Course

Module 1

Module 1: Challenges faced by planet Earth (10 hours)

1. The Anthropogenic: Human in the Driving Seat
2. Economics, Equity and Ecology: selected concepts of ecology, ecological services, industrial ecology, Earth as a Super organism
3. Brief history of global environmental awareness Stockholm 1972 convention onwards
4. Planetary Boundaries, Resilience Thinking and tipping points
5. Climate Change
6. Biodiversity loss or Biosphere Integrity Nitrogen and Phosphorous loading
7. Ozone depletion Land use and Fresh water use
8. Ocean Acidification
9. Novel Substances
10. Aerosol Loading

Module 2

Module 2: Challenges faced by Human Society (10 hours)

1. A Framework of Global Response to Sustainable Development
2. Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals (Reading Sustainable Development Goals UN).
3. Role to play in environmental management and sustainable development as a person, citizen and manager
4. The Paris Convention on Sustainable Development Goals (and the recent COPs)
5. Circular Economy
6. Amrita University – UNAI Seminar (Student Faculty)
7. Sustainability Literacy Test (Student Faculty)

Module 3

Module 3: Able to serve Nature and Society (10 hours)

1. Fundamentals of capacity & measurement
2. Long-term capacity management
3. Constraint management in the job, batch, and line processes
4. Theory of constraints

Course Description

This course aims to increase the awareness and understanding of key factors shaping environmental development and sustainable development management. It draws from two MOOC courses: ‘The Age of Sustainable Development’ from Coursera and ‘Planetary Boundaries and Human Opportunities’ from Edcast.

The course also includes:

• Anthropocene and Doughnut Economics
• Society, Ecology, Feedback, Tipping Points, and Resilience
• Focus on SDGs, with September 2015 Paris Convention and its ratification
• Circular Economy
• Dominant perspectives/lenses on Sustainability
• COP 26 / COP 27 deliberations

The course further incorporates ‘Sustainability Literacy Tests (SULITEST)’ and Amrita University – UNAI Seminar proceedings while keeping current on Sustainability issues, drawing upon ‘Roles I Play’ inputs.

The course will focus on the ‘Nine Planetary Boundaries’ and critically discuss key concepts such as the Anthropocene, Doughnut Economics, Resilience, and Tipping Points. For the first time in the history of our planet earth, we humans are in the driving seat, steering the course of our planet. As future managers, each one of you would play out your roles as a member of this species, and through your choices and your decisions, you have the unique opportunity of making a significant contribution towards the creation of a ‘safe and just space’ for mankind and nature. We shall draw upon global thought leaders arguing for our economic development to take place within the ceiling defined by the Planetary Boundaries and a floor that assures all human beings lead a life bereft of human depravations.

We also take an in-depth review of discussions centered around the next 15 years (The Sustainable Development Goals) spearheaded by the United Nations. Each one of you would have the potential to play the role of a ‘Planetary Steward’ as your professional careers begin in a few years. Imagine the unique responsibilities you would be expected to shoulder for the sake of our entire planet, as well as the opportunities you would have towards making meaningful and significant contributions towards achieving these goals. We do hope that this course inspires and enables you to be prepared to meet the challenges and to make your contributions.

Course Outcomes & Learning Levels

On completion of this course, students will be:

1. Able to consider Nature as a stakeholder.
2. Able to consider Society as a stakeholder.
3. Able to serve Nature.
4. Able to serve Society.

Evaluation Pattern 

*Based on assignments / Tests / Quizzes / Case Studies / Project / Term paper / Field visit report. 

• Course Materials will be circulated to students in class by faculty.