Cities and Environmental Sustainability

Code:

MRCOT043

Acronym:

CSA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Geography

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible:	Masters in Hazards, Cities and Spatial Planning

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MRCOT	15	MRCOT - Study Plan	1	-	6	41	162
MSIGOT	4	MSIGOT - Study Plan	1	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The syllabus is structured in two parts. The first part covers the basic concepts and methods in the field of urban environmental sustainability. Therefore, with the three first syllabus sections (1 and 2) it is expected that students will be able to know and apply terminology, principles and theories in the field urban sustainability and distinguish the main methods and related scales of analysis. The second part of the syllabus is devoted to the identification of environmental problems and related urban sustainability strategies in different thematic dimensions (3 and 4) and it is expected that students; will get involved in the identification and resolution of urban environmental issues, namely by selecting, interpreting and managing suitable geographical information to both assessment and promotion of urban sustainability; will be able to critically evaluate the current main policy paradigms for urban environmental sustainability.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is expected that at the end of this course students are able to: (1) know and apply terminology, principles and theories in the field urban sustainability; (2) understand the urban environmental issues in the interdependence between different scales of analysis and between the natural and social environments; (3) Demonstrate sensitivity to the issues of environmental sustainability in cities; (4) select, manage and interpret geographic information suitable to both assessment and promotion of urban sustainability.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

N/A

Program

1. City and environment

2. City and sustainability

3.  Environmental challenges of cities: from problems to solutions

4. Policies for urban environmental sustainability: paradigms, synergies and conflicts

Mandatory literature

Aldo Alvarez-Risco, Marc A. Rosen, Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales, Dora Marinova; Building Sustainable Cities, Springer, 2021. ISBN: 978-3-030-45535-4
Benton-Short, L., Short, J.; Cities and Nature, Routledge, 2007
Douglas, I; Goode, D.; Houck, M. and Wang, R.; The Routledge Handbook of Urban Ecology, Routledge, 2011. ISBN: 0-203-83926-9
Jenks, M., Jones, C. (Ed.); Dimensions of the Sustainable City, Springer, 2010
Wheeler, S.; Beatley, T.; The sustainable Urban Development Reader, Routledge, 2004
Williams, D. E.; Sustainable design: ecology, architecture, and planning, John Wiley & Sons, 2007

Complementary Bibliography

Douglas, I.; The urban Environment, Edward Arnold, 1983
Hough, M. ; Naturaleza e ciudad: planificación urbana y processos ecológicos, Gustavo Gili, 1998

Comments from the literature

Specific bibliography will be indicated for each syllabus section.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The classes are performed in theoretical-practical classes, which allows, on one hand, the usage of expository and participative methodologies to present the fundamental concepts and methods. On the other hand this UC has a strong component of individual or group practical assignments, in which students develop their skills in assessing and promoting urban sustainability and also in selecting, managing and interpreting adequate geographical information.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	15,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Teste	35,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Trabalho de campo	20,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	4,00
Estudo autónomo	57,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance in 75% of classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Distributed evaluation without final exam:project public presentation*0,15 + written works*0,5 + test*0,35

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with special statuses should contact the teacher at the beginning of the semester to establish a work plan.

Classification improvement

Under the rules set by the Pedagogic Council of the FLUP.