Lahore University of Management Sciences

Spring 2020
Introduction to Environmental Studies

Instructor Maryam Ibrahim

Room No. On Whatsapp Options: Message, Phone or Video call
Office Hours Monday and Wednesday 9am -11am
Tuesday and Thursday 11..30am-1.30pm
Email Maryamibrahim19@gmail.com
Telephone +923008098756
TAs Emaan Zubair and Mahrukh Khan
TA Office Hours
Course URL (if any)

Course Basics
Credit Hours 4
Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) 2 Medium Presentation
Per Week slides with
voice over
Recitation/Lab (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Duration
Per Week
Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Duration
Per Week

Course Distribution
Core
Elective
Open for Student Category All Categories

Course Description
Our environment is a product of complex mutually-dependent interactions in which humans play an
increasingly significant role. This course adopts an interdisciplinary approach to introduce key
environmental concepts, challenges and approaches employed to address pertinent issues. The aim is
to explore different theories and processes that inform environmental debates, activism and policy-
making across geographic regions and cultures. The first part of this course aims to develop an
understanding of fundamental environmental principles and processes. It focuses on what the
environment is and how human interactions with the eco-system shape the environment we live in.
The second part of this course discusses critical environmental challenges faced today. These include
but are not limited to: climate change and global warming, food (in)security, pollution, species
extinction and water scarcity. These issues are studied in the context of world population trends and
urbanization, energy consumption and the impact on climate, fragility of biodiversity and the search
for sustainable development. The remainder of this course critically deliberates various approaches
and strategies employed to address environmental challenges. It aims to foster ways of critically and

1
 Lahore University of Management Sciences

constructively thinking about the future we may inhabit.

Original Course Evaluation Revised Course Evaluation

Class Attendance 10% Class attendance pre-midterm – 5%
Quiz 1 (Pre-midterm): 10% Quiz 1: 10%
Quiz 2 (Post-midterm): 10% Midterm: 30%
Group Project 20% Final Exam: 35%
Midterm Exam 20% Short Weekly Assignments: 20% (5% each)
Final Exam 30%

Required texts

Humans in the Landscape: An Introduction to Environmental Studies by Kai N. Lee, Richard

Howarth, and William Freudenburg

Additional and supplementary readings are specified in the weekly schedule

Primary Texts Secondary Text

Session 1
Introduction to the course
No readings

Session 2: Humans and the Environment

Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.
(2013) ‘Humans in the Landscape: Environmental
Studies and Environmentalism’, In: Humans in
the Landscape: An Introduction to Environmental
Studies, New York: W.W. Norton and Company,
pp. 3-19.
Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg,
W. (2013) ‘The Invisible Present’, In:
Humans in the Landscape: An Introduction
to Environmental Studies, New York:
W.W. Norton and Company, pp. 35-38.

2
 Lahore University of Management Sciences

Session 3: Changing Nature of the Environment The Economist (2011) ‘The Anthropocene:
Steffen, Will, et al. (2007). “The Anthropocene: A Man-Made World’ (May 26, 2011).
Are Humans Now Overwhelming the Great
Forces
of Nature?” AMBIO 36:614-621.
Session 4: Origin of Environmental Problems
Hardin, G. (1968) The Tragedy of the
Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W. Commons, American Association for the
(2013) ‘Commons’, In: Humans in the Landscape: Advancement of Science, 162 (3895), pp.
An Introduction to Environmental Studies, New 1243-1248.
York: W.W. Norton and Company, pp. 45-76.

Session 5: Global Economy and the Environment
Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.
(2013) ‘A world without edges’, In: Humans in
the Landscape: An Introduction to Environmental
Studies, New York: W.W. Norton and Company,
pp. 77-99.
Katsoulakos, N., Misthos, L. and Doulos,
S. (2016) ‘Economic Growth and
Environmental Implications’, In: S.
Poulopoulos and V. Inglezakis (eds.)
‘Environment and Development: Basic
Principles, Human Activities, and
Environmental Implications, pp. 509-516.

Session 6: The Human Footprint

Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.

(2013) ‘Architecture of the Planet’, In: Humans in
the Landscape: An Introduction to Environmental
Studies, New York: W.W. Norton and Company,
pp.100-127.

Session 7:
1st Quiz

No lecture after quiz

Session 8: The Human Footprint

Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.
(2013) ‘The Most Successful Species’, In:
Humans in the Landscape: An Introduction to
Environmental Studies, New York: W.W. Norton
and Company, pp. 127-153.
The Guardian (2019) ‘Humans have made
8.3bn tons of plastic since 1950. This is the
illustrated story of where it's gone’

Session 9: Climate Change

3
 Lahore University of Management Sciences

Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.

