IFC: India; Development While Decarbonizing: India’s Path to Net Zero
Course Number 6066
Fall On-Campus Course Sessions: Thursday sessions: September 28, October 19, October 26, and November 16. 5:30PM-7:30PM
January: Arrive: Sunday, January 7 and Depart Thursday, January 18 Course Fee: $3,000
Immersive Field Courses: IFCs require a firm commitment and carry a financial obligation. Financial aid is available in the form of a student loan, a need-based HBS scholarship, or a combination of both depending on your individual circumstances. The Add/Drop process at the start of the term is the mechanism for any IFC enrollment changes, and, after that point, the course fee is non-refundable. Refer to the GEO website for full details on IFCs and be sure you understand the Course Policies and Course Fee & Financial Aid. Visit IFC Financial Aid for a quick assessment to determine your eligibility and process or contact finaid@hbs.edu for more information.
Enrollment: Limited to 45 MBA students (due to the nature of IFCs, auditing is not permitted)
This course overlaps with SIPs, and therefore students will be unable to attend both.
The global race to eliminate greenhouse gases from the atmosphere has started. The stakes are high; emissions released by human activities are taking a catastrophic toll on the planet, prompting an irreversible climate crisis. As a result, countries have committed to decarbonization initiatives and announced net zero targets. While there are significant climate-related problems that are common across the world, there are some unique challenges and opportunities that are faced by developing economies. IFC India presents an opportunity for students to advance their knowledge of decarbonization and net zero in the context of a broader development agenda. The course will address and unpack the fundamentals of decarbonization, the science and impact of net zero, and the need and ways to build a sustainable future. Students will explore the balance of maintaining basic development goals, such as improving energy access and providing safe and quality transport services, water, food security, education, and healthcare —while prioritizing decarbonization and net zero initiatives. This course will integrate learning across BGIE, finance, general management, technology, leadership, and more!
This is a research-based course consisting of case and research-based learning in Boston and field research in India. Students will work in teams of 3, focused on a particular research work stream. Examples of work streams include energy generation, mobility, clean-tech, agriculture, carbon sequestering and real estate. Students will be able to select which research work stream they work on and form their own 3 person teams. In Fall 2023, students will address the opportunities and challenges presented by these work streams during four class sessions. These sessions will include cases, guests, and collaborative student assignments. In January 2024, students will visit ten to twelve organizations in India. These organizations include private companies, government entities, and non-governmental institutions from climate-related sectors.
Students will be graded on class (20%) and field work (20%) participation, a 5-page site visit primer and 10-minute class presentation (20%), and a 5000-word final research memo (40%).
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