Environmental Economics

The main goal of this course is to give students the basic knowledge of environmental economics and in particular to analyse the differences between the neoclassical and ecological approaches applied in this field.
The second goal is to examine the used tools for measuring sustainability in connection with the environmental regulation in the EU.

The students develop critical thinking skills on the evolution of environmental regulations and the problems of their implementation connected with the economic efficiency in the EU.

Basic knowledge of environmental sciences, acquired in the 1st and/or 2nd year of 1st level studies.

• Pollution Global Problems
• Global Warming
• Ethics and Economics
• Social Welfare Function
• Public Goods Problem
• The efficiency standard
• The safety standards
• The value of Human Life: different approaches among developed and developing countries
• Health problems and risk assessment
• Economic Theory and Sustainable Development
• Sustainability: Neoclassical versus Ecological view
• Measuring Sustainability (Indicators)
• Benefits and Costs of Environmental Protection
• Engineering Costs, Contingent Valuation, WTP, WTA
• Benefit & Cost analysis: study cases
• Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Evaluation in the EU IPPC-IED Directive and BAT implementation in the EU
• Environmental taxes and resource rents
• The most comprehensive environmental project in Slovenia: "Let's clean Slovenia in one day"
• Fundamentals of business plans and financial part of project proposals.

Knowledge and understanding:

Students learn the principles of environmental economics and economics in general. Besides that they get knowledge from efficiency, safety, sustainability and their use in practice.
Students gain knowledge in the costs & benefits evaluation of the implementation of environmental projects. Several case studies are analysed in the course.

The students obtain basic know-how necessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment, Risk assessment study and cost benefit analysis

• E. S. Goodstein, S. Polasky (2014), Economics and the Environment, Wiley, 7th Ed, pp. 529. Catalogue E-version
• Antwerp J.V. , Heun M.K. (2022), A Framework for Sustainability Thinking, Springer Nature Switzerland AG, pp 249 Catalogue
• Smolej V. (2010): Ekonomika podjetja in podjetništvo, El. knjiga. - Ljubljana : Zavod IRC,: E-version
• Vendramin, M.( 2009): Eksterni stroški sežiganja in odlaganja odpadkov, Urad RS za makroekonomske analize in razvoj. - (Zbirka Delovni zvezki UMAR ; letn. 18, št. 3): E-version

Intermediate test with questions with multiple responses in order to examine the students’ preparation and seminar work (40 %) Written examination at the end of the course (60 %)

Assist. prof. Jonas Sonnenchein:
Assistant professor in the field of Economics and Business sciences

Ekonomska analiza energetskega prehoda – veliko več kot osredotočenje na finance
Sonnenschein, J., 2024, Znanstveno srečanje SAZU “Energetska prihodnost Slovenije” (zbornik), str. 29 – 30
https://www.sazu.si/uploads/files/660e6a127ed867571832f1ea/Energetika_povzetki_3.pdf

Ukrep v središču − Zelena javnofinančna reforma
Sonnenschein, J., Gnezda, A. & Tavčar, N., 2020, Podnebno ogledalo 2020, Institut Jožef Stefan, https://www.podnebnapot2050.si/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Podnebno_Ogledalo_2020_Zvezek8_US_Reforma_Koncno.pdf

Behavioural economics for energy and climate change policies and the transition to a sustainable energy use — A Scandinavian perspective
Mundaca, L., Samahita, M., Sonnenschein, J. & Seidl, R., 2019 Nov 25, Energy and Behaviour: Towards a Low Carbon Future. Lopes, M., Henggeler Antunes, C. & Janda, K. (eds.). 1st ed. Academic Press, p. 45-87, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128185674000041

Designing air ticket taxes for climate change mitigation: insights from a Swedish valuation study
Sonnenschein, J. & Smedby, N., 2019, In: Climate Policy. 19, 5, p. 651-663
https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2018.1547678

Green growth and rapid decarbonisation? Assessing policy objectives, instrument choice and behavioural mechanisms (doctoral dissertation)
Sonnenschein, J., 2019, Lund: International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, Lund University.
https://portal.research.lu.se/en/publications/green-growth-and-rapid-decarbonisation-assessing-policy-objective

Minimum energy performance standards for the 1.5 °C target: an effective complement to carbon pricing
Sonnenschein, J., Van Buskirk, R., Richter, J. L. & Dalhammar, C., 2019, In: Energy Efficiency. 12, 2, p. 387-402
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12053-018-9669-x

Zelena proračunska reforma za Slovenijo
Sonnenschein, J., 2013, poročilo Umanotere, https://planbzaslovenijo.si/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/umanotera-zelena-proracunska-reforma-2013.pdf