Global Changes – Synthetic Outlook and the Concept of Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is a concept of civilization development based

on social, economic and environmental planning, which is intended to

ensure that the social and economic needs of present and future

generations are met, while maintaining or preventing excessive damage

to the natural environment. This course will discuss the mechanisms

that are critical to achieving sustainable development. The challenges of

today's world change over time, and meeting them requires a flexible

approach that goes beyond even the SD concept. Lectures also cover

issues related to communication and information.

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.

• Hopkins, R., Thomas, M., 2016. The essential guide to doing transition. Totnes: Transition Network.

• Nicoll, K., Zerboni A., 2020. Is the past key to the present? Observations of cultural continuity and resilience reconstructed from geoarchaeological records, Quaternary International Volume 545, pages 119-127

• O’Neill, D.W, Dietz, R., Jones, N. (Ed.), 2020. Enough is Enough: Ideas for sustainable economy in world of finite resources. The report of the Steady State Economy Conference, Leeds, UK: Centre for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy and Economic Justice for All

• Goodhart, M. E. (Ed.). 2016.Human rights: politics and practice. Oxford University Press.

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).

Written exam- test.

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