Learning Goals

Knowledge

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader knows:

The Brundtland definition of sustainable development

The two dimensions of ‘Space’ and ‘Time’, or ‘here and there’ and ‘now and later’

The Triple P - ‘People’, ‘Planet’, ‘Profit’

The rebound effect

A series of problems that are decisive in respect of the necessity of sustainable development

A number of characteristic unsustainability problems – health issues as a result of unbalanced and insufficient food, space issues as a result of prosperity, the initiative to close cycles through a waste disposal fee.

Control versus adaptation

Paradigms, paradigm shifts and transitions

Recycling and reuse, and the difference between the two

Insight

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader understands:

The various major unsustainability problems are connected together in a complex manner.

Sustainable development is only possible when the various problems are dealt with collectively, or at the very least, other aspects of sustainable development are taken into consideration when tackling specific sustainability issues.

Unsustainability issues not only play a role in the developing nations, but also in the wealthy nations. Many of these issues are created by the interaction between the poorer and wealthier regions of the world.

Unsustainability issues are in part the result of prosperity and also in part the result of the unequal distribution of prosperity.

Solutions to the issues of unsustainability are frequently controversial, and they often result in fresh problems.

A sustainable society will never be achieved. Sustainable development will not lead to a rigid and unchanging society.

Sustainable development can be tackled using a top-down approach or a bottom-up approach (or using a combination of the two).

Sustainable development is a theme that features very regularly in the news.

Skills

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader can:

Recognise the two dimensions of ‘Space’ and ‘Time’ in a number of scenarios that are characteristic of sustainability.

Recognise aspects of ‘People’, ‘Planet’ and ‘Profit’ in a number of scenarios that are characteristic of sustainability.

Attitude

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader is:

Interested in sustainable development.

Aware of the fact that sustainable development – or, in any event, the consequences of unsustainability – will concern him or her directly, both as an individual and as a (future) professional.

Knowledge

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader knows:

One-way traffic and closed cycles

Positive and negative feedback

The terms resource, biodiversity, ecosystem and habitat

Overexploitation, biocapacity, fair share and ecological footprint

Renewable resources, growth resources

Insight

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader understands:

The significance of flaws in the system and the consequences for sustainable development

The effects of one-way traffic with regard to agriculture and livestock farming

The effects of one-way traffic in general

The causes and consequences of positive and negative feedback

A general picture of the nature and scope of the world population growth

Some causes and consequences of overexploitation

The poor efficiency of animal proteins

The risks to the environment and to peace due to foreign dependency on clean water

The connectedness between life forms in ecosystems

The primary causes for the degradation of the natural environment, and feedbacks that amplify or lessen this degradation

The rate at which species become extinct

Skills

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader can:

Recognise and provide examples of one-way traffic, and propose ideas for closing cycles

Provide examples of positive and negative feedback

Determine his or her own ecological footprint

Make the connection between the present wave of extinctions and earlier ones that have occurred throughout the planet’s history

Identify a number of consequences for the environment and for human beings as a result of the degradation of the natural environment

Attitude

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader is:

Aware that the current dominant human systems are not the only possibility

Persuaded of the serious consequences of the existing flaws in the systems

Interested in the question of which changes to the systems are conceivable

Curious as to sources of vigour that can be used to change the systems

Knowledge

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader knows:

The terms debt trap and poverty trap

GDP, GDP per capita

Purchasing power parity, PPP dollars and green GDP

Dematerialisation

The growing gap between rich and poor, both between rich and poor nations and within rich and poor nations

Characteristics of social exclusion

Transfer of unsustainability

Insight

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader understands:

The imbalance between people, planet and profit

Some different views on the relationship between the 3 P’s

The relationship between economic efficiency and consequences for society and the environment

The consequences of long-term continuous economic growth

The reasons for and the consequences of trade barriers and international trade subsidies

The primary aspects of unequal distribution

The cultural domination by wealthy nations

The relationship and the parallels between poverty in developing nations and poverty in wealthy nations

The causes and consequences of the debt trap suffered by the poor nations

The primary feedbacks that uphold poverty, wealth and inequality

The risks to society of the dehumanisation, segregation and social exclusion of and discrimination against minorities, including terrorism and war

The interconnectedness of numerous aspects of unsustainability

The crucial role of sustainable development

Skills

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader can:

Identify the advantages and disadvantages of some definitions of GDP

Identify the advantages and disadvantages of economic growth

Hold a discussion on the ethical aspects of (the extreme) unequal distribution of wealth

List personal priorities in respect of sustainable development

Express a personal standpoint with regard to dehumanisation

Determine his or her own opinion concerning the fair distribution of wealth

Attitude

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader is:

Prepared to approach the relationship between people, the natural environment and the economy from various angles

Prepared to not analyse poverty and disadvantages amongst people and countries in terms of debt, but rather in terms of causes, consequences and solutions

Ready to not only rely on efficiency as a criterion when it comes to making decisions

