Program Overview

Program Overview

The program in question is the Master's course "Infrastructure for Net-zero Carbon Cities" offered by the China-UK Low Carbon College. This course is designed for graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in Low Carbon Environment and Low Carbon Energy.

Course Information

• Course Code: ENVR8165
• Credit Hours: 32
• Credits: 2
• Course Name: Infrastructure for Net-zero Carbon Cities
• Course Type: Professional elective course
• Language of Instruction: English
• School: China-UK Low Carbon College
• Prerequisite: None
• Teacher: Kangkang Tong
• Course Webpage: None

Course Description

This course combines theories and analytical skills related to sustainable resource management and environmental impact assessment, focusing on urban infrastructure systems. It aims to enhance students’ capability to conduct systemic analyses at the city level and beyond, training them to become interdisciplinary, innovative, and practical talents who can contribute to carbon-neutral development in China and the world.

Learning Outcomes

The core objective of this course is to deepen students’ understanding of social and environmental problems related to resource management and improve their capability to integrate theories and analytical skills when evaluating low-carbon actions at the city scale and beyond. After taking the class, students will:

1. Understand the basic concepts of urban sustainability and carbon neutrality
   et-zero carbon.
2. Master analytical skills in urban carbon accounting/foot printing and understand theories.
3. Implement systems thinking to evaluate carbon mitigation of low-carbon infrastructure transitions.
4. Understand the relationship between low-carbon urban infrastructure transitions and sustainable development.

Class Schedule & Requirements

The class schedule includes:

• Week 1: Introduction to sustainability and climate change
• Week 2: Introduction to urban and infrastructure systems
• Week 3-5: Environmental impact evaluation methods
• Week 6-7: Net-zero carbon cities, urban carbon accounting theories and approaches
• Week 8-15: Various topics on sustainable and low-carbon urban systems
• Week 16: Recap and student presentations
• Week 17: Final report submission

Grading

• Learning journals/homework: 25%
• Group project: 70% (data collection and analysis: 25%, whole report: 25%, presentation: 15%, evaluation from group members: 5%)
• Attendance: 5%

Textbooks & Other Materials

Each week, students will be provided with two to three key research articles/textbook chapters, as well as five to six articles for their interest. Recommended textbooks include:

• "Sustainable Energy without Hot Air" by David JC MacKay
• "Life Cycle Assessment: Quantitative Approaches for Decisions that Matters" by H. Scott Matthews, Chris T. Hendrickson, and Deanna H. Matthews
• "Handbook of Material Flow Analysis For Environmental, Resource, and Waste Engineers, Second Edition"