Environmental Policy Instruments and Their Applications - JSM756

• Title: Environmental Policy Instruments and Their Applications
• Czech title: Nástroje environmentální politiky a jejich aplikace
• Form of teaching: seminar
• Guaranteed by: Department of Sociology (23-KS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2026
• Duration in semesters: 1
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:0/2, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unknown / 24 (24)
• Maximum number of enrolled students: 24
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Repeated enrollment: 2 / 2 / 1 / 2
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: Mgr. et Mgr. Eva Horváthová, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. et Mgr. Eva Horváthová, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

This course introduces an overview of various environmental policy instruments. It aims to give students a comprehensive understanding of the economic concepts underpinning environmental policymaking and practical insights into implementing these policies. It covers perspectives from both policymakers and those affected by regulations. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with knowledge about how society can address environmental challenges.

Last update: Horváthová Eva, Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (14.09.2025)

Aim of the course

Learning outcomes and competences

By successfully passing the course, students will be able to:

-          describe and discuss different environmental policy instruments and issues

-          understand how environmental policies are evaluated

-          discuss and understand the advantages and disadvantages of various environmental policies

-          understand the application of environmental policies at national and international levels

 

Last update: Horváthová Eva, Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (14.09.2025)

Course completion requirements

Assessment requirements

Students can earn a maximum of 100 points through the following activities:

• Continuous Preparation: 20 points (10 weeks x 2 points). Students are required to read compulsory weekly readings and prepare answers to set questions. Homework should be submitted in written form to Moodle by Monday, 6 a.m., before the lecture. Late submission: 0 points.
• Lesson Activity: 22 points (11 weeks x 2 points). A minimum of 10 points is required to pass the course. In assessing participation, the following criteria will be taken into consideration: discussion of the required readings, demonstration of understanding of the topic, raising relevant questions, and listening and responding to others constructively.
• Class Presentation (15 -20 min): 15 points for a paper presented in class. Presentation should be submitted in written form to Moodle by Monday, 6 a.m., before the lecture.
• Final Test: 43 points. The test will consist of several open and multiple–choice questions, with a minimum of 15 points required to pass.

Individual point evaluations will be added up at the end of the semester. The final classification will be based on the following rating scale:

o   0-50 % = F (insufficient/failed)

o   51-60 % = E (sufficient)

o   61-70 % = D (satisfactory)

o   71-80 % = C (good)

o   81-90 % = B (very good)

o   91 % a more = A (excellent).

 

Last update: Horváthová Eva, Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (27.01.2026)

Literature

EPA. (2014). Guidelines for Preparing Economic Analyses (updated May 2014). US Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0044-0034

Field, Barry C., Field, Martha K. (2016) Environmental economics: an introduction. Seventh Edition. McGraw-Hill Education

Harrington, Winston; Morgenstern, Richard D.; Sterner, Thomas: Choosing Environmental Policy Comparing Instruments and Outcomes in the United States and Europe, Washington, DC : Routledge. 2004 – available online in the library

Sterner Thomas. (2003). Policy Instruments for Environmental and Natural Resource Management. Routledge. – available online in the library

Tietenberg, Thomas H.; Lewis, Lynne. (2018) Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. Eleventh edition. London: Routledge, 2018. ISBN 1-351-80337-9- – available online in the library

 

Last update: Horváthová Eva, Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (26.08.2024)

Syllabus

Basic information

Course Code	JSM756
Semester	Summer, 2025/26
Guarantor	Mgr. et Mgr. Eva Horváthová, Ph.D.
Teacher	Mgr. et Mgr. Eva Horváthová, Ph.D.
Hours per week, examination	0/2, Exam
Credits	6
Prerequisites	None
Place	Jinonice, room PC B230
Time	Tuesday, 9:30  - 10:50
Moodle	https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/section.php?id=272213
Contact	[e-mail]

 

Course description

This course introduces an overview of various environmental policy instruments. It aims to give students a comprehensive understanding of the economic concepts underpinning environmental policymaking and practical insights into implementing these policies. It covers perspectives from both policymakers and those affected by regulations. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with knowledge about how society can address environmental challenges.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

By successfully passing the course, students will be able to:

