ENVS9701 Sustainable Environmental Management

2018

4.5

1 x 50-minute lecture weekly
1 x 60-minute workshop weekly
1 x 8-hour field placement per semester

1 Admission into MEMG-Master of Environmental Management
1a Admission into GCARCH-Graduate Certificate in Archaeology
1b Admission into GDPARCH-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology
1c Admission into MARCH-Master of Archaeology
1d Admission into GDPAHM-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology and Heritage Management
1e Admission into MAHM-Master of Archaeology and Heritage Management
1f Admission into MAHMA-Master of Archaeology and Heritage Management [1.5 years]
1g Admission into MHID-Master of Health and International Development
1h Admission into MGIS-Master of Geospatial Information Science
1i Admission into GCDA-Graduate Certificate in Development Administration
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a or 1b or 1c or 1d or 1e or 1f or 1g or 1h or 1i))

ENVS9003 has been successfully completed

The topic aims to develop the skills to formulate and execute strategy for sustainable environmental management. It introduces sustainability paradigm, current national and global policies, science and economics of sustainable environmental management. It utilises VARK (visual, aural, reading and kinesthetic) principles to enhance learning through a combination of field trips, group discussions, video making, presentations and report writing. Having provided the required foundation, it then gives an overview of the current ecosystem services approach for environmental management. It also discusses the associated risks, decision making tools available and a field exposure visit to understand the applicability of this approach. It concludes with discussing the strategic execution framework required to convert strategy into action through a business case.

Learning objectives:

1. To understand the changing paradigm of environmental sustainability
2. To gain knowledge about the science and