| CODE | EER2508 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Science for Sustainable Development | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Centre for Environmental Education and Research | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Whereas scientific analysis remains a vital component of sustainable development it constitutes just one part of a singularly complex process. This study-unit explores a range of sustainability issues at the local, regional and global levels within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs). Drawing upon a regional perspective the study-unit takes stock of the implications of the EU Circular Economy Package, the quest for decarbonisation in view of the Energy Roadmap 2050, together with the bloc's overall sustainable development process. Local policy on sustainable development and the extent to which certain priority areas are being addressed shall be looked into. The exploration of sustainable development issues will also consider various governance issues by taking into account the socio-economic and political dimensions. Study-Unit Aims: - To provide students with an insight to the role of science and its significance in the promulgation of sustainable development; - To present a range of local, regional and global sustainability issues within the complexity of their scientific, socio-economic and political dimensions; - To widen students knowledge about sustainability issues and how science can contribute towards reasoned decision-making about these issues. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognize that science is a process as described by the scientific method; - Relate that the concept of sustainable development, though conveniently defined as per the Brundtland Commission Report (1987), has thoroughly evolved especially in recent years; - Explain that the contribution by science towards sustainable development is only part of a much broader spectrum of contributions deriving mainly from the socio-economic and political domains; - Discuss that sound science is crucial towards proper decision-making for sustainable development; - Describe the difference between 'weak' and 'strong' sustainability; - Explain how diversification of the energy sector is vital for sustainability; - Describe the various sources that lead to a deterioration in air quality and explain how this contributes to diminished sustainability; - Explain that a deterioration in air quality and the global phenomenon of climate change are also market failures that can be addressed, in part, through economic policy; - Relate that the various options with waste management provides an opportunity and is vital for the success of a circular economy. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Distinguish between the basic elements (scientific, economic, social, environmental and political) that typically make up any sustainable development issue; - Appraise an issue in terms of its relevance from a sustainable development perspective; - Analyse a sustainable development issue to the extent that the value of science in reaching a political decision about the issue is properly valued; - Evaluate critically articles in the press about matters and issues related to sustainable development; - Report on the state of play of at least one local sustainable development issue. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Text: Sachs, J. D. (2015). The Age of Sustainable Development. Columbia University Press. Supplementary Readings: This study-unit will rely heavily on primary literature such as academic papers, position papers and policy documents that are issued from time to time from entities such the European Commission. These resources will be available for downloading/consultation from the internet. |
||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Mario Fenech Caruana |
||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||||