Trade and the environment (Ivory)
Should the trade in Ivory be abolished?
Energy security and renewable energy
Energy security has become an important concern in 2022. Critically evaluate the
role of renewable energy as a solution to the energy crisis using a country of your
choice
Renewable resources and forest policy: Amazon fires
Recent fires in the Amazon have caused significant damage to forest ecosystems.
What general statements can be made about the proximate and fundamental causes
driving the over-exploitation of Brazil’s forests. Critically reflect on what policies
could be used to remedy the problem.
Renewable resources and open access
Evaluate the implications for the rate of exploitation of a renewable resource (in a
country of your choice) under circumstances of “open access”.
Environmental policy and pollution control: Developing countries
Evaluate the potential advantages of increasing the use of economic instruments for
pollution control in developing countries? Markets and institutions may work
differently in developing countries compared with developed nations. Discuss the
adaptation of market based instruments to suit the needs of a developing country
using a country case study of your choice.
Environmental policy and pollution control: Marine plastics
Assessment Submission Date
Student chooses preferred topic (by email) 09/09/22
Student submits abstract (hard copy at end of class) 13/09/22
Student given feedback on abstract by email 23/09/22
Pollution from plastic waste has become an increasing problem for marine
ecosytems. In a country of your choice, critically evaluate recent economic policies
to address the problem.
Energy transition: solar
Critically evaluate the role of solar energy in the low carbon energy transition. As
part of your answer assess the economic viability of solar energy using a country case
study of your choice.
Environmental policy and climate change: EU ETS
Critically evaluate the EU’s Emission Trading System (EU ETS) as a means of
controlling greenhouse gas emissions.
Environmental policy and risk and uncertainty
Should the safe minimum standards approach be applied to setting standards for
biodiversity conservation? If so, using a case study of your choice explain how this
should be done.
Renewable Energy – wind
Are onshore wind farms a viable economic alternative to fossil fuels in Ireland:
Discuss
Wildlife management and biodiversity conservation
Critically evaluate the impact of community based approaches to wildlife
management or biodiversity conservation (Campfire, Admade etc) using a country
case of your choice. What lessons can be drawn to make these programmes effective?
Ecosystem goods and Services
Payment for ecosystem services plays an important role in protecting the
environment: Discuss.
Environmental regime analysis
Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol as a means of regulating
substances that deplete the ozone layer.
Resource extraction and wetlands policy
Should Ireland’s bogs and wetlands be harvested for peat? Discuss
Water management and governance
Critically evaluate the use fees or water pricing policies in relation to water
consumption using a case study of your choice. As part of this, make some reference
to the political difficulties of introducing charges on the use of environmental goods
and services.
Covid 19 and the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Critically evaluate the threat posed by Covid 19 on the UN sustainable development
goals (SDGs) for developing countries. Using a case study of your choice, pay
particular attention to UN goals 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13 (climate
action)
