Course Overview
This course engages students in critical analysis of technological innovation and teaches the theory and application of consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions and ecological footprint analysis, using an integrated residential-component approach known as the ecocity footprint method. This method starts with an urban metabolism study of energy and material flows coupled with life cycle analysis to address both the operating and embodied energy and materials in supply chains and downstream waste management practices. The greenhouse gas emissions inventory is limited to the analysis of carbon dioxide and equivalent carbon dioxide emissions. Concepts of energy and material flows, net primary production, biocapacity, life cycle assessment, demand-side management, ecological integrity, ecological limits, ecological overshoot, and living within planetary boundaries are covered. Specifically, the course helps students hone their research and analysis skills using statistical data sets and field data to address the application of these concepts and methods in urban contexts, at the scale of whole cities or communities. Analysis is also applied to the average emissions and ecological footprint of individuals living within the studied urban areas. The material stocks and flows, as well as embodied materials in supply chains, operating energy and embodied energy in various domains of consumption comprising food, buildings, consumables and waste, transportation and water are assessed. These skills are used to generate greenhouse gas emissions inventories for Scopes 1, 2, and 3, as well as a comprehensive ecological footprint analysis of a city by consumption type. Numerically significant, quantitative and qualitative pathways to move from ecological overshoot to living within ecological limits are also explored. Students will be given an opportunity to apply the lessons from this course to a preliminary analysis of an urban area, a consumption domain, or a specific element of consumption within a domain to determine its associated consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions inventory, ecological footprint, sustainability gap, and possible pathways to close that gap.
Prerequisite(s)
Credits
3.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Apply the following concepts to project development, analysis, and reporting: ecological limits; planetary boundaries; ecological overshoot; ecological footprint; ecological footprint analysis, net primary production, biocapacity; nature-based-solutions, ecologically regenerative strategies, living within ecological limits; one-planet living; sustainability gap; energy and material flows analysis; urban metabolism; life-cycle assessment; greenhouse gas emissions inventory and related components of Scope 1, 2 and 3 assessments.
- Describe the historical evolution of greenhouse gas emissions inventorying and ecological footprint analysis in Canada, from first concepts to their application and adaptation for various purposes and geographies in cities.
- Explain the difference in orientation between the compound (top-down) and component (bottom-up) ecological footprint methods and the benefits of seeking a hybridized approach that falls on a spectrum between them.
- Evaluate the appropriate application of different ecological footprint analysis methods and determine which is best suited to what type of analysis in any given context based on principles of relevance, accuracy and subsidiarity.
- Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the ecocity footprint, as an urban-oriented, component ecological footprint method for evaluating cities, their sub-domains of consumption, and/or specific items within sub-domains.
- Design and implement a preliminary urban-oriented, component ecological footprint analysis, following the ecocity method, including greenhouse gas emissions inventories for Scopes 1, 2 and 3.
- Locate relevant data and perform calculations, including appropriately bounding the study scope temporarily and geographically for analysis.
- Create a report based on the analysis covering urban greenhouse gas and ecological footprint outputs, sustainability gaps, and pathways to close the gap.
- Describe and defend the selected research methods and calculations used in the analysis, including decisions to delimit any components due to insufficient data.
Effective as of Fall 2026
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.