Toward a Just Transition
Course Description
Summary
How do we transition to a low-carbon economy in a manner that doesn鈥檛 reinscribe the social and environmental injustices that have plagued our fossil-fueled economy? On one hand, the continued burning of fossil fuels is producing environmental crises that threaten to destabilize the very foundations of collective life, with poor and historically marginalized communities bearing the brunt of the suffering. On the other hand, renewable energy technologies are far from environmentally and socially benign. This course will first examine the history of energy transitions and then dive into the complexities of transitioning to renewables. We will explore the ecological, economic, and cultural costs and benefits of various technologies (solar and wind power, the electric grid, nuclear energy, electric vehicles, etc.) and we will also look into relevant policies that have been proposed and (in some cases) enacted in the U.S. and abroad.
Learning Outcomes
- understand the history of energy transitions
- engage in close reading of complicated texts
- gain practice analyzing public policies
Cross List
- Advancement of Public Action