CNCC - HKUST Class Schedule & Quota

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	This course explores the concepts of climate neutrality and climate change from a multidisciplinary perspective. The course covers the scientific, technological, economic, political, and social aspects of climate neutrality and climate change, including mitigation and adaptation strategies, carbon accounting, renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon markets, climate policy, and international climate negotiations. The course also examines the ethical and justice dimensions of climate change, including the distributional impacts of climate policies and the responsibilities of different actors in addressing climate change. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities of achieving climate neutrality and addressing climate change, as well as the skills to engage in cutting-edge research in this field.

DESCRIPTION

This course explores the concepts of climate neutrality and climate change from a multidisciplinary perspective. The course covers the scientific, technological, economic, political, and social aspects of climate neutrality and climate change, including mitigation and adaptation strategies, carbon accounting, renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon markets, climate policy, and international climate negotiations. The course also examines the ethical and justice dimensions of climate change, including the distributional impacts of climate policies and the responsibilities of different actors in addressing climate change. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities of achieving climate neutrality and addressing climate change, as well as the skills to engage in cutting-edge research in this field.

CNCC 5100 - Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6154)	We 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 306, C7 Library	LIU, Jiangong	30	22	8	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	This course introduces the fundamentals of research design in interdisciplinary studies. We start by examining how natural and social scientists formulate puzzles and questions, and discussing the processes of theorization, concept formation and measurement. We then study how researchers test claims using qualitative and quantitative methods. Such methods include description, controlled comparisons, and experiments. We conclude with a discussion of the role of big data and AI in future research.

DESCRIPTION

This course introduces the fundamentals of research design in interdisciplinary studies. We start by examining how natural and social scientists formulate puzzles and questions, and discussing the processes of theorization, concept formation and measurement. We then study how researchers test claims using qualitative and quantitative methods. Such methods include description, controlled comparisons, and experiments. We conclude with a discussion of the role of big data and AI in future research.

CNCC 5140 - Research Design and Empirical Methods of Interdisciplinary Inquiry (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6155)	Mo 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Room 521H VR Room, W1	LU, Jiaqi	30	11	19	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	Climate policy is all about defining problems, which can be achieved through qualitative research training. This course provides entry level experience, equipping students with basic qualitative research skills by investigating real-world challenges in climate policy intertwined with social contexts. Students will learn to design research projects, collect data, conduct interviews, analyze fieldwork data, generate insights, communicate their findings in written and oral formats, and evaluate qualitative research. Throughout the course, students apply their research competencies to policy questions and social challenges relevant to their own interests, ensuring immediate practical value in professional and academic contexts. Students are encouraged to contribute their own topics to class discussions and develop their own methodological perspectives.

DESCRIPTION

Climate policy is all about defining problems, which can be achieved through qualitative research training. This course provides entry level experience, equipping students with basic qualitative research skills by investigating real-world challenges in climate policy intertwined with social contexts. Students will learn to design research projects, collect data, conduct interviews, analyze fieldwork data, generate insights, communicate their findings in written and oral formats, and evaluate qualitative research. Throughout the course, students apply their research competencies to policy questions and social challenges relevant to their own interests, ensuring immediate practical value in professional and academic contexts. Students are encouraged to contribute their own topics to class discussions and develop their own methodological perspectives.

CNCC 5150 - Qualitative Research for Climate Policy (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6156)	Mo 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 233, W1	PARK, SEONA	30	17	13	0

COURSE INFO

EXCLUSION	IPEN 5400
CO-LIST WITH	IPEN 5400
DESCRIPTION	This course prepares students to acquire the basic knowledge of climate change, which sits on the intersection of science and governance. It will review some of the scientific facts of climate change and contrast the scientific research findings with climate governance status. Case study on transforming to a low carbon society will be conducted in later part of the course. Aspects to consider include both scientific support and governance complexity of the low carbon city idea. Students are expected to build their own analysis of the climate change issue at the end of the course.

