Sessional Lecturer - GLA2075H Navigating the Global Energy Transition: Technology, Markets & Policy

Description:

Course number and title: GLA2075H: Navigating the Global Energy Transition: Technology, Markets and Policy

Course description: 

Governments and industry have set an extremely ambitious goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions from today’s level of around 50 billion tonnes per year towards net-zero by 2050. This course will look at whether and if so, how, these goals can be achieved while remaining grounded in a real world technology, economic and geopolitical context.  We will begin by grounding the class in hard data from the IEA World Energy Outlook and other major climate and energy forecasts, then stress-test “business-as-usual” energy and emissions forecasts against various net-zero scenarios.

With a common fact base established, weekly modules dissect the technology, economics, supply-chain constraints and policy levers behind the most deployable decarbonisation tools, including advanced solar and wind renewables, small-modular nuclear reactors, geothermal, battery storage, grid optimization, hydrogen and power-to-X fuels, heat-pumps, carbon capture, methane abatement. Students will learn to read levelized cost tables and cost curves and to translate “green-premium” gaps into policy instruments such as contracts-for-difference, tax credits and loan guarantees.

Throughout, we confront emerging shocks such as the war in Ukraine or AI-driven data-centre loads, and evaluate how they reshape the economic and policy landscape. Case-study workshops will pair global models with national realities in China, India, the EU and North America, while guest practitioners will illustrate how new technologies and policy instruments are actually being deployed.

Estimated course enrolment: 25

Estimated TA support: N/A

Class schedule: Tuesday 5-7pm 

*The delivery method for this course is currently in-person. Please note that, in keeping with current circumstances, the course delivery method may change as determined by the Faculty or the Department.

Sessional dates of appointment : September 1, 2026-December 31, 2026

Salary: 

Sessional Lecturer I: $9,997.48 

Sessional Lecturer I Long Term: $10,699.22

Sessional Lecturer II: $10,699.22

Sessional Lecturer II Long Term: $10,953.96

Sessional Lecturer III: $10,953.96

Sessional Lecturer III Long Term: $11,228.90

All inclusive of vacation pay;  

*Please note that should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail

Minimum Qualifications: Graduate degree in Political Science, International Relations or Law degree is required.

Preferred Qualifications: Professional experience in public policy. 

Description of duties: Developing the syllabus, teaching one 2-hour lecture per week at the graduate level, providing weekly office hours for academic counseling of students, preparing and delivering course material; preparing and delivering assignments and tests; marking student work and submitting grades.

Application Procedure: All individuals interested in this position must submit an updated Curriculum Vitae and the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form to View email address on jobs.utoronto.ca. 

Closing Date: 08/10/2026, 11:59PM EDT
**

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement.

It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.

Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.