Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ulation growth, economic imbalances within and between societies, poverty, etc.
It then focuses in more detail on the key environmental sustainability challenges
of global warming and climate change, reviews the basic economic and market
failures which have led to current unsustainable trends, and reviews some of the
alternative approaches to economic indicators and measures of success, including
sustainable production and consumption (Norton
2012
).
Sustainability requires effective communication, dialogue and negotiation be-
tween different groups and stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions. Elements
aimed at building social skills for sustainability and for encouraging motivation are
shown in the left hand lower half of Fig.
1.8
. Active learning includes asking stu-
dents to evaluate the sustainability of their own lifestyles, and by two main projects
(MacVaugh and Norton
2011
).
The first project emphasizes that there are no fixed scientific definitions or rules
for SD, and individuals decide their own priorities and opinions. Students are asked
to think about which aspects of SD they think are most important, discuss with
another student and present to the class their initial conclusions and how (if at all)
they change as a result of the discussion. The second project envisages futures. It is
carried out in four stages; looking back at the past and comparing with now; con-
sidering the effects of the changes on health, energy and resources; looking at any
aspects of the past seen as preferable to current lifestyles; and envisaging the future.
Environmental Management and Sustainable Business
Many of the post-
graduates researching at the GSES will join businesses where their environmental
leadership skills may be applied. Unfortunately, many organizations do not see sus-
tainability as a priority, and it can be a tough challenge for a new recruit to try and
exert influence on an issue which is not their organization's main focus. This course
thus focuses on the interaction between business and sustainability, and how busi-
nesses can respond to sustainability and even include in their business objectives,
targets for a more sustainable world.
Issues in sustainable development which impact on business range from meet-
ing environmental regulations to more comprehensive social and workplace issues.
The course reviews indicators and tools for assessing performance in sustainabil-
ity and in reporting sustainability. It also looks at supply chain pressures such as
carbon reduction and rules on toxic substances and recycling. It then moves on
to alternative planning and analytical approaches, such as The Natural Step and
Natural Capitalism models for analysing business models and identifying ways of
integrating sustainability into strategy. Finally it covers the many fields where sus-
tainability thinking is driving innovation and new markets in ethical markets, en-
ergy efficiency, natural resources recycling and renewable energy, and other issues
such as government strategy, eco-design, sustainable organizations, 'Bottom of the
Pyramid' and ecosystem services.
This course also emphasizes that companies respond to environmental leader-
ship at the political level. An illustration of the importance of such leadership is Ja-
pan, which has varied considerably. On the main sustainability indicator of carbon
dioxide reduction, the new government in 2009 set a target to reduce 2020's CO
2
