Component

Critical thinking, teamwork, translating quantitative results into narrative form (10%).

Laboratorial Component

No laboratory component.

Programming And Computing Component

No programming component.

Ethical Principles

All members of a group are responsible for the group’s work In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.