Specialization 3: Climate Crisis, Environmental Management, and Governance

Climate crisis impacts, governance and environmental management for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Click on the title to see the description of each course.

Compulsory Common Courses (1st Semester)

Y01: Introduction to Hazard, Crisis and Disaster Theory (ECTS: 6)

The problem of risks and crises at global, national, regional and local levels. Global fora for disaster risk reduction. Priorities of the Sendai 2015-2030 framework. Basic concepts of hazards and crises. The fundamental equation of hazard, vulnerability and risk. EDCM classification of risks and crises. Natural - Geodynamic hazards. Natural – Hydrometeorological hazards. Natural – Biological hazards. Manmade – Technologic hazards. Impacts by hazard and crisis type. New parameters and challenges in hazard and crisis management.

Υ02: Geodymanic Hazards (ECTS: 6)

Υ03: Climate, Climate Crisis, and Hydrometeorologic Hazards (ECTS: 6)

Υ04: Manmade and Biological Hazards (ECTS: 6)

Υ05: Disaster Management (ECTS: 6)

Compulsory Specialization Courses (2nd Semester)

YE05: Mitigation of Climate Change (ECTS: 6)

Basic Principles – National and International Framework for Climate Change Mitigation. Description of methodologies and model for the assessment of greenhouse gases emissions and of the mitigation potential of greenhouse gases on the basis of selected scenaria. Techniques and technologies for the mitigation of greenhouse gases (Emission Trading System, Joint Implementation, Clean Development Mechanism, Renewables, storage and transmission of energy, collection and storage of carbon dioxide, green hydrogen, etc.). Methodology for the development of emission inventories according to IPCC. Climate footprint – Calculation (Greenhouse Gas Protocols for Enterprises, society, various production sectors). Application for the sectors: industry, energy, transport, agriculture, urban environment. Analysis of selected Mitigation Plans (national/regional/local or sectoral level).

YE06: Adaptation to Climate Change (ECTS: 6)

Elective Specialization Courses (2nd Semester)

Ε13: Environmental Institutional Framework (ECTS: 6)

Environment in the European Union Treaty. The concept of sustainable development and basic principles of environmental law. Recent developments: Analysis of the European Green Deal and the 'Fit for 55' package of legislative measures which aims to ensure that EU policies are consistent with the climate targets set by the Paris Agreement, will reduce emissions by 55% by 20230 to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. The European climate legislation. Subtopics: legislation for the protection of nature, energy, the right to environmental information, waste management, water management, noise protection, atmosphere protection, environment and property, environmental impact studies, Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment and impact assessment of projects and activities, water management and protection. National Law. Protection of the Environment in the Constitution and public law. Harmonization of national law with the requirements of EU Law by thematic category (nature, water, waste, environmental impact studies). Right to the environment, access to environmental information and recourse to justice for environmental issues. Presentation of decisions of the Council of State and the Court of the European Union Private Law and environmental protection. Living space - shared things. Infringement of personality Operators' liability for damage caused to the environment. Claim for compensation and moral damage. Presentation of civil court decisions. Solving practical issues.

Ε14: Environmental Economics (ECTS: 6)

Ε15: Ecology and Biodiversity Management (ECTS: 6)

Ε10: Earth systems and natural resources (ECTS: 6)

Ε11: Manmade environment (ECTS: 6)

Ε12: Environmental management (ECTS: 6)

Elective Common Courses (2nd Semester)

Ε16: Environmental Ethics (ECTS: 6)

Elements of Moral Philosophy/ Moral Theories: What is Ethics? Cultural relativism and subjectivism, The idea of the social contract, The utilitarian approach, Kant's ethics, Aretaic ethics. Basic topics of environmental ethics: Definitions, concepts, basic questions, Anthropocentrism and Ecocentrism, Animal liberation and rights, The deep ecology approach, Social ecology, ecofeminism. Religion, politics and the environment: Western Christianity and the ecological crisis, Orthodoxy and the environment, Capitalism and the environmental crisis, Nature and the environment in Marxist thought. Analysis of practical problems: Reference to cases of ethical conflicts/dilemmas during the execution of technical projects, the implementation of environmental policies, the treatment of diseases, etc. Specific topic/topics (which include questions and conflicts) depending on the current situation and the interests of the students, debate on the arising ethical and political issues.

Ε17: Mass Media and Social Media in Disasters and Crises (ECTS: 6)

Ε18: State of the Art Technologies in Research and Management (ECTS: 6)

E19: State of the Art in Governance and Institutions (ECTS: 6)

Ε20: Economy, Sustainability and Circular Economy (ECTS: 6)

Ε21: Climatic Variability - Climate Change (Anthropocene Epoch) (ECTS: 6)

3rd Semester

ΜΔΕ: MSc Thesis (ECTS: 30)

Master's thesis on a topic chosen from a list of suggested topics, or proposed for approval by the individual student.