Living with Climate
Change
A course that offers a practical
introduction to sustainability
What the syllabus
offers:
Sessions
- Introduction - Attitudes
and understanding
Outline of the impact of human attitudes and activities in creating the problems of climate change
Introduction to sustainability literature
- Possibilities for
immediate action
Introduction to theme of taking action that is low in cost and easy to undertake
Suggestions about the ways literature can be used to provide ideas for action
Discussion about learners' experience of local facilities to encourage sustainability
Introduction to organisations with a sustainability agenda
- Potential for future
sustainable development
Introduction to the recent history of international debate about sustainable development
Description of international, national and local organisations with a sustainability agenda
Discussion about how to participate in the activities of such organisations
Introduction to the technological developments devised to help achieve sustainability
- Perceptions of the
environment workshop
Discussion about the differences between one's own and other people's perception of 'the environment' and 'environmental problems', initially in small groups with feedback to and further discussion within the whole group
Explanation of the way in which the workshop output is to be used by learners as part of their course portfolio
Introduction to concept of creating a personal sustainable development strategy and contributing to organisational strategies
- Human impact on the
environment
Outline of the current scientific evidence for climate change and theories about causes
Explanation of internationally recognised environmental concerns (i.e. climate change, deforestation and Biodiversity) and the current national and local response to these problems
Introduction to the philosophies behind the different responses to environmental problems and outline of the research on this subject that learners are asked to undertake in their own time
- Philosophies for change
Description of the political, scientific, religious and personal philosophies that have been proposed as the basis for sustainable living in the future
Outline of how these ideas have and could be used to frame and evaluate personal and corporate action
Introduction to the way consumption patterns impact on the environment and outline of the research on this subject that learners are asked to undertake in their own time
- Consumption
Description of the problems caused by over-consumption and pollution and strategies for reducing demand and recycling and renewing resources
Introduction to the role that purchasing behaviour can affect environmental impact and outline of the research on this subject that learners are asked to undertake in their own time
- Purchasing
Description of the environmental problems caused by current production and distribution methods and use of alternative purchasing patterns to help to reduce environmental impact
Introduction the concept of sustainable energy and outline of the research on this subject that learners are asked to undertake in their own time
- Energy
Description of thermodynamics and its global significance, energy efficiency and renewable energy
Introduction to the environmental impact of travel and methods of transportation and outline of the research on this subject that learners are asked to undertake in their own time
- Travel
Description of the reasons, modes and individual requirements that dictate current patterns of travel and alternative patterns of behaviour
Introduction to the relationship between care of the body and sustainability and outline of the research on this subject that learners are asked to undertake in their own time
- Food, clothing and
health
Description of the experiments that have been undertaken in the growth and preparation of food and drink, the production and reuse of clothing and in health and body care that may contribute to sustainable living
An appreciation of how such developments may be incorporated in a personal or corporate sustainability strategy
Review of portfolio requirements and contents including personal sustainability strategy
- Designing a strategy for
action workshop
Review of how to apply the knowledge gained on the course and methods of constructing a sustainable development strategy
Description of the way in which the workshop output is to be used by learners as part of their course portfolio
Work, in small groups, on the possible content of a sustainable strategy document and feedback to the whole group
Review of whole course, feedback from learners and arrangements for submission of completed portfolios, the assessment process and the award of certificates
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