Lehrinhalte
The course ‘Land Use, Impacts and Responses‘ provides an overview of different land use sectors, their drivers and environmental impacts, and methods and instruments used for impact prediction and management. The sectors discussed in class can include, for example, the mining and raw material sector, forestry, agriculture, fossil and renewable energies, urbanisation and the water (e.g. supply, dams, reservoirs, etc.) and transport sectors.
In the module part ‘Land Uses and Impacts‘, these sectors, their drivers and pressures on environmental and social receptors are assessed, discussed and critically reflected on a global, national and regional/local scale: The driving forces of the land use sectors, such as relevant private and public actors and policies, will be discussed. Different receptors (wildlife, environmental resources, humans/population, cultural and material assets, etc.) and potential impacts from land uses (e.g. erosion, eutrophication, resettlement, immissions) will be identified. Students will use methods such as concept mapping to capture the complexities and interrelationships of impacts and gain experience in systems thinking. Students will further explore impact assessment instruments, e.g. SEA, EIA, HIA, LCA, MCA, different models, and the scope and relevance of environmental objectives and thresholds.
In the module part, ‘Management and mitigation concepts‘, the course addresses responses to and management approaches for environmental and social impacts of land use sectors on policy, plan, program and project levels. The potential of environmental planning and assessment, adaptation strategies, ESG (environmental - social - governance) approaches and RRR (reduce, reuse, recycle) or sufficiency measures, collaborative approaches and trading models contributing to sustainable land use and management will be covered in class. A field trip/technical visit will offer insights into a practical case, allowing students to apply their theoretical knowledge and discuss concepts conveyed in class in a real-world example.
