• Class Number 1557
  • Term Code 3420
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Topic On campus
  • Mode of Delivery In Person
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Dr Sonia Akter
  • LECTURER
    • Dr Sonia Akter
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 19/02/2024
  • Class End Date 29/03/2024
  • Census Date 01/03/2024
  • Last Date to Enrol 01/03/2024
SELT Survey Results

The goals of this course are to understand how environmental markets are designed and the determinants of their effectiveness in achieving favourable environmental outcomes. The course will equip students with the necessary knowledge to identify and design effective market mechanisms to solve environmental externalities in the context of both developing and developed countries. It will also enable them to assess the performance of these markets and their impacts on environment, socio-economic welfare, local livelihoods and environmental justice. The course focuses on the applied aspects of a wide range of environmental markets by drawing on case studies, lessons learned and best practices of programs and schemes from around the world.  This course is designed for students who have an interest in applying economic instruments for environmental conservation. The material covered in the course will prepare students for applied/practical work in government, not-for-profit organizations and international agencies that have a mandate for environmental conservation.

 

The course will cover a range of market mechanisms including the payment for ecosystem services (PES), water markets, markets for biodiversity offsets, cap and trade, weather/climate risk & insurance and carbon farming. Additionally, the course will discuss some commonly used environmental valuation methods and their caveats, the practical application and use of these methods for policy making, resource allocation and designing market mechanisms.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Critically engage with the theoretical underpinning of conditions required to set-up environmental markets.
  2. Critically understand of the key design principles of a range of environmental markets.
  3. Evaluate the role of environmental markets in environmental management and development.
  4. Critically apply this theoretical understanding to intervention design.
  5. Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of various markets.

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

  • written comments
  • verbal comments
  • feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

CRAWFORD ACADEMIC SKILLS

The Crawford School of Public Policy has its own Academic Skills team dedicated to helping students to understand the academic expectations of studying at Crawford and succeed in their chosen program of study. Through individual appointments, course-embedded workshops and online resources, Crawford Academic Skills provides tailored advice to students keen to develop their academic reading, thinking, planning, writing, and presentation skills.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Externality and market failure, government interventions, general principles of environmental markets and their objectives
2 Payment for ecosystem services
3 Cap and trade (ETS and other pollution control instruments)
4 (a) Offset markets (Carbon offset, biodiversity offset); (b) Carbon firming (indigenous land management)
5 (a) Green markets and products; (b) Weather risk and insurance (index insurance, flood insurance, agricultural insurance market)
6 Environmental valuation

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Due Date Return of assessment Learning Outcomes
Quiz 30 % * * 1
Market Analysis: A commentary 30 % 19/03/2024 01/04/2024 2, 3
A proposal for an environmental market 40 % 02/04/2024 30/04/2024 4, 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Value: 30 %
Learning Outcomes: 1

Quiz

There will be three open-book quizzes on Week 2, 3 and 4. Each quiz will contain 10 multiple choice questions and carry a weight of 10%. The quizzes will take place in the class via Wattle. Please bring your laptop, tablet device or mobile phone for participating in the quizzes.

Assessment Task 2

Value: 30 %
Due Date: 19/03/2024
Return of Assessment: 01/04/2024
Learning Outcomes: 2, 3

Market Analysis: A commentary

A blog or news-article style analysis of a contemporary environmental market to be submitted in week 5.

This assessment item is worth 30% of the course grade.

The analysis will draw on themes explored in weeks 1-4 of the course. It will be up to students to determine which environmental market to select for this task. The purpose of this analysis is to develop a nuanced understanding of the architecture and performance of a contemporary environmental market.

The market analysis should not exceed 1,000 words (+/- 10%), excluding references.

Assessment Task 3

Value: 40 %
Due Date: 02/04/2024
Return of Assessment: 30/04/2024
Learning Outcomes: 4, 5

A proposal for an environmental market

The objective of the research assignment is to prepare a proposal for setting up an environmental market to address an environmental externality. The proposal should define or highlight all contours of design and implementation associated with the effective functioning of this proposed market. Students are free to choose a case involving any country, region, village and ecosystem service or environmental externality.

This assessment item is worth 40% of the course grade.

The proposal for an environmental market will draw on theories, readings and examples explored in all weeks of the course. The purpose of this assignment is to identify challenges and provide potential solutions. Students may devise a strategy from the perspective of any policy actor (government or non-government, e.g. industry, advocacy group). Critical to this assessment item is the pairing of practical and theoretical elements: the strategy should recommend specific and practical safeguard mechanisms to prevent failure of the proposed market, while the justification should be thoroughly and persuasively grounded in the literature and/or practice.

The proposal should not exceed 3,000 words (+/- 10%), excluding references.

Submissions should be well presented, structured, and written, and include referencing consistently adhering to the Crawford style.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.


The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.


The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

Dr Sonia Akter
u4343277@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Socio-economic vulnerability and resilience to natural hazards; Agricultural and food policy; Gender equity and women’s empowerment; Climate change adaptation

Dr Sonia Akter

Thursday 16:00 17:00
By Appointment
Dr Sonia Akter
sonia.akter@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Dr Sonia Akter

Thursday 16:00 17:00
By Appointment

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions