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Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development

Approx. 9 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course focuses on sustainable development and how it can be achieved beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You will learn about the intersection of sustainability and development and explore innovative solutions to global issues.

Key Learning Points

Learn about the intersection of sustainability and development
Explore innovative solutions to global issues
Gain a deeper understanding of sustainable development beyond the SDGs

Learning Outcomes

Understand the complex intersection of sustainability and development
Examine innovative solutions to global issues
Evaluate sustainable development beyond the SDGs

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of sustainable development and the SDGs
Ability to think critically and creatively

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

Similar Courses

Sustainable Development
Innovative Solutions

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Naoko Ishii
Amina J. Mohammed

Related Books

The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis

Description

We’re excited you’re here! This course, “Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development,” is the first course in the Sustainability and Development MasterTrack® Certificate, but you can also take this course as a stand-alone learning opportunity.

Sustainability and development pose unprecedented challenges as human societies grow and seek to ensure future wellbeing and prosperity. In this course, we’ll focus on addressing the twin challenges of sustainability and development with actionable knowledge for innovating solutions to the world’s most pressing problems like climate change, poverty and inequality, and biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Rather than sustainability being a qualifier for development (e.g. sustainable development), we conceptualize Sustainability and Development as co-equal fields of inquiry and action that seek to build bridges between the natural, social and applied sciences and the humanities. When sustainability and development are placed on an equal footing, it requires us to think more explicitly about the trade-offs, co-benefits and synergies between them, which we will be exploring in depth in each week. Throughout the course, you will be introduced to the theoretical currents in Sustainability and Development, and will garner an in-depth understanding of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We will also consider the methods and skills necessary for designing innovative solutions to sustainability and development problems through the emerging field of Sustainability Science. In this course, we will explore three of the most pressing challenges undergirding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including climate change, poverty and inequality, and ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, with case studies to guide and challenge our thinking. In the final week of the course, we will discuss the trade-offs, co-benefits and synergies between these challenges, especially as they relate to designing innovative solutions for achieving our sustainability and development goals. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1. Understand and explain the world’s most pressing problems with a specific focus on poverty & inequality, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, and climate change. 2. Critically analyze the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relationship to the world’s most pressing problems. 3. Use frameworks and evidence necessary to develop solutions. 4. Assess relevant solutions that would help realize the SDGs and at the same time solve the pressing problems. 5. Apply skills learned to implement solutions.

Knowledge

Understand and explain the world’s most pressing problems (focus: poverty & inequality, ecosystem degradation & biodiversity loss, climate change)
Critically analyze the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relationship to the world’s most pressing problems
Use frameworks and evidence necessary to develop solutions and Apply skills learned to implement solutions
Assess relevant solutions that would help realize the SDGs and at the same time solve the pressing problems

Outline

Introductions to the Course
Introduction to the Course
Created in the time of COVID-19
Why Sustainability AND Development?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in this Course
Background and Scope for Achieving the SDGs
Recommended resources from Achieving the SDGs lecture
Course Syllabus
Help us learn more about you!
Week 1: Introductions

Climate Change
An Introduction to SDG 13: Climate Action
Climate Vulnerability & Adaptive Capacity in NE Brazil
Introduction to Michigan Sustainability Cases and Gala Platform
Case: Climate and Development
Week 2: Climate Change

Poverty and Inequality
Poverty, Inequality and Strategies to Address Them: Introduction
Definitions of Poverty
Introduction to 'What is Poverty?' and 'How is Poverty Measured?'
Measures of Poverty
Introduction to 'Hans Rosling's 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes'
Capacity to Reduce Poverty
Causes and Effects of Poverty and Inequality
Mechanisms to Address Poverty and Inequality
Attempts to Address Poverty and Inequality
Social Assistance Programs
Effectiveness of Social Assistance Programs in Poverty Reduction
Income Generation Programs
Logic of Income Generation Programs: Graduation Programs
Different Forms of Capitals
Unemployment Benefit Programs
Drivers of Unemployment Benefits
Ecotourism and Payment for Ecosystem Services
Payments for Ecosystem Services: Continued
Examples of Payment for Ecosystem Services
Comparing Environment Vs. Economic Programs for Effects on Poverty
Future Trends that will Influence Poverty and Inequality
'What is Poverty?' and 'How is Poverty Measured?'
'The Poverty Trap'
'Hans Rosling's 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes'
'Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES)'
Case: Poverty, Environment, and Inequality
Week 3: Poverty and Inequality

Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Degradation
An Introduction to Ecosystem Degradation & Biodiversity Loss
What is driving change and what are the impacts?
What can we do to ameliorate these changes?
Opportunities to dive deeper and learn more
Case: Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Degradation
Week 4: Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Degradation

Trade Offs and Synergies
An Introduction to Sustainability Science
Implications for Sustainability and Development
Trade-Offs, Co-Benefits, and Transitions
Five Transitions of Human Societies: Demographic and Energy
Five Transitions of Human Societies: Forest, Agricultural, and Nutrition
How can past transitions guide sustainability transitions?
What can trade-offs and co-benefits look like?
Five programmatic examples demonstrating trade-offs and co-benefits
Improving Sustainability Solutions
Share Course Feedback!
Week 5: Trade Offs and Synergy

Summary of User Reviews

Discover how to address sustainability and development beyond the Sustainable Development Goals with this course from Coursera. Students have praised the expert instructors and engaging content.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Expert instructors

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging content
In-depth coverage of sustainability topics
Flexible schedule for completing coursework
Helpful peer review system
Interactive learning activities

Cons from User Reviews

Lack of personalized feedback from instructors
Some technical difficulties with the online platform
Course may be too advanced for beginners
Limited interaction with other students
Lengthy lectures may be difficult to follow

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