-          describe and discuss different environmental policy instruments and issues

-          understand how environmental policies are evaluated

-          discuss and understand the advantages and disadvantages of various environmental policies

-          understand the application of environmental policies at national and international levels

 

Assessment requirements

Students can earn a maximum of 100 points through the following activities:

• Continuous Preparation: 20 points (10 weeks x 2 points). Students are required to read compulsory weekly readings and prepare answers to set questions. Homework should be submitted in written form to Moodle by Monday, 6 a.m., before the lecture. Late submission: 0 points.
• Lesson Activity: 22 points (11 weeks x 2 points). A minimum of 10 points is required to pass the course. In assessing participation, the following criteria will be taken into consideration: discussion of the required readings, demonstration of understanding of the topic, raising relevant questions, and listening and responding to others constructively.
• Class Presentation (15 -20 min): 15 points for a paper presented in class. Presentation should be submitted in written form to Moodle by Monday, 6 a.m., before the lecture.
• Final Test: 43 points. The test will consist of several open and multiple–choice questions, with a minimum of 15 points required to pass.

Individual point evaluations will be added up at the end of the semester. The final classification will be based on the following rating scale:

o   0-50 % = F (insufficient/failed)

o   51-60 % = E (sufficient)

o   61-70 % = D (satisfactory)

o   71-80 % = C (good)

o   81-90 % = B (very good)

o   91 % a more = A (excellent).

 

Course content

1.   Types of environmental policy instruments and goals of environmental policy

2.   Criteria for Evaluating Environmental Policies

3.   Command-and-Control Strategies

4.   Emission Charges / Tax

5.   Market Trading Systems - Cap-and-trade programs

6.   Abatement Subsidies, Deposit–Refund Systems, and Offset Policies

7.   Market-based vs. Command-and-Control instruments

8.   Voluntary Actions and Corporate Environmental Policy

9.   Unintended Consequences of Policy Instruments on the Environment and Free Market Environmentalism

10. International Environmental Policy

11. Climate Change Policy

 

Literature

EPA. (2014). Guidelines for Preparing Economic Analyses (updated May 2014). US Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0044-0034

Field, Barry C., Field, Martha K. (2016). Environmental economics: an introduction. Seventh Edition. McGraw-Hill Education

Harrington, Winston; Morgenstern, Richard D.; Sterner, Thomas: Choosing Environmental Policy Comparing Instruments and Outcomes in the United States and Europe, Washington, DC : Routledge. 2004 – available online in the library

Sterner Thomas. (2003). Policy Instruments for Environmental and Natural Resource Management. Routledge. – available online in the library

Tietenberg, Thomas H.; Lewis, Lynne. (2018) Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. Eleventh edition. London: Routledge, 2018. ISBN 1-351-80337-9- – available online in the library

 

Course schedule winter semester 2025/26

Week	Date	Topic
1.	17/2/26	Introduction, types of env. policy instruments, goals of env policy
2.	24/2/26	Criteria for Evaluating Environmental Policies
3.	3/3/26	Command-and-Control Strategies
4.	10/3/26	Emission Charges / Tax
5.	17/3/26	Market Trading Systems - Cap-and-trade programs
6.	24/3/26	Abatement Subsidies, Deposit–Refund Systems, and Offset Policies
7.	31/3/26	Market-based vs. Command-and-Control instruments
8.	7/4/26	Voluntary Actions and Corporate Environmental Policy
9.	14/4/26	Unintended Consequences of Policy Instruments on the Environment and Free Market Environmentalism
10.	21/4/26	International Environmental Policy
11.	28/4/26	Climate Change Policy
12.	5/5/26	Summary, Review, Course Reflection
13.	12/5/26	Pre-Term

 

The course was developed with the support of the project "Environmental Module of the Master's Program in Public and Social Policy at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University," co-financed by the European Union from the Next Generation EU fund.

Kurz vznikl za podpory projektu "Environmentální modul magisterského studijního programu Veřejná a sociální politika při FSV UK" spolufinancovaného Evropskou unií v rámci Národního plánu obnovy.

 

Last update: Horváthová Eva, Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (05.02.2026)