Applied Sustainability Science - AM241007
Title: Applied Sustainability Science
Guaranteed by: Department of Sustainability and Product Ecology (241)
Faculty: Faculty of Environmental Technology
Actual: from 2024
Semester: winter
Points: winter s.:3
E-Credits: winter s.:3
Examination process: winter s.:
Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
Capacity: 15 / unknown (unknown)
Min. number of students: unlimited
State of the course: taught
Language: English
Teaching methods: full-time
Teaching methods: full-time
Level:  
Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan
enabled for web enrollment
Guarantor: Kočí Vladimír prof. Ing. Ph.D., MBA
Examination dates   
Annotation
What is the relationship between humans and nature, society and ecosystems, economy and climate? The aim of this course is to familiarize students with the basic principles of sustainability science and apply them in the context of current global environmental change. Students will be encouraged to engage with questions related to current environmental crises critically and to discuss how to navigate those crises to achieve sustainable development. The questions of sustainability will be discussed not only from the perspective of natural science and technology but also from the perspective of ethics, justice, economy, human rights, or development studies
Last update: Kočí Vladimír (09.06.2023)
Aim of the course

The main objective of the Applied sustainability science course is to introduce the basic principles of this multidisciplinary field. The secondary objective is to present various perspectives on the solutions to global environmental crises and to encourage the students’ critical thinking about the complex issues of sustainability.

Last update: Kočí Vladimír (09.06.2023)
Literature

Obligatory:

  • WIEK Sustainability Science, An Introduction, HEINRICHS, H., P. MARTENS, G. MICHELSEN AND A. WIEK, 2016

  • Doughnut economics: seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist, RAWORTH, Kate. , 2017

Last update: Kočí Vladimír (20.06.2024)
Syllabus

1. Humans and the environment: relationship, ethical & moral principles, values and worldviews

2. Sustainability: definitions, approaches

3. Earth as a complex adaptive system: stable states, feedbacks, thresholds, Earth system boundaries, social-ecological system, adaptive cycles

4. Climate crisis: RCP scenarios, climate tipping points, climate justice, impact distribution

5. Biodiversity crisis: ecosystem conservation tools and their justifications, dimensions and variables

6. Pollution crisis: NIMBY and the environmental justice framework, responsibility for pollution

7. Quantitative sustainability analysis: footprints, GDP, HDI, labelling, greenwashing

8. Resources: fossil, renewable, water, land, nature’s contributions to people

9. Society & Development: nutrition, education, gender, rights and capabilities approaches

10. Economy: poverty, equality (equity), economic growth, degrowth

11. Governance: power, policymaking, participation

12. Sustainable Development Goals

Last update: Kočí Vladimír (09.06.2023)
Learning resources

Study materials on the department's intranet website.

Last update: Kočí Vladimír (09.06.2023)
Registration requirements

None.

Last update: Kočí Vladimír (09.06.2023)
Teaching methods
Activity Credits Hours
Účast na přednáškách 1 28
Příprava na přednášky, semináře, laboratoře, exkurzi nebo praxi 1 28
Příprava na zkoušku a její absolvování 1 28
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