Realise that there are not only characteristics of other cultures that are rejected in his or her own land, but also characteristics that are broadly accepted, with all the intermediate phases

Aware that one must frequently weigh up incomparable interests and consequences within the framework of sustainable development

Inclined to find a connection between the various unsustainability issues

Knowledge

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader knows:

A number of divisions of the United Nations

A number of Millennium Development Goals

The European Court for Human Rights and the International Criminal Court

IGO’s and NGO’s

The terms substitution, aquaculture, novel protein food

CITES

Microcredit

Certificates such as FSC and Utz Kapeh

The terms civil society, public-private partnership, network, transdisciplinary, transition management

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as a way to operationalize sustainable development

Insight

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader understands:

The significance of sources of energy as counterparts to flaws in the fabric, which are the causes of unsustainability

The significance of UNCED (‘Rio’) and the WSSD with regard to sustainable development

The significance of the UN, the EU and the Council of Europe for sustainable development and human rights

The opportunities for small-scale local Agenda 21 projects, backed by international organisations

How sources of energy for sustainable development are classified according to the three capitals of people, planet and profit

The relativity of the PPP classification

The value of nature and the environment to sustainable development

Opportunities for individuals and for NGO’s to contribute to sustainable development

Opportunities for students to contribute to sustainable development during practical training

Technological opportunities for sustainable development

Opportunities for companies to contribute to sustainable development

Skills

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader can:

Identify three societal roles for a person – citizen, consumer and professional, and recognise the sustainable behaviour that fits each of the roles

List or find examples of contributions to sustainable development by NGO’s

Provide examples of his or her own sustainable development

List or find examples of technical innovations that can contribute to sustainable development

List or find examples of corporate social responsibility on the part of companies

Reach consensus in situations involving conflicts of interest

Attitude

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader is:

Persuaded that there are realistic opportunities for sustainable development

Aware of the fact that peace in Europe is not a given, from a historical perspective, and that consequently peace in the rest of the world is also feasible

Aware of the importance of support and consensus

Aware of the value of emancipation, participation and diversity

Able to personally contribute to sustainable development on the basis of three roles – as citizen, consumer and (future) professional

Knowledge

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader knows:

The terms one-child policy, aging population, end-of-pipe technology and outsourcing

The general history of the development of the EU

The Schengen Agreement

The prisoner’s dilemma

The tragedy of the commons

The terms consequence scope and consequence period

Insight

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader understands:

Various ways in which the wealthy nations of today transfer their problems to elsewhere or to a later time

The consequences and limitations of the Basel Convention as an example of an international treaty for restricting this process of transfer

The general backgrounds, the present situation and the perspectives of four regions on the planet (China, India, the EU and ECOWAS) as examples of stages of development, development issues and perspectives on sustainability

The basics of the complex and sometimes contrary relationship between democracy, human rights and the progress of sustainable development

The problems caused by the caste system in India when it comes to sustainable development

Situations that lead to child labour, debt slaves, child soldiers and the consequences of these issues in terms of people and nations developing

The significance of the prisoner’s dilemma and of the tragedy of the commons with regard to sustainable development

The difference between short-term and long-term thinking, and the human inclination to primarily consider the short term

Skills

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader can:

Provide examples of situations in various regions where the conflicting interests of humans, the economy and the environment are clearly exposed

Identify a number of characteristic similarities and differences between developments in China and India

Identify a number of characteristic similarities and differences between developments in the EU and ECOWAS region

Gather data on various regions and make use of online databases from, amongst others, the UN

Identify types of responsibility and recognise these in real life situations

Detail the prisoner’s dilemma and recognise it in realistic situations

Make decisions on the basis of the ‘Directions for a good decision’

Attitude

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader is:

Conscious of the issues and the progress in a region like the ECOWAS

Inclined to always first conduct a full stakeholder analysis for professional tasks, on the bases of the consequence scope and consequence period, and to take the results into account

Inclined to take both short-term and long-term perspectives into account

Prepared to acknowledge shared responsibility for the inequalities prevalent in the world, not as an acknowledgment of a debt of sorts, but rather as an undertaking to contribute more to shrinking this inequality

Knowledge

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader knows:

The terms futurology, trend, trend extrapolation, trend shift, trend break and robust trend

The terms system lag, time-lag effect and anticipating

Nanotechnology

The terms ozone layer and CFC

The terms population explosion and baby boom

The Club of Rome

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Insight

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader understands:

How the Mesopotamian and Easter Island civilisations were decimated, as an example of comparable processes in different eras and regions.

