Planes, Trains, Automobiles

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Whether it's how we commute to work each day or how goods move through global supply chains, transportation has a profound impact on the environment. This course has two main goals: first, to explore the complex ways transportation systems contribute to environmental issues such as climate change, noise pollution, and the degradation of air and water quality; and second, to understand why solving these problems is so challenging. We’ll survey the science, engineering, economics, and public policy behind sustainable transportation, while also taking a deep dive into case studies that highlight policy successes and offer lessons for the future. After taking this course, students will be able to: 1) Recognize the role and policy context of various transportation modes including aviation, shipping, rail, personal and commercial internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles, and public transit; 2) Understand the wide range of environmental domains affected by transportation, such as climate change, local air pollution, noise, persistent pollutants, water quality, and land degradation; 3) Link environmental issues to human health and well-being using frameworks like cost-benefit analysis, environmental justice, and the precautionary principle; 4) Explore solutions to transportation-related environmental challenges at the local, national, and international levels. While this course will explore some technical topics in economics, atmospheric chemistry, epidemiology, and quantitative policy analysis, there are no prerequisites beyond an interest and willingness to engage. For students who already have a background or experience in these areas, this course will be able to build upon and expand that knowledge through a cross-disciplinary lens.