ENST 281 - Killing Fog: Coal, Energy and Pollution

Semester Offered: Spring
0.5 unit(s)

(Same as INTL 281 and SOCI 281) In December 1952, a deadly mix of fog and coal soot that lasted for five days killed thousands of Londoners. This event, one of the worst environmental disasters in history, raised awareness of the pollution associated with coal usage, and coal’s deep integration into the economy and politics worldwide. Yet, more than half a century later, the fight continues to regulate coal power’s impact in the United States and elsewhere. As the representatives of 195 countries met for the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, coal soot continued to hang in the air. The first day of the conference was marked by record levels of air pollution in Beijing, while in India coal power plants have contributed to one of the worst health crises, causing about 100,000 deaths and about 20 million cases asthma in India. This course, connecting science and policy making, will examine the science, economics and politics of coal usage in the United States and globally, and will explore movements against the hegemony of coal in the era of the Anthropocene. Pinar Batur.

Second six-week course.

One 2-hour period plus one 50-minute period.