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Elective Courses
Date: 31 Mar 2025

15 Credits

Additional coursework may be required as part of the program preparation.
List of potential elective courses to be offered in Fall 2025/26:

IPEN 6100E

Life Cycle Assessment: From Theory to Application

3 Credit(s)

Description

Life cycle assessment (LCA) has emerged as a powerful methodology widely adopted in research, industry, and national policy to assess the environmental impacts of products and processes. However, specialized knowledge and skills are required to understand and effectively implement LCA; hence, this course seeks to provide that. This course will delve into the fundamental concepts of LCA and highlight the challenges of implementing LCA, including goal and scope definition, data availability and quality, methodological complexity, and results interpretation and uncertainty analysis. A special topic that includes integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and other systems analytical tools to complement the LCA limitations will be discussed. The students will also learn about the application of LCA in various industries, including energy, solid waste, and green buildings. Practical case studies will be discussed to provide the students with knowledge and skills to apply to LCA in various industries.

CNGF 5400

Carbon Pricing, Trading, and Climate Finance Innovations

3 Credit(s)

Description

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the role of market mechanisms and financial instruments in addressing climate change and promoting the transition to a low-carbon economy. The course covers the fundamental concepts, theories, and practices related to carbon markets, carbon pricing, and climate finance. Students will learn about the design, implementation, and operation of various carbon market mechanisms, such as cap-and-trade systems, carbon taxes, and voluntary carbon markets. The course also examines innovative climate finance instruments, including green bonds, climate funds, and climate risk insurance, and their potential to mobilize capital for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. Through case studies, simulations, and hands-on projects, students will gain practical skills in analyzing, designing, and evaluating carbon market and climate finance interventions.

CNGF 5500

Carbon Accounting and Management

3 credit(s)

Description

This course provides a foundation for carbon accounting and management, focusing on the measurement, reporting, and reduction of carbon emissions in business and organizations. Students will explore various tools and methodologies for carbon accounting, as well as strategies for integrating carbon management into business operations.

CNGF 5700

ESG Integration and SDG Investing

3 credit(s)

Description

The course will introduce students to the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration landscape and the different investment approaches that seek to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students will learn to assess ESG risks and opportunities, integrate sustainable criteria into investment analysis, and develop portfolios that contribute to social and environmental impact.

CNGF 5840

Green Finance and ESG Investment Strategies

3 credit(s)

Description

This course is designed for students who have interests to incorporate a financial and strategic understanding for their future positions related to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). The course will guide students through the drivers and fundamentals of sustainability including key ESG concepts such as climate change and net zero, and equality and inclusion. Students will explore the ISSB, TCFD and other relevant standards and regulations; and learn about risk management and finance, and governance. Students will also learn why and how to incorporate ESG and sustainability into company’s strategic and financial planning and how to manage and communicate with company’s stakeholders.

CNGF 5850

Fintech Innovations for Sustainable Finance

3 credit(s)

Description

This course will introduce and discuss various innovations in financial technology (fintech) that promote the effective channeling of capital to investment projects that contribute to a more sustainable future. Examples of fintech innovations include impact investing platforms, blockchain technology, digital payment, data analytics on environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration, and robo-advisors for sustainable investing.

CNGF 5860

Carbon Finance Modeling

3 credit(s)

Description

This course provides a holistic overview of carbon finance modeling and equips participants with quantitative skills and analytical tools that are necessary for understanding, analyzing, and modeling the financial implications of carbon-related activities, climate policies, and sustainable investment opportunities.

IPEN 5270

Corporate ESG Practice and Research

3 credit(s)

Description

This course focuses on the development of the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) movement and its relationship with other long-standing concepts such as corporate social responsibility and sustainability. It aims to review the content, antecedences, and consequences of corporate ESG practices and stimulate new research ideas in related areas.

CNCC 5200

Climate Change: Science and Governance

3 credit(s)

Description

This course prepares students to acquire the basic knowledge of climate change, which sits on the intersection of science and governance. It will review some of the scientific facts of climate change and contrast the scientific research findings with climate governance status. Case study on transforming to a low carbon society will be conducted in later part of the course. Aspects to consider include both scientific support and governance complexity of the low carbon city idea. Students are expected to build their own analysis of the climate change issue at the end of the course.

CNCC 5300

Policy and Technology for Carbon Neutrality

3 credit(s)

Description

All industries in China are actively taking effective actions to develop new and clean technologies in order to achieve the carbon peak and neutrality goal of shouldering the common destiny of human beings. This course examines the scientific, technological, and policy approaches that China and the rest of the world can take to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

CNCC 5400

Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development

3 credit(s)

Description

This is a graduate-level interdisciplinary course focusing on the economics of environmental and sustainable development problems and the solutions to those problems. Students will learn to use tools from applied economics and relevant disciplines to better understand and evaluate a series of current policy questions, such as air and water pollution, climate change, environmental amenities, agricultural production, ecosystem services, and biodiversity.

CNCC 5500

Carbon Capture and Removal Technologies

3 credit(s)

Description

All industries in China are actively taking effective actions to develop new and clean technologies in order to achieve the carbon peak and neutrality goal of shouldering the common destiny of human beings. This course examines the scientific, technological, and policy approaches that China and the rest of the world can take to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

CNCC 5600

Energy Economics and Policy

3 credit(s)

Description

This course provides an in-depth examination of the economics and policy issues surrounding energy. Topics include energy demand and supply, market structures, renewable energy technologies, fossil fuels, energy security, climate change, transportation, innovation, and policy analysis. Students will also participate in a research project seminar to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios.

CNCC 5700

Energy Systems and Policy

3 credit(s)

Description

This course explores the challenges associated with climate change, energy and environmental policies from multiple perspectives, disciplines and scales. Students will examine the evolving science and policy of climate change, observe the conflicts between energy companies and interest groups in China, discuss technology innovations and its impact on reducing greenhouse gases emission.

CNCC 5800

Climate Innovation: Policy and Development

3 credit(s)

Description

Climate innovation, driven by technological innovation and system change, has the potential to be a disruptive force in combating global challenges. This course will cover policy issues of cleantech development and introduce students to both incentives and challenges of climate investment. Through lectures, discussions, and case studies, students will explore how policy and financial instruments can influence the development of clean technologies.

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