2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Entrepreneurship courses
Our Sustainable Energy Future: Role of Business and Technology
- Academic unit or major
- Entrepreneurship courses
- Instructor(s)
- Eri Ota / Rie Murakami / Frank Hiroshi Ling
- Class Format
- Lecture/Exercise (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Intensive
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ENT.G454(LAW.X427)
- Number of credits
- 0.50.50
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
※ Courses with parentheses in the course number have different subject codes depending on the student's year of admission.
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Fossil fuels from coal, oil, and gas make up over 85% of the world’s energy supply. However, this is not sustainable as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and pollutants associated with the use of these fuels cause our planet to become hotter and hurt our well-beings. While the transition to a sustainable, clean energy is already underway, to move away fully from fossil fuels, trillions of dollars in investments is needed to drive the development of new innovations and their deployment around the world. Both public and business efforts will be needed to enable the technologies needed to meet these global goals. The transition to a sustainable energy future is an opportunity to meet multiple goals in economic growth, human development, jobs, energy security, clean air and water, and environmental protection. In this course, the students will acquire an understanding of energy technologies, policies, and responses to the climate challenges and making proposals that can contribute to sustainable energy future through group work.
Course description and aims
In this course, Students will be able to understand the following;
(1) Impacts and opportunities of diverse energy systems in the context of their national, regional, sectoral, and cultural contexts.
(2) How energy choices affect outcomes in solving climate change, as well as addressing priorities in security, pollution, and economic competitiveness.
(3) Solutions that reduce and remove GHGs, and actions that enable adaptability to the changing climate.
And based on above understandings, students will make proposals that can contribute to sustainable energy future through group work.
Keywords
Energy, fossil fuels, electricity, pollution, Paris Agreement
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Each class covers three topics related to energy based on learning with background materials. There will be Q and A session after each lecture. The group will then conduct problem solving and discussion session after learning three topics.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 10/4 (Fri）1st-4th periods Room: West 5 building W5-104 , Ookayama campus Introduction to the global energy system and opportunities for a low carbon economy Introduction to climate change and energy Renewable energy and efficiency | 1. Summary of 3 topics learnt and questions 2. 1-2 discussion topic ideas |
| Class 2 | 10/8 (火）1st-4th periods Room：TBA, Ookayama campus Nuclear energy Carbon capture, storage, utilization Smart agriculture and sustainable food production | 1. Summary of 3 topics learnt and questions 2. 1-2 discussion topic ideas 3. Answer 10 questions |
| Class 3 | 10/11 (Fri）1st-4th periods Room：TBA, Ookayama campus Accelerating technological innovations Social Innovations Co-benefits | 1. Summary of 3 topics learnt and questions 2. 1-2 discussion topic ideas |
| Class 4 | 10/15 (Tue) 10:00-14:00 (One hour for each group) ZOOM or Oookayama campus Group meeting | Sharing of final presentation theme |
| Class 5 | 10/22 (Tue）1st-4th periods Room：TBA, Ookayama campus Climate adaptation and disaster resilience International frameworks and national policies to facilitate global decarbonization The Way Forward | 1. Summary of 3 topics learnt and questions 2. 1-2 discussion topic ideas 3. Prepare for final presentation |
Study advice (preparation and review)
Textbook(s)
Woods Hole Institute Primer on Climate Change ( https://whrc.org/publications-data/understanding-climate-change-a-primer/ ); Sustainable Energy without the Hot Air by David McKay ( https://www.withouthotair.com )
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Will be provided accordingly
Evaluation methods and criteria
Participation: 40%
10 questions: 30%
Final Presentation 30%
Related courses
- None
Prerequisites
Algebra, Unit Conversion
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Global Education Section, Center for Entrepreneurship Education
Office hours
by appointment
Other
West 5 building W5-104 Oookayama campus