Workload: 40 hours per week
Faculty: MA. M. Huynen, International Centre for Integrated Assessment and Sustainable Development (ICIS), Maastricht University
Assessment: Written exam, assignments
 

Content and objectives
Sustainable development focuses on improving the quality of life for all of the Earth's citizens without increasing the use of natural resources beyond the capacity of the environment to supply them indefinitely. This course gives an introduction to the concept of sustainable development, the history of the concept and the different perspectives and uncertainties involved.

Concern for our ecological (and social) environment emerged in the early 1960s and was followed by a wide range of developments and milestones like the U.N. conference in Stockholm (1972), the publication of the Brundtland report (1987), the U.N. Conference in Rio (1992) and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (2002). Today it is acknowledged that achieving sustainable development at the global scale is one of the greatest challenges for the 21st century. However, sustainable development means different things to different people. The most frequently quoted definition is from the report Our Common Future (the Brundtland Report): "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." But many other definitions and interpretations can be found in existing literature.

The concept of sustainable development is critically important, because many of the key policy challenges facing the planet require a central focus on sustainability and development. Sustainable development requires an understanding that inaction has consequences and that we must find innovative ways to deal with the important economic, social and ecological trade-offs involved.

This course gives an introduction to the concept of sustainable development, the different perspectives involved and the implications of sustainable development for policymaking. During the course, students will:

• appreciate the contested meaning of sustainable development from a variety of perspectives, including the difference between ‘sustainable development’ and ‘sustainability’;
• explore the historical timeline of important developments and milestones related to sustainable development (incl. important international conferences);
• improve their understanding of the ecological-economic interface;
• identify the most important aspects of social sustainability (including intergenerational and intragenerational equity);
• identify the different perspectives on how to achieve a sustainable future;
• explore the climate change problem and the most important dilemma’s in climate change policy.

Literature

• Robinson, J. (2002). Squaring the circle? Some thoughts on the idea of sustainable development. Ecological Economics 48, 369-384
• Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. Science 162, 1243-1248
• UNEP (2002) Integrating Environment and Development 1972-2002. In: UNEP. Global Environmental Outlook 3. London; Earthscan Publications Ltd.
• Burg, J. (2003). The World Summit on sustainable development: empty talk or Call to Action. Journal of environment and development 12, 111-120
• Speth, JG (2003) Perspectives on the Johannesburg Summit. Environment 45, 24-29.
• Rees, W. (2002). Globalization and sustainability: Conflict or Convergence? Bulletin of science, technology and society, 22, 249-268.
• Rennen, W. and Martens, P. (2003). The globalisation timeline. Integrated Assessment.
• Ostrom, E. et al. (Eds), (2002). The drama of the commons. Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change. National Academic Press, Washington, USA
• WRI (2003). The world resources 2002-2004 Decisions for the earth: Balance, voice and power. Chapter 7: International Environmental governance. World Recourses Institute, Washington D.C.