Search result: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2021

Number	Title	Type	ECTS	Hours	Lecturers
Doctoral Department of Environmental Sciences More Information at: https://www.ethz.ch/en/doctorate.html
Environmental Sciences
Human-Environment Systems
701-1522-00L	Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Number of participants limited to 25.	W	3 credits	2G	J. Lienert
Abstract	This introduction to "Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis" (MCDA) combines prescriptive Decision Theory (MAVT, MAUT) with practical application and computer-based decision support systems. Aspects of descriptive Decision Theory (psychology) are introduced. Participants apply the theory to an environmental decision problem (group work).
Learning objective	The main objective is to learn the theory of "Multi-Attribute Value Theory" (MAVT) and "Multi-Attribute Utility Theory" (MAUT) and apply it step-by-step using an environmental decision problem. The participants learn how to structure complex decision problems and break them down into manageable parts. An important aim is to integrate the goals and preferences of different decision makers. The participants will practice how to elicit subjective (personal) preferences from decision makers with structured interviews. They will learn to include uncertainty into decision models and test assumptions with sensitivity analyses. Participants should have an understanding of people's limitations to decision-making, based on insights from descriptive Decision Theory. They will use formal computer-based tools to integrate "objective / scientific" data with "subjective / personal" preferences to find consensus solutions that are acceptable to different decision makers.
Content	GENERAL DESCRIPTION Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis is an umbrella term for a set of methods to structure, formalize, and analyze complex decision problems involving multiple objectives (aims, criteria), many different alternatives (options, choices), and different actors which may have conflicting preferences. Uncertainty (e.g., of the future or of environmental data) adds to the complexity of environmental decisions. MCDA helps to make decision problems more transparent and guides decision makers into making rational choices. Today, MCDA-methods are being applied in many complex decision situations. This class is designed for participants interested in transdisciplinary approaches that help to better understand real-world decision problems and that contribute to finding sustainable solutions. The course focuses on "Multi-Attribute Value Theory" (MAVT) and "Multi-Attribute Utility Theory" (MAUT). It also gives a short introduction to behavioral Decision Theory, the psychological field of decision-making. STRUCTURE The course consists of a combination of lectures, exercises in the class, exercises in small groups, and reading. Some exercises are computer assisted, applying MCDA software. The participants will choose an environmental case study to work on in small groups throughout the semester. They will summarize this work in three graded reports. Additional reading from the textbook Eisenführ et al. (2010) is required. GRADING The group work consists of three written reports to be delivered at fixed dates during the semester with following grading: Report 1: 20%, Report 2: 40%, Report 3: 40%.
Lecture notes	No script (see below)
Literature	The course is based on: Eisenführ, Franz; Weber, Martin; and Langer, Thomas (2010) Rational Decision Making. 1st edition, 447 p., Springer Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-02850-2. Additional reading material will be recommended during the course. Lecture slides will be made available for download.
Prerequisites / Notice	The course requires some understanding of (basic) mathematics. The "formal" parts are not too complicated and we will guide students through the mathematical applications and use of software. The course is limited to 25 participants (first come, first served).
102-0348-00L	Prospective Environmental Assessments Prerequisite for this lecture is basic knowledge of environmental assessment tools, such as material flow analysis, risk assessment and life cycle assessment. Students without previous knowledge in these areas need to read according textbooks prior to or at the beginning of the lecture.	W	3 credits	2G	A. Frömelt, N. Heeren, A. Spörri
Abstract	This lecture deals with prospective assessments of emerging technologies as well as with the assessment of long-term environmental impact caused by today's activities.
Learning objective	- Understanding prospective environmental assessments, including scenario analysis techniques, prospective emission models, dynamic MFA and LCA. - Ability to properly plan and conduct prospective environmental assessment studies, for example on emerging technologies or on technical processes that cause long-term environmental impacts. - Being aware of the uncertainties involved in prospective studies. - Getting to know measures to prevent long-term emissions or impact in case studies - Knowing the arguments in favor and against a temporally differentiated weighting of environmental impacts (discounting)
Content	- Scenario analysis - Dynamic material flow analysis - Temporal differentiation in LCA - Systems dynamics tools - Assessment of future and present environmental impact - Case studies
Lecture notes	Lecture slides and further documents will be made available on Moodle.
752-2123-00L	Risk Awareness, Risk Acceptance and Trust	W	3 credits	2V	M. Siegrist
Abstract	The course provides an overview about risk perception and acceptance of new technologies. In addition, the most important findings of the research related to decisions under uncertainty are presented.
Learning objective	Students know the most important theoretical approaches in the domains of risk perception and acceptance of new technologies. Furthermore, students understand the paradigms and the research results in the domain of decision making under uncertainty.
701-1653-00L	Policy and Economics of Ecosystem Services Number of participants limited to 50.	W	3 credits	2G	R. Garrett, A. Müller
Abstract	The course addresses ecosystem services, their value for society, the causes of their degradation, the stakeholders involved in their provision and use, and policies to reduce their degradation. One focus is on environmental economics approaches, highlighting their potential and limitations. During the spring of 2021 this course will focus on these issues through the case of the Brazilian Amazon.
Learning objective	Students can describe, analyse and explain • the basic concepts used to describe ecosystem services provision and management; • the basic social and natural science theory underlying ecosystem service degradation, • the role and characteristics of different key stakeholders involved in ecosystem services management, including their different value systems; • the different types of policy instruments and institutional arrangements that can be used for improved ecosystem services management and provision; and • empirical tools to assess the performance of various policy instruments and management systems for ecosystem services provision, and to investigate the factors of success or failure of different policy instruments
Content	Many of the world's ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably, which has considerable impacts on human well-being. Various aspects need to be taken into account to change this development, to work towards improved ecosystem services management and to design appropriate policy instruments and institutional contexts. First, the societal value of different ecosystem services and the trade-offs between them needs to be assessed. Second, an assessment of the causes of excessive ecosystem services degradation is needed. Potential causes include the presence of externalities and public goods, improperly designed property rights systems, divergence of private and social discount rates, and lack of information and knowledge. Third, we need to understand the drivers of human decision-making in relation to ecosystem services use. Fourth, choosing an appropriate policy instrument (or a combination thereof) requires an understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of different instruments, their preconditions for success and the political economy of their implementation. Finally, it is important to assess the actual impacts of different policy and management options. This requires a careful assessment of appropriate baselines, of the situation after a policy or management change, and of the various stakeholder groups involved, etc. To address all these issues, we will first work with some broad conceptual issues and theories relevant to this field and then deepen our understanding through reading, presentations, and assignments focused on the case of the Brazilian Amazon.
Lecture notes	Lecture notes, homework exercises and readings will be made available on Moodle.
Literature	There is no single textbook for this class. Instead, a number of texts will be distributed and used during the lecture, and some texts for further reading will be indicated.
Prerequisites / Notice	The course consists of a combination of lectures, homework assignments and discussions in small groups. The final grade will be based on the homework assignments, class participation, and a group project. A prerequisite for this course is a bachelor-level course in Environmental Economics (e.g. 363-0537-00L Resource and Environmental Economics) or Quantitative Policy Analysis and Management. In particular, students are expected to be familiar with basic environmental economics' concepts such as externality, public good, market failure, opportunity cost, social optimum and market equilibrium, the basic types of policy instruments, and methods of policy analysis. Students with no background in environmental economics or policy analysis will be expected to come up to the required standards on their own, prior to starting the class.

Page 1 of 1