CNCC 5200 - Climate Change: Science and Governance (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6157)	Th 06:00PM - 08:50PM	Rm 150, E1	PARK, SEONA WOON, KOK SIN	30	24	6	0

COURSE INFO

EXCLUSION	IPEN 5330
CO-LIST WITH	IPEN 5330
DESCRIPTION	This course provides an in-depth examination of the economics and policy issues surrounding energy. Topics include energy demand and supply, market structures, renewable energy technologies, fossil fuels, energy security, climate change, transportation, innovation, and policy analysis. Students will also participate in a research project to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios.

CNCC 5600 - Energy Economics and Policy (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6158)	Tu 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 101, E4	LU, Yangsiyu	30	35	0	0

COURSE INFO

EXCLUSION	IPEN 5350
CO-LIST WITH	IPEN 5350
DESCRIPTION	This course explores the challenges associated with climate change, energy and environmental policies from multiple perspectives, disciplines and scales. Students will examine the evolving science and policy of climate change, observe the conflicts between energy companies and interest groups in China, discuss technology innovations and its impact on reducing greenhouse gases emission.

CNCC 5700 - Energy Systems and Policy (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6159)	Fr 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 149, E1	JIANG, Kejun	36	37	0	0

COURSE INFO

PREVIOUS CODE	IPEN 6100F
DESCRIPTION	This course introduces the scientific principles and practical methods for quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using both bottom-up and top-down approaches. Through lectures, readings, and data analysis exercises, students will develop skills to interpret GHG fluxes, evaluate methodological strengths and limitations, and integrate complementary approaches for robust emission assessments. The course emphasizes both theoretical foundations and up-to-date research literature.

PREVIOUS CODE

IPEN 6100F

DESCRIPTION

This course introduces the scientific principles and practical methods for quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using both bottom-up and top-down approaches. Through lectures, readings, and data analysis exercises, students will develop skills to interpret GHG fluxes, evaluate methodological strengths and limitations, and integrate complementary approaches for robust emission assessments. The course emphasizes both theoretical foundations and up-to-date research literature.

CNCC 5820 - Greenhouse Gas Emission Quantification (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6160)	Mo 01:30PM - 04:20PM	Rm 105, W3	CHEN, Zichong	20	20	0	0

COURSE INFO

EXCLUSION	UGOD 5080
CO-LIST WITH	UGOD 5080
DESCRIPTION	This interdisciplinary course will provide students a systematic framework of the interplay between urban growth and the environment from economic perspectives. By walking them through the state-of-the-art research in urban and environmental economic studies from both developing and developed countries, it will familiarize students with popular empirical strategies in applied economics and relevant fields to solve the most pressing environmental challenges accompanied with fast-urbanized cities. By the end of the class, students will be equipped with toolkits to evaluate policy questions in transportation, pollution and health, climate change, energy transition, housing market, and environmental justice.

CNCC 5840 - Economic Analysis of Cities and the Environment (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6538)	We 01:30PM - 04:20PM	TBA	YANG, Lin	15	8	7	0	>The classroom is W1102

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	Independent study in a designated subject under direct guidance of a faculty member to provide students the advanced knowledge and research skill sets on carbon neutrality and climate change related topics. Required readings, tutorial discussions, and submission of report(s) will be used for assessment. The course may be repeated for credit if different topics are studied. Graded P or F.

CNCC 6000B - Independent Study (1 unit)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
R01 (6993)	TBA	No room required	TBA	999	1	998	0	Instructor Consent Required

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	Environmental taxes, carbon taxes, and carbon emission trading are economically efficient market-based environmental tools. This course provides the comprehensive introduction to the principles and the policy in practice regarding these market-based instruments. The course not only explains the basic theories in the field and the latest research trends, but also provides cutting-edge policy analysis, deeply analyzing the design, formulation, implementation, and impact of market-oriented environmental policies, as well as the main issues that arise in practice. Students will learn the principles and the processes of market-based environmental policy tools like environmental taxes, carbon taxes, carbon tariffs, and carbon emissions trading, and investigate into how these instruments are made operational to internalize externalities and improve resource allocation efficiency to pursue the best social benefits.