(2013) ‘Climate Change, In: Humans in the
Landscape: An Introduction to Environmental
Studies, New York: W.W. Norton and Company,
pp. 155-190.

Session 10:
Hulme, M. (2010) Why we disagree about
Houghton, J. (2015) The Impact of Climate climate change
Change, In: Global Warming: The Complete
Briefing, 5th edition, pp.172-213

Session 11: Population Growth, Urbanization and

the Environment Ibrahim, M. and Riaz, S. (2018) Lahore
Growth – Past and Future, The Urban
Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W. Gazette -The Urban Unit, pp.1-8.
(2013) ‘Humans and their Habitats’, In: Humans
in the Landscape: An Introduction to
Environmental Studies, New York: W.W. Norton
and Company, pp. 191-224.

Session 12: Population Growth, Urbanization and

the Environment

Davis, M. (2006) ‘Slum Ecology’ In: Planet of

Slums, London: Verso, pp. 121-150.

Session 13
Revision
No Readings

Session 14:
Midterm

Session 15: Biodiversity

4
 Lahore University of Management Sciences

Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.

(2013) ‘Biological Diversity’, In: Humans in the
Landscape: An Introduction to Environmental
Studies, New York: W.W. Norton and Company,
pp. 225-258.

AFTER 6TH APRIL

Session 16: Sustainability
Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.
(2013) ‘A perspective on Sustainability’, In:
Humans in the Landscape: An Introduction to
Environmental Studies, New York: W.W. Norton
and Company, pp. 258-284.

Session 17: Sustainability

Katsoulakos, N., Misthos, L. and Doulos, S.

(2016) ‘Conceptual Approaches to Development United Nations ‘Transforming our world:
and Principles of Sustainable Development’, In: S. the 2030 agenda for sustainable
Poulopoulos and V. Inglezakis (eds.) development’
‘Environment and Development: Basic Principles,
Human Activities, and Environmental
Implications, pp. 509-516.
Session 18: Environmental awareness

Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.

(2013) ‘Environmental Awareness’, In: Humans
in the Landscape: An Introduction to
Environmental Studies, New York: W.W. Norton
and Company, pp. 287-310.

Session 19: Collective Action and Environmental

Policies
Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.
(2013) ‘Collective Action’, In: Humans in the
Landscape: An Introduction to Environmental
Studies, New York: W.W. Norton and Company,
Bailey, S. and Bryant, R. (2000) ‘Grass
root Actors’ in Third World Political
Ecologies,
London: Routledge, pp.151-179.

5
 Lahore University of Management Sciences

pp. 310-318.

Connelly, J. and Smith, G. (1999) ‘Collective

Action, Power and Decision- making’ In: Politics
and the Environment: From Theory to Practice.
London: Routledge, pp. 105-112.

Session 20: Collective Action and Environmental
Policies
Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.
(2013) ‘Collective Action’, In: Humans in the
Landscape: An Introduction to Environmental
Studies, New York: W.W. Norton and Company,
pp. 319-346.
Connelly, J. and Smith, G. (2003)
‘Rationality and Power in environmental
policy making’ In: Politics and the
Environment: From Theory to Practice.
London: Routledge, pp. 112-129.

Session 21: Role of NGOs

Bailey, S. and Bryant, R. (2000) ‘Grass root

Actors’ in Third World Political Ecologies,
London: Routledge, pp.124-150.

Session 22: Markets

Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.
(2013) ‘Markets’, In: Humans in the Landscape:
An Introduction to Environmental Studies, New
York: W.W. Norton and Company, pp. 347-371.
Session 23: Affluence and Ethics
Bailey, S. and Bryant, R. (2000)
‘Businesses’ in Third World Political
Ecologies,
London: Routledge, pp. 99-123.

Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.

(2013) ‘Affluence’, In: Humans in the Landscape:
An Introduction to Environmental Studies, New
York: W.W. Norton and Company, pp 372-401
Session 24: Our Future and Way Forward

Lee, K. N., Howarth, R. and Freudenburg, W.

(2013) ‘Learning’, In: Humans in the Landscape:
An Introduction to Environmental Studies, New
York: W.W. Norton and Company, pp 402-432

6
Lahore University of Management Sciences

Take Home Final Exam