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Sustainability, Society and Environment (U02841)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 8 ? Acronym : GEO-1-SSE

The following topics will be developed to enable students to devise their own set of principles for understanding sustainability issues which should be of value in decision-making in their future careers.

* This course will first explore the rise of the environmental agenda in the 1960s and in particular the main events which brought it to public and scientific attention. In this context the natural processes which support life on earth will be discussed, together with the requirements for human well-being.
* The concepts of 'sustainability' and 'sustainable development' etc will be discussed in the context of the history of the concepts as well as the terms themselves and their contemporary significance.
* The commonly cited principles of sustainability (e.g. inter-generational equity, precautionary principle etc) will be explored together with the limitations imposed by physical and natural laws.
* The possible responses (scientific, technological, economic, political, social and personal) will be reviewed and their potential to bring about desired change will be discussed.
* Through examination of international, national, and local agreements on sustainability, students will critically review the motivations for, and implementation of, such policies.
* Approaches to dealing with particular issues encountered in professional life (such as environmental reports, environmental management systems, energy management, recycling, impact on biodiversity) will be considered.
* Opportunities will be provided for course members to review individual ethics and consider the implications of adopting the principles of sustainability to professional practice.

? Keywords : Environment, Sustainability, Development, Ecology, Geography, Society

Entry Requirements

? This course is not accepting further student enrolments.

? Pre-requisites : None.

? Co-requisites : None.

? Prohibited combinations : None.

? Costs : None.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Environmental Courses, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 1st year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 3 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
07/01/2008	15:00	15:50	Lecture Theatre C, David Hume Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	15:00	15:50	Central
Lecture	Thursday	15:00	15:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : Tutorials at times to be arranged.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

* Understand the historical development of the 'environment' as a contemporary issue and the emergence of the concept of 'sustainability' and 'sustainable development' etc.
* Critical evaluation of the scientific basis for sustainability and the extent to which the application of such principles has provided a context within which sustainability issues can be known and monitored.
* Adopt a critical reflective stance on international and national agreements relating to sustainability.
* Review the concept of sustainability and relevant policies relating to it in a framework of cultural and intergenerational equity.
* Be able to understand the principles which should provide the basis for a range of issues which they may experience in their professional life (e.g. environmental reports, environmental management systems, energy management, recycling, impact on biodiversity)
* Articulate their own stance on sustainability and explain what the concept means for them in their practice.