Sustainability Science: A Key to Tackling Global Challenges

Course Description

"Sustainability Science: A Key to Tackling Global Challenges" is an introductory-level course offered by UTokyoX that provides a comprehensive overview of sustainability issues and solutions from various disciplinary perspectives. This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand and address complex global sustainability challenges.

What Students Will Learn

• Historical and current sustainability issues worldwide
• Approaches to solve sustainability problems
• Industrial and water pollution control
• Challenges of aging and shrinking populations
• Human-nature connection and sustainable societies
• Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR)
• Urban-rural land use mixture for sustainable urban planning
• Environmental governance
• Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
• Japanese perspectives on sustainability issues

Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites for this course. It is designed as an introductory-level course, making it accessible to students from various backgrounds.

Course Coverage

• Sustainability science fundamentals
• Industrial pollution and control measures
• Water pollution and management
• Demographic challenges: aging and shrinking populations
• Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS)
• Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR)
• Urban planning and resilience in megacities
• Urban-rural land use mixture
• Environmental governance principles and practices
• Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
• Japanese initiatives and experiences in sustainability

Who This Course Is For

• Students interested in environmental studies, social sciences, or sustainable development
• Professionals working in fields related to sustainability, urban planning, or environmental management
• Policymakers and government officials involved in sustainability initiatives
• Individuals passionate about addressing global challenges and creating a sustainable future
• Anyone seeking to understand the complex interplay between human activities and the environment

Real-World Applications

• Developing sustainable urban planning strategies
• Implementing pollution control measures in industries
• Designing policies to address demographic challenges
• Creating educational programs for sustainable development
• Implementing ecosystem-based approaches to disaster risk reduction
• Improving environmental governance in organizations and communities
• Fostering human-nature connections in local and global contexts
• Conducting sustainability assessments and proposing solutions
• Participating in international sustainability initiatives and debates
• Applying Japanese perspectives and experiences to solve sustainability issues in other parts of the world

Syllabus Overview

1. Introduction to Sustainability Science
2. Industrial and Water Pollution Control
3. Demographic Challenges: Aging and Shrinking Populations
4. Human-Nature Connection and SEPLS
5. Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR)
6. Sustainable Urban Planning and Resilience
7. Environmental Governance
8. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
9. Japanese Perspectives on Sustainability
10. Case Studies and Global Applications