Centre for Development, Environment and Policy

Transcription

1 Centre for Development, Environment and Policy P501 Understanding Sustainable Development Prepared by Dr Ben Daley SOAS 3736

2 MODULE INTRODUCTION ABOUT THIS MODULE The language of sustainable development and sustainability is now ubiquitous; these are terms and ideas that are encountered anywhere from international conference centres (as at the Rio+20 summit) to the labels of produce on supermarket shelves; the glossy reports produced by multinational corporations; the performance targets of local authorities; the packaging and instruction manuals of consumer goods; and the efficiency ratings of cars, aeroplanes, houses and electronic appliances. The idea of sustainable development emerged during the late twentieth century in response to growing concerns about the apparent failure of conventional, state-led development initiatives and about the extent and pace of environmental degradation, especially at the global scale. Sustainable development has rapidly become a popular term yet one that is also ambiguous and fiercely contested. As Jonathon Porritt, past Chairman of the former UK Sustainable Development Commission has acknowledged, sustainable development is a notoriously slippery term that can mean practically nothing to people, or practically everything. Indeed, some versions of sustainable development demand radical social re-organisation including new forms of government and governance in order to promote more just relations between societies and environments, whilst other versions of sustainable development amount to little more than business as usual. Therefore, it is important to understand the concept of sustainable development and the various ways in which it is used. In its most authoritative form, sustainable development is associated with some important, core principles that deserve critical examination. In this module, the idea of sustainable development is explained and explored. Some influential definitions of sustainable development are considered and the main principles of sustainable development are explained. An account of the emergence and evolution of the concept of sustainable development is also provided in order to explain the historical context of current debates. Mainstream notions of sustainable development are outlined together with some of the key strategies that have been devised to promote sustainable development. Various resistances to the concept, and some alternative approaches to sustainable development, are also examined critically. The main ideas presented in this module are illustrated using case studies, including accounts of two major global environmental issues: biodiversity loss and climate change. Overall, this module provides an overview of some of the most important areas of debate and controversy in relation to sustainable development. SOAS CeDEP 1

3 STRUCTURE OF THE MODULE The module consists of ten units which are best followed sequentially. Unit 1 provides an introduction to the core challenge of sustainable development: the problem of balancing the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of development, both for people now and for future generations. In Units 2 7, the emphasis is placed on understanding various definitions of, and the evolution of ideas about, sustainable development. Mainstream sustainable development is discussed, together with various alternative approaches and perspectives. The account emphasises that sustainable development is a political process, one that raises important ethical questions. In Units 8 9, those ideas are applied to case studies that illustrate the complexity of debates about sustainable development. Some key ideas and organising principles those that recur throughout the course are summarised in Unit 10. SOAS CeDEP 2

4 WHAT YOU WILL LEARN Module Aims This module introduces students to definitions of, and approaches to, sustainable development to enable them to develop a better understanding of the concept and its implications for policy and decision-making. The specific aims of the module are: To explain the core challenge of sustainable development. To define sustainable development. To provide an overview of the emergence and evolution of the concept of sustainable development. To outline the main strategies for promoting sustainable development. To present some alternative perspectives, approaches and critiques. To illustrate some important, current issues and debates in sustainable development using case studies. Module Learning Outcomes By the end of this module, students should be able to: define, understand and evaluate critically the concept of sustainable development understand and evaluate critically the main principles of sustainable development understand and evaluate critically the emergence and evolution of the concept of sustainable development understand and evaluate critically the main strategies for promoting sustainable development understand and evaluate critically a range of alternative approaches and perspectives towards sustainable development understand and evaluate critically some of the most important current issues and debates in relation to sustainable development SOAS CeDEP 3

5 ASSESSMENT This module is assessed by: an examined assignment (EA) worth 20% a written examination in October worth 80% Since the EA is an element of the formal examination process, please note the following: (a) The EA questions and submission date will be available on the Online Learning Environment. (b) The EA is submitted by uploading it to the Online Learning Environment. (c) The EA is marked by the module tutor and students will receive a percentage mark and feedback. (d) Answers submitted must be entirely the student s own work and not a product of collaboration. For this reason, the Online Learning Environment is not an appropriate forum for queries about the EA. (e) Plagiarism is a breach of regulations. To ensure compliance with the specific University of London regulations, all students are advised to read the guidelines on referencing the work of other people. For more detailed information, see the User Resource Section of the Online Learning Environment. SOAS CeDEP 4

