Environment and Sustainability

Recommended Prerequisites

Concepts acquired in the Introduction to Environmental Engineering.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes with explanation of the subjects, including the presentation and discussion of some examples. Research work done by students on some specific themes. Lectures by experts in different areas of Environmental Sustainability.

Learning Outcomes

The main objective is to provide students with solid knowledge of the fundamentals of environmental sustainability, giving them a global view of the themes that will be addressed in more detail in other undergraduate and master's curricular units. Students should be able to: understand the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development; identify the main environmental challenges of present and future society, and recognize the need to apply mitigation measures for the environmental impacts generated; know the main methodologies for the description, assessment and management of sustainability.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

• General concepts, objectives of Sustainable Development and the importance of engineering in the sustainable development of society.

• Identification of society's challenges - Presentation and discussion of the main challenges of current and future society:

            Depletion of Natural Resources

            Water shortage

            Waste generation

            Energy consumption

            Intensive urbanization

            Land use

            Climate change

• Methodologies for the description, assessment and management of sustainability

            Sustainable Development Indicators

            Green tax incentives

            Vulnerability of systems. Resilient and robust systems. Adaptability

            Environmental Impacts and Strategic Environmental Assessment

            Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

            Environmental audits; Environmental certification; Environmental labeling.

Head Lecturer(s)

Helena Maria dos Santos Gervásio

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Report of a seminar or field trip: 10.0%
Synthesis work: 40.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

[1] Colectânea de Textos sobre Ambiente e Sustentabilidade”, DEC-FCTUC, 2019 (a actualizar anualmente).

[2] Peter P. Rogers, Kazi F. Jalal, John A. Boyd, An Introduction to Sustainable Development, Earthscan, 2012

[3] Vesilind, P. Aarne., Introduction to environmental engineering / P. Aarne Vesilind, Susan M. Morgan, Belmont, CA : Thomson/Brook/Cole, 2004.

[4] Kiely, Gerard, Environmental engineering, Boston : McGraw-Hill, 1998.

[5] S. Peavy, Donald R. Rowe, Environmental Engineering, 2013 by Mc Graw Hill India.