Industrial Ecology and Input-output Analysis

Course Schedule (Spring 2026, Thursdays) Lecture 1: Introduction to Sustainability Science Date: April 9, 2026 Mode: On-site Content: Introduction to sustainability science as an interdisciplinary framework integrating environmental systems, economic structures, and societal transitions. Discussion of global environmental change, resource constraints, planetary boundaries, and the role of quantitative analytical tools in understanding systemic sustainability challenges. Overview of how sustainability science connects to industrial ecology and economic-environmental accounting. Lecture 2: Systems Thinking and Foundations of Industrial Ecology Date: April 16, 2026 Mode: On-site Content: Conceptual foundations of industrial ecology from a systems perspective. Material and energy flow analysis, production-consumption linkages, global supply chains, and environmental externalities. Discussion of how industrial ecology provides analytical tools to evaluate structural transitions toward sustainability. Lecture 3: Structure of Input-Output Tables I Date: April 23, 2026 Mode: On-site Content: Introduction to the structure of national input-output tables. Interindustry transaction tables, final demand categories, value added components, imports and exports. Interpretation of rows and columns and economic accounting consistency. Concept of sectoral interdependence. Lecture 4: Structure of Input-Output Tables II Date: April 30, 2026 Mode: Online Content: Extension of input-output tables to environmental satellite accounts. Construction of environmental extensions, sectoral environmental intensities, and linkage between physical environmental data and monetary economic tables. Introduction to multi-regional input-output databases and global trade linkages. Lecture 5: Mathematical Foundations of Input-Output Analysis I Date: May 7, 2026 Mode: On-site Content: Derivation of the basic Leontief model. Technical coefficients matrix, identity matrix, and the Leontief inverse. Interpretation of total production requirements and multiplier effects. Lecture 6: Mathematical Foundations of Input-Output Analysis II Date: May 14, 2026 Mode: On-site Content: Multi-regional input-output modeling. Embodied emissions accounting and structural decomposition analysis. Discussion of model assumptions, limitations, uncertainty, and policy interpretation. Lecture 7: Invited Lecture – Applied Industrial Ecology Case Studies Date: May 21, 2026 Mode: To be announced (Online or On-site) Content: Invited lecture presenting applied case studies in industrial ecology. Real-world applications in supply-chain analysis, emission accounting, environmental policy assessment, and structural transformation analysis. Lecture 8: Invited Lecture – Chemical Substances and Environmental Accounting Date: May 28, 2026 Mode: To be announced (Online or On-site) Content: Invited lecture focusing on integration of chemical substance flows into environmental-economic accounting systems. Methodological challenges in linking industrial production with environmental exposure pathways and regulatory implications. Lecture 9: Carbon Footprint Accounting Date: June 4, 2026 Mode: On-site Content: Conceptual and methodological foundations of carbon footprint accounting. Production-based versus consumption-based emissions. Sectoral carbon intensity, embodied carbon in trade, and policy implications of consumption-based accounting. Lecture 10: Household Carbon Footprint and Consumption-Based Emissions Date: June 11, 2026 Mode: On-site Content: Household-level carbon footprint calculation using input-output frameworks. Linking consumption categories to sectoral emissions. Demographic heterogeneity, inequality dimensions, and implications for targeted climate policies. Lecture 11: Student Presentation I Date: June 18, 2026 Mode: On-site Content: Student presentations on selected topics in sustainability science and industrial ecology, including methodological design and policy relevance. Lecture 12: Student Presentation II and Course Synthesis Date: July 2, 2026 Mode: On-site Content: Continuation of student presentations. Final synthesis discussion integrating sustainability science, input-output analysis, and carbon footprint methodologies.

The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures, analytical demonstrations, and applied case discussions. The first part of the course focuses on conceptual foundations in sustainability science and industrial ecology, followed by structured instruction on input-output table construction and quantitative modeling techniques. Mathematical components will be explained step by step with intuitive interpretation to ensure accessibility for students from diverse academic backgrounds. In the applied sessions, students will examine real-world case studies and empirical datasets to understand how theoretical models are translated into practical sustainability analysis. Invited lectures will provide exposure to frontier research and contemporary applications in environmental accounting and industrial ecology. Interactive discussion is encouraged throughout the course. Students will also engage in presentation sessions, where they develop and present analytical topics related to sustainability science and input-output analysis. The course emphasizes logical reasoning, methodological rigor, and policy relevance rather than purely technical computation.

Made by the weighted average of the following items ・Class presentation (40%) ・Case Write-Up (20%) ・Final group work and presentation (40%)

While a basic background in economics or mathematics may be helpful, it is not a strict requirement. Students who are genuinely interested in sustainability and environmental systems are strongly encouraged to enroll. The mathematical components of the course focus primarily on fundamental matrix operations and their practical interpretation within input-output analysis. These techniques will be introduced step by step during class, and sufficient guidance will be provided. Students from humanities and social science backgrounds are very welcome. The course emphasizes conceptual understanding and logical reasoning alongside quantitative tools, and no advanced mathematical training is required.