SUSTAINABILITY 3: SUSTAINABILITY AND THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY

The course aims to provide a broad and multi-perspective understanding of the concept of sustainability and its meaning in the current context of environmental and social crises. The escalating degradation of ecosystems and climate change, causing social and economic distress, is linked to the excessive use of fossil and environmental resources and the resulting generation of waste. This socio-economic model has allowed, through technological and scientific development, a portion of the population to improve its living standards, but at the same time, it has compromised the health of ecosystems in various geographical areas, exacerbating social and generational inequalities. The course will explore the delicate interconnections that link ecosystem health to human health and social well-being, the functioning of current mitigation and adaptation strategies, the physical and economic dynamics that have led to the current environmental state, and possible shifts in perspective to develop a society oriented toward the care of ecosystems rather than their consumption.

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1. Acquiring the notions and the different enunciations of the concepts of sustainability, efficiency, circular economy
1.2. Understanding the pros and cons of different policies and strategies
1.3. Understanding the meaning of different indicators
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2.1. ability to calculate and apply environmental and socio-economic indicators and to understand and analyze results
3. Judgement skills
3.1. ability to critically evaluate the results of sustainability assessments within scientific literature
3.2. ability to analyze a system and perform a sustainability assessment

No particular requisites are needed to successfully participate in the discussion and the work of the course. A general knowledge of systems and of cause-effect relationships between human activities and the environment is adequate.

Climate change and sustainability, circular economy, indicators, strategies and pathways, case studies, evaluation methods, participatory science practices, environmental monitoring techniques, environmental education and narrative.

Various sources will be made available to students during the course in the form of articles, books and notes.

The students will work on assessing a case study or developing a possible research project, which will be presented by students and evaluated.

Frontal lessons, debate with students, critical analysis of scientific works, development of a case study, educational outings, IBSE (inquiry-based science education), artistic project

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development