Climate Economics Segment
AGEC 677:
One half of a 3 Credit course in Spring 2015
Instructor:
Bruce A. McCarl,
AGLS 373 C
mccarl@tamu.edu,
Phone: 845-1706,
http://agecon2.tamu.edu/people/faculty/mccarl-bruce/641.htm
Purpose:
To introduce students to the economics of climate change and approaches
to assessment regarding effect, adaptation and mitigation individually and
jointly.
Conduct:
Each week we will have 3 hours lecture in room 110
Grading
Presentation
Exam
Homework
Class participation
50%
25%
15%
10%
Course Outline
General Lectures
Topic 1:
Topic 3:
Topic 4:
Topic 5:
Topic 6:
Topic 7:
Topic 8:
Topic 9:
Topic 10:
Topic 11:
Topic 12:
Topic 13:
Topic 14
Topic 15
Topic 16
What is happening?
What is Projected?
What is the economic issue?
Economic Vulnerability under Climate Change: With an Agricultural
Emphasis
Climate Change Mitigation
Climate Change Adaptation
Economic Analysis of Climate Change: Implications for US
Agriculture
Agriculture, Climate Change and Adaptation
Climate Change and Agriculture: Mitigation Policy
Will Bioenergy be Profitable: Markets, Lifecycle Carbon Footprint,
Commodity Prices and Leakage
Cost of Carbon: Discounts, Fungibility and Agricultural GHG Offset
projects
Co-Effects of CC and GHG Mitigation Policies
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
2
3
Class Procedure
We will have a mix of instructor and student given lectures.
Students in groups are responsible for lectures on topics negotiated with the instructor
(perhaps red ones below). A student lecture will
1.
Cover material related to the general topic of the lecture done just before.
2.
Present a topic not being limited to the material in a single paper.
3.
Not replicate the material in the previous lecture.
4.
Cover the following where possible
a.
Technical aspects and description of issue at hand
b.
Description of economic problem inherent in topic and analytic
framework to approach
c.
Description of quantitative approach or approaches relevant for
addressing issue.
d.
Review empirical and theoretical findings relevant to issue.
e.
Research needs
5.
Presentations to the class will be 50% of your class grade. (we will also
have homework (15%), an exam (25%) and instructor grade on your
participation (10%). The presentations will
a.
Be developed in consultation with the instructor based on lectures
in the class periods before
b.
Be outlined at least 2 weeks before your time to lecture.
c.
Have had an outline of your lecture turned at least 1 week prior to
your lecture (which will be graded and will be the subject of
feedback and suggestions (25% of the presentation grade)
6.
Be supported by the following materials
a.
A professionally done set of power point overheads which will be
turned in for a grade (25% of the presentation grade)
b.
An annotated bibliography on your topic with an assignment of no
more than 40 pages of reading to students in the class.
c.
Two questions – one for discussion at the end of your presentation
and one for student homework, the latter of which you collect and
grade (10% of the presentation grade)
d.
A short answer to the homework problem for distribution (10% of
the presentation grade)
7.
The presentation itself (30% of the presentation grade)
Possible Topics for Presentations by Students
ST 1
Assessment of Climate Change Impact in Other Sectors
ST 2
Adaptation to Climate Change in Other Sectors
ST 3
Carbon market design
ST 4
Adaptation incentive design
ST 5
Stabilization
ST 6
Fallacy of GWP
ST 7
Market performance
4
A few words from Texas A&M
ADA Policy Statement
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination
statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with
disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with
disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable
accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring
an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for
Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building. The phone
number is 845-1637.
Copyright Statement
Please note that all handouts and supplements used in this course are copyrighted.
This includes all materials generated for this class, including but not limited to
syllabi, exams, in-class materials, review sheets, and lecture outlines. Materials
may be downloaded or photocopied for personal use only, and may not be given
or sold to other individuals.
Scholastic Dishonesty Statement
As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one’s own ideas,
work, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition,
you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it
in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. Plagiarism
is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among
colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated. If you have
questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M
University Student Rules, under the section “Scholastic Dishonesty.”