Global Changes – Synthetic Outlook and the Concept of Sustainable Development 4030-GCOSD
The challenges of today's world change over time, and meeting them requires a flexible approach that goes beyond even the SD concept. The course is taught by lecturers representing various scientific disciplines, and the topics presented may change as approaches to sustainable development and proposed solutions to the current situation on Planet Earth evolve. However, they are organized around five thematic blocks:
1. An introduction to the causes and mechanisms of global environmental changes.
2. The history of interactions between humans and nature.
3. The mechanisms, causes, and consequences of climate change, water depletion, disruptions in the water cycle, pollution, disturbances in biogeochemical cycles, and the biodiversity crisis. 4. The historical and institutional background of the concept of sustainable development.
5. The interdisciplinary nature of sustainability science.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
After the course, students will have general knowledge of main mechanisms and drivers of the global change and about the course of building the modern concept of sustainability. They will also develop a deeper understanding about the interconnections between various human activities and responses of the regional and global ecological system.
After finishing the course the student:
- understands the concept of sustainable development in all its aspects (K_W01);
- knows global and regional environmental, social and economic threats and understands their interrelations (K_W02);
- recognizes problems and challenges of sustainable development and can choose appropriate methods, tools and procedures leading to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in various spatial scales (global, regional, local) and sectors of economy (K_W03);
- will gain a deeper understanding of the social, legal and technological tools, as well as planning and economic tools for implementing sustainable development in various areas of activity (K_W05;
- understand history of interaction between human and nature (K_W10);
- is able to understand interdisciplinary approaches from different subject disciplines in order to synthesize new ideas and concepts serving the environment and sustainable development (K_U03);
- can identify strengths and weaknesses of standard measures undertaken to solve sustainability problems (K_U07);
- will be encouraged to actively participate in the implementation of the principles and goals of sustainable development (K_K01);
- will be encouraged to seek new technologies to implement sustainable development (K_K05).
Assessment criteria
Written exam- test.
Practical placement
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Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: