| CODE | IES5131 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Fundamentals of Sustainability | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Earth Systems | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit outlines fundamental principles and concepts of sustainability. Different definitions of key terms relevant to the field will be reviewed, and key principles by which sustainability dimensions might be judged and evaluated will be discussed. The history and emergence of environmental management and sustainability over time as key concepts and discourses will be outlined, together with the emergence of these concerns on political agendas worldwide. The unit will also discuss the importance of participation in sustainability, and various techniques used for identifying and engaging with stakeholders will be reviewed and evaluated. Different typologies of stakeholder participation will also be discussed. The study-unit will furthermore address the use of data for management, considering various data sources, and reviewing the development and use of sustainability indicators. Other aspects considered will include the role of uncertainty and risk in decision-making, as well as factors involved in resolving problematic situations. In relation to this, the study-unit will also include considerations of the ethical dimensions of sustainability, through various case studies. Study-unit Aims: - To introduce key concepts and fundamental principles related to sustainability; - To explain the role of stakeholder participation in sustainability; - To provide an overview of the history and evolution of key concepts in sustainability; - To make students aware of the critical role of uncertainty and risk in decision-making; - To make students aware of the crucial role of ethics in discourses of sustainability. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Define and evaluate the concept of sustainability; - Define and discuss the emergence over time of key ideas related to sustainability; - Define key principles of sustainability and environmental management; - Justify the importance of stakeholder participation as an element of sustainability; - Explain the relevance of personal ethical decisions to sustainability. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Develop and apply sustainability indicators, and critically evaluate their use; - Liaise with stakeholders at different levels, using appropriate techniques; - Critically analyze his/her personal ethical choices, and implications of these for sustainability. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Blewitt, J. (2008). Understanding sustainable development. Earthscan Publications Ltd. - Des Jardins, J.R. (2001). Environmental ethics: an introduction to environmental philosophy. Wadsworth Publishing Company - Rogers, P.P., Jalal, K.F., Boyd, J.A. (2008). An introduction to sustainable development. Earthscan Publications Ltd. - Edwards, A.R. (2005). The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a paradigm shift. New Society Publishers - Morse, S. and Bell, S. (2008). Sustainability Indicators: Measuring the immeasurable. Earthscan Publications Ltd. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
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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. |
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