Introduction to Sustainable Development

Course goals

Please note that the course information in the course guide is binding.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• describe the characteristics of the most important global sustainability issues, as well as their multidisciplinary nature;
• explain the causes and consequences of these issues, and the complexity of finding solutions;
• reflect on the ethical and normative aspects that play a role in this process.

Content

Central to this is the concept of “sustainable development”, which is internationally accepted as a guiding principle for future action. This concept encompasses both an analysis of and a policy for global issues concerning the environment, the economy and social justice. The concept problematises the relationship between local and global issues, the conflicts of interest involved, the relationship between the the Global South and the Global North, the relationship between scientific knowledge and technical, economic and political action, as well as the value systems relevant to the search for solutions. Using this concept as a point of reference, this course addresses a number of global sustainability issues that are the subject of discussion almost daily, as well as ways to bring the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals closer . 

The course is structured around the book How to achieve sustainable development; local actions for global change by Ledermann. We begin with an analysis of the most important environmental problems, their causes, the relationship with sustainable development, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Principles of ecology, systems thinking, resilience, (in)equality and justice are covered, which form the basis for thinking about sustainable development. Subsequently, the contributions of policy, financial instruments, collective action, and science and technology to bringing about necessary changes are discussed. Furthermore, various themes are addressed, including food, energy, climate change, water quality, biodiversity, and the circular and just economy. This covers a large number of topics, principles, and facts that can be considered foundational knowledge for the sustainability sciences (Body of Knowledge).