Environmental Leadership

ENVR 8087SEF

Course Guide

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

ENVR 8087SEF

Course Guide

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

Course Start Date

Spr 2026

Course Level

Postgraduate

Length in Terms

1 term

Credits

6

Language

English

Fees ($) (including lab fees)

Details

Future Terms

Quota and Schedule

Course Start Date	Course Level	Length in Terms	Credits	Language	Fees ($) (including lab fees)	Future Terms
Spr 2026	Postgraduate	1 term	6	English	Details

Quota and Schedule

Course Coordinator:

Dr Chen Jianlin, BSc, MSc (TJU); PhD (CityU)

Introduction

ENVR 8087SEF Environmental Leadership is an important course for students taking the Master of Science in Global Environmental Management for Sustainable Development programme. Focusing on contemporary issues of environmental legislation and management, the course will equip students with the essential knowledge to become effective leaders and decision makers in the energy and environmental profession. While local and overseas cases will be examined, environmentally sustainable practices and stewardship that are closely associated with recent social and economic developments worldwide will also be covered.

Aims

This course aims to:

examine the implications of economic growth and development on environmental protection from the viewpoint of environmental stewardship and environmental governance;
explore the methodology for quantifying environmental cost and effectiveness for making wise environmental decisions; and
recommend a system-based approach to environmental decision making and development of environmental leadership in corporations, business sectors and the government.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

evaluate the cost, benefits and effectiveness of green management and green business;
recommend appropriate tools and models in the decision-making process to solve environmental conflicts;
debate on the leadership skills applied in corporations, business and the government in handling environmental affairs;
value global and local visions on green business and environmental leadership;
present findings in environmental science, technology and management research projects with applications of environmental leadership and decision-making theories; and
appraise the knowledge and skills in environmental protection, environmental governance, corporation responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Course contents

Green management, corporate governance and environmental governance
Economic instruments in environmental decision making and green management
Models and tools in environmental decision making and leadership
Green enterprises and environmental entrepreneurs in the contemporary world
Strategies for effective environmental management: Case studies in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
Strategies for effective environmental management: Global outlook

Assessment

Course assessment will include two assignments (50%) as the overall continuous assessment score (OCAS) and a mini project (50%) as the overall examination score (OES). The mini project consists of an oral presentation (20%) and a written report (30%), and will be done as a group project with individual assessment. Students with different academic backgrounds will be grouped to promote academic exchange. Students are required to submit assignments via the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

Online requirement

Students are required to submit assignments via the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

Set book(s)

There will be no set book for this course. The following books will be the main references of study:

Phyper, J.-D., & MacLean, P. (2009). Good to green: Managing business risks and opportunities in the age of environmental awareness. Wiley.
Rigling, G. D. (2012). Environmental leadership: A reference handbook. SAGE Publications.
Blewitt, J. (2018). Understanding sustainable development (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Tranter, B., Lester, E., & McGaurr, L. (2017). Leadership and the construction of environmental concern. Palgrave Macmillan London.
Gregory, R., Failing, L., Harstone, M., Long, G., McDaniels, T., & Ohlson, D. (2012). Structured decision making: A practical guide to environmental management choices. Wiley-Blackwell.
McGuire, C. J. (2012). Environmental decision-making in context: A toolbox. Routledge.