Environmental Input-Output Analysis

Environmental Input-Output Analysis

In this course, students systematically study Environmental Input-Output Analysis (EIOA). EIOA is a standard methodology for assessing environmental footprints (e.g. carbon footprints) and analysing the production and consumption structures within one or across economies. Economic and environmental analyses are inherently integrated for EIOA.

The course is divided into two parts. The first part introduces the fundamental concepts and models used in EIOA, such as the monetary input-output tables, environmental footprint calculations for nations, and scenario modelling. The second part of the course introduces several advanced EIOA techniques and illustrates how they have been used for analysing sustainability issues, such as the socio-economic and environmental effects of international trade and circular economy strategies, the main immediate drivers of changing environmental pressures imposed by human activities (e.g. CO2 emissions) and the use of physical input-output tables for agricultural related studies.

The course follows a hands-on approach. Each lecture is accompanied by individual exercises, in which students can practice the theory while applying and developing their python programming skills. As a 10-EC course, the weekly study load is about 10 hours.

This course is part of the joint degree MSc Industrial Ecology, offered by Leiden University and Delft University of Technology. More information about the course is published in the online study guide of Leiden University