(Fall 2013) ECN 295 Living in the City: Environmental and Urban Issues in London (Brouhle) (addtl course number pending, 4 credits)
** Can count toward requirement 4 ("Institutional Context of Policy") of the Policy Studies concentration or requirement 5 ("Additional social science credit") of the Environmental Studies concentration.
The city of London is one of the largest, most dynamic cities in the world. Throughout its history, London's growth has been propelled by people seeking a destination for economic, cultural, and social interaction. This influx of people and activity, though, has frequently led to different environmental crises. Hundreds of thousands were killed, for example, in plague and cholera outbreaks linked to poor infrastructure and sanitation. Today, unfettered economic activity threatens an equal number of people through pollution and global climate change. How can cities, engines of economic growth and prosperity, result in such significant environmental degradation that threatens the lives of its inhabitants? In this course, we will use London as a case study to examine what drives the creation and growth of cities. We will explore why these forces generate such tremendous stresses on the natural and physical environment. Finally, we will ask whether cities hold the key or are an obstacle to "sustainable" living. The class will visit several sites around London that might concern public health, transportation, and the role of the private sector in urban management. Prerequisites: none.