DESCRIPTION

Environmental taxes, carbon taxes, and carbon emission trading are economically efficient market-based environmental tools. This course provides the comprehensive introduction to the principles and the policy in practice regarding these market-based instruments. The course not only explains the basic theories in the field and the latest research trends, but also provides cutting-edge policy analysis, deeply analyzing the design, formulation, implementation, and impact of market-oriented environmental policies, as well as the main issues that arise in practice. Students will learn the principles and the processes of market-based environmental policy tools like environmental taxes, carbon taxes, carbon tariffs, and carbon emissions trading, and investigate into how these instruments are made operational to internalize externalities and improve resource allocation efficiency to pursue the best social benefits.

CNCC 6100A - Environmental Taxation and Emissions Trading: Theory and Policy (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6942)	Fr 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 102, W1	ZHANG, Zhongxiang	40	26	14	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	Earth System Science (ESS) is an emerging interdisciplinary domain that systematically amalgamates the atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, anthroposphere, and lithosphere into a cohesive entity. ESS empowers researchers to dissect ongoing Earth system processes and their underlying mechanisms, predict changes across timescales spanning from daily to centuries, and elucidate core queries such as how the Earth system operates, which natural and human induced factors instigate global environmental changes, and what paths these changes will take. The primary objective of ESS is to underpin evidence - based regulation, management, and guidance of human activities. This 13 week course, with a total of 39 class hours, comprises 27 hours of theoretical lectures and 12 hours of comprehensive practice sessions. These practice sessions are centered around modules encompassing data processing and GIS mapping, AI simulation and its practical applications, Earth System Models (ESMs) simulation and utilization, as well as climate impact model simulation and relevant uses.

DESCRIPTION

Earth System Science (ESS) is an emerging interdisciplinary domain that systematically amalgamates the atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, anthroposphere, and lithosphere into a cohesive entity. ESS empowers researchers to dissect ongoing Earth system processes and their underlying mechanisms, predict changes across timescales spanning from daily to centuries, and elucidate core queries such as how the Earth system operates, which natural and human induced factors instigate global environmental changes, and what paths these changes will take. The primary objective of ESS is to underpin evidence - based regulation, management, and guidance of human activities. This 13 week course, with a total of 39 class hours, comprises 27 hours of theoretical lectures and 12 hours of comprehensive practice sessions. These practice sessions are centered around modules encompassing data processing and GIS mapping, AI simulation and its practical applications, Earth System Models (ESMs) simulation and utilization, as well as climate impact model simulation and relevant uses.

CNCC 6100B - Introduction to Earth System Science (3 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6943)	Fr 09:00AM - 11:50AM	Rm 134, E1	JIANG, Tong	70	11	59	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	This course is expected to expose the RPg students to the current carbon neutrality and climate change research and development, and provide them with opportunities to make social contacts with the speakers in environmental and climate change communities. This course will be an essential part of training for our RPg students. Graded P or F.

CNCC 6900 - CNCC Program Seminar I (1 unit)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
L01 (6164)	Tu 01:30PM - 02:20PM	Rm 228, E2	CHEN, Zichong	30	30	0	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	Master's thesis research supervised by supervisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.

CNCC 6990 - MPhil Thesis Research (0 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
R01 (6926)	TBA	No room required	TBA	999	3	996	0

COURSE INFO

DESCRIPTION	Original and independent doctoral thesis research supervised by supervisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.

CNCC 7990 - Doctoral Thesis Research (0 units)

Section	Date & Time	Room	Instructor	Quota	Enrol	Avail	Wait	Remarks
R01 (6927)	TBA	No room required	TBA	999	13	986	0