Optimistic and pessimistic expectations of the future (the rose-tinted and dark glasses)

Employing simulations, models and scenarios

Four growth models – uninhibited (exponential) growth, inhibited (logistical) growth, weakly inhibited growth and collapse

The long term consequences of exponential growth

The relationship between the growth percentage and the doubling time

The concepts of Malthus

The ‘standard scenario’ for the development of a civilisation

The significance of the World3 model conceived by Meadows et al and the implications of the various scenarios that arise from it

Skills

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader can:

Outline the significance of exploring the future in respect of sustainable development

Outline the significance of prophets and seers, science fiction authors and futurologists when it comes to exploring the future

Detail various methods that futurologists employ

Consider the future in terms of scenarios

Detail a number of concrete threats to our civilisation

Investigate the fox-rabbit model (by Lotka & Volterra) using two computer programmes

Outline system lag using the ozone layer as an example

Consider more or less desirable future societies, in part using the results of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Attitude

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader is:

Prepared to draw lessons from the past

Aware that many civilisations have succumbed in part due to overpopulation and the overexploitation of the environment

Aware that our own civilisation could disappear

Be conscious of the necessity of including long-term considerations when it comes to making policy

Not inclined to view future scenarios as predictions of the future, but rather as indications of possible developments

Knowledge

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader knows:

The natural greenhouse effect and the anthropogenic greenhouse effect

The terms emission, radiative forcing, stratosphere, troposphere and biosphere

The UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, the IPCC, the Copenhagen Accord, and the Paris Agreement

The ‘hockey stick’ diagram of temperatures on the planet in recent centuries

The primary consequences of the climate change

The terms El Niño and thermohaline circulation

The CO2 footprint

The terms economically extractable and peak oil

The terms nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, dismantling and stewardship cessation

Some major nuclear disasters in recent history

The terms extensification, biofuels, zero energy building, consumption cutting and hydrogen economy

The primary forms of sustainable energy as well as their advantages and disadvantages

Emission allowances, the cap-and-trade system

The precautionary principle

Insight

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader understands:

The natural greenhouse effect

The primary causes of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect

Causal and other relations

Linear and non-linear behaviour, system boundaries

A complex system and chaotic behaviour

Feedback systems that amplify or weaken the greenhouse effect

The risks of non-linear processes as a result of climate change, including changes to the weather and to ocean currents

The system of emissions trading in CO2

The primary advantages of and objections to nuclear energy

Why interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary cooperation can be of importance

The long-term perspective of nuclear fusion

The potential for cutting energy consumption

The growing competitiveness of sustainable energy, compared with fossil fuels

Skills

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader can:

Estimate the gravity of the climate problem, insofar as this is known

Identify the primary solutions to climate change

Recognise non-linear processes

Hold meaningful discussions on the use of various forms of energy

Consider the consequences and the various possible solutions to climate change, not only in the short term, but also in the long and the very long term

Identify what the hydrogen economy means, as well as what it does not mean

Attitude

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader is:

Inclined to take climate change seriously, not just as a normal person and consumer, but also in respect to their studies and/or professional activities

Inclined to interpret correlations not just as cause and consequence relationships

Inclined to not interpret all links and processes as only being linear

Prepared to take the interests of future generations into account, also those in the (very) distant future

Inclined to not only seek out solutions to major issues in one direction, but rather look for combinations

Prepared to seek out solutions to climate change, and to unsustainability in general, in his or her own behaviour as a consumer

Knowledge

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader knows:

The terms sustainable business practices, corporate social responsibility and future-oriented entrepreneurship

A number of national and international institutes promoting CSR

The opportunities of SMEs for CSR

What responsibility and accountability have in common and the differences between them

The term corporate governance

Lifecycle analysis, design for disassembly, eco-indicator

Integral chain management, cradle to cradle

LCCA

Integral healthcare

A number of ways in which businesses can cooperate with each other and with other organisations

Insight

By the conclusion of this chapter the reader understands:

The role of a corporate mission

The essence of CSR

Motives of businesses for focussing on CSR and on sustainable business practices

The paradigm shift from shareholder value to stakeholder value

The significance of sustainable product development and sustainable services

Chain-oriented thinking

Future opportunities for innovative companies

The necessity of regularly studying the future shareholder value of a company

The two cycles of a circular economy

The basic principles of a circular economy, from using waste till system changes

Skills

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader can:

Identify a number of aspects of CSR

Assess the value of the power of the consumer

Relate motivations for CSR to Maslow’s levels of motivation

List a number of extinct and threatened professions and business fields

Distinguish between facts, assumptions and opinions

Determine the rough ecological rucksack of an extant product

Weigh up the unweighable and subsequently make decisions

Identify a number of professional competences for sustainable development

Estimate to what extent he/she is sufficiently competent in respect of sustainable development

Attitude

At the conclusion of this chapter the reader is:

Prepared to bear personal responsibility

Prepared to be held personally accountable (transparency)

Inclined to employ his or her own conscience as a yardstick in terms of acting properly

Inclined to analyse his or her own actions in a critical light

Interested in his or her own potential for contributing to sustainable development, as well as in the question of which innovative level is most appropriate to him or her

Inclined to involve sustainable development as an aspect in projects and research and/or professional activities

Able to nourish his or her own dreams and ideals and introduce these in professional activities