ENV 828b () / 2025-2026

Risk Assessment & Management

This course focuses on environmental and health risks, as well as opportunities for their management.   Risk assessments have become the primary form of rational analysis used by governments and corporations to predict the likelihood of future losses. You will learn to evaluate risks based upon the criteria of magnitude, distribution, probability, duration, reversibility, predictability, risk reduction potential and costs.  We will examine risks in fields including radiation, food & agriculture, drinking water, plastics, coastal storms, greenhouse gas emissions from food production, tobacco, and fires.   Each case also considers the effectiveness of past and potential laws.  Possible statutory interventions include prohibitive policies, regulatory ceilings, taxes and tariffs, subsidies, labeling, certification, transparency requirements, and measures to limit or prevent air pollution. Special attention is given to those facing higher risks, often including the young and elderly, ethnic minorities,  and poorer populations without the resources to self-manage environmental dangers.