6 STUDY MATERIALS The module is supported by a textbook, together with a selection of readings taken from books, journals and other publications. These readings form an integral part of the module and are listed in the introduction to each unit as Key Readings and Further Readings. You will find the Key Readings crucial to your full understanding of the unit and their content is examinable. You may also wish to read the Further Readings as they add depth to the unit material and may help your understanding and appreciation of the complexities of the subject matter. (A selection of works of literary fiction is also provided in the Further Readings which may provide an alternative perspective on some of the issues covered more formally in the units.) The introduction to each unit contains an outline of the readings and explains how they complement the module. In addition, many useful sources of information are available on the Internet. Websites of particular relevance to each unit are listed in the introduction to each unit. There is one textbook for this module. Adams WM (2009) Green Development: Environment and Sustainability in a Developing World, 3rd edition. Routledge, Oxon. This book provides a detailed, highly-respected account of the historical roots, emergence and evolution of the concept of sustainable development, together with some balanced and critical discussions in several chapters of the relevance of the concept of sustainable development to various environmental and development issues. SOAS CeDEP 5

7 INDICATIVE STUDY CALENDAR Unit Unit title Study time (hours) Unit 1 The challenge of sustainable development 10 Unit 2 Defining sustainable development 15 Unit 3 The evolution of the concept 15 Unit 4 Types of sustainable development 15 Unit 5 Promoting sustainable development 15 Unit 6 Alternative perspectives 15 Unit 7 Measuring sustainable development 10 Unit 8 Biodiversity conservation and sustainable development 15 Unit 9 Climate change and sustainable development 15 Unit 10 A starting point? 10 Examined Assignment Check the online learning environment for submission deadline 15 Examination entry Revision and examination preparation End-of-module examination July September October SOAS CeDEP 6

8 ACRONYMS CBD CDM CH 4 CO 2 CO 2 e CPM CSD DEFRA DFID DSD EAC EC ECCP ESI EU EU ETS FAO GCLA GDP GEF GEO GNH GNP GPI GWP HDI HFCs ICLEI IPCC ISEW IUCN JI Convention on Biological Diversity Clean Development Mechanism methane carbon dioxide carbon dioxide equivalent Capability Poverty Measure Commission on Sustainable Development Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department for International Development Division for Sustainable Development Environmental Audit Committee European Commission European Climate Change Programme Environmental Sustainability Index European Union European Union Emissions Trading Scheme/System Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Global Leadership for Climate Action gross domestic product Global Environment Facility Global Environment Outlook Gross National Happiness gross national product Genuine Progress Indicator global warming potential Human Development Index hydrofluorocarbons International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare International Union for the Conservation of Nature Joint Implementation SOAS CeDEP 7

9 LA21 Local Agenda 21 LASALA Local Authorities Self-Assessment of Local Agenda 21 LPI MAB MDGs N 2 O NGO NO x O 3 OECD ONS PFCs ppmv SDC SDGs SDI SDIs SDS SEEA SF 6 SNA SNI UN UNCED UNCHE UNDP UNEP UNFCCC VALCO WBCSD WCED WEF WI WRAP WRI Living Planet Index Man and Biosphere Millennium Development Goals nitrous oxide non-governmental organisation nitrogen oxides ozone Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Office for National Statistics perfluorocarbons parts per million by volume Sustainable Development Commission Sustainable Development Goals Sustainable Development Index Sustainable Development Indicators Sustainable Development Strategy System of Environmental and Economic Accounts sulphur hexafluoride System of National Accounts Sustainable National Income United Nations United Nations Conference on Environment and Development United Nations Conference on the Human Environment United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Volta Aluminium Company World Business Council for Sustainable Development World Commission on Environment and Development World Economic Forum Well-being Index Waste and Resources Action Programme World Resources Institute SOAS CeDEP 8

10 WSSD WWF Word Summit on Sustainable Development World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund) SOAS CeDEP 9