Sustainable development - development that meets human needs while conserving Earth's life support systems - has emerged as one of the grand challenges facing society in the 21st century. With global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050 our capacity to develop sustainably is even more urgent, though progress to date has been patchy. The minor in Sustainable Development is concerned with understanding what it means to develop sustainably, and what factors shape our prospects and policies for a transition towards sustainability. Students gain an appreciation for how international trends, whether they are economic, social or political, create both opportunities and limitations for sustainable development. Similarly, at the local or national level the focus is on how initiatives in the public and private sectors encourage or inhibit a shift to sustainable development.
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate alternative approaches to sustainable development, from initiatives at the international level to local, grass-roots level activities.
- Understand and critically assess the driving forces for sustainable development in Australia and internationally.
- Gather and analyse relevant information and data related to sustainable development, and, particularly, to integrate knowledge from policy-related social science disciplines with relevant natural science knowledge.
- Apply a range of written, oral and visual communication skills to effectively convey and discuss information about sustainable development.
Other Information
Academic or enrolment advice:
Students can seek further advice from the academic contact for this minor (details above), or the College of Science Student Services Team (students.cos@anu.edu.au).
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, of which:
A minimum of 12 units must come from the completion of courses from the following list:
ENVS2005 Island Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School (6-12 units)
ENVS2011 Human Ecology (6 units)
ENVS2013 Society and Environmental Change (6 units)
ENVS2017 Vietnam Field School (6-12 units)
MGMT2001 Corporate Sustainability (6 units)
POLS2011 Development and Change (6 units)
A minimum of 6 units must come from the completion of a course from the following list:
ENVS3020 - Climate Change Science & Policy (6 units)
ENVS3028 - Environmental Policy (6 units)
ENVS3033 - International Environmental Policy (6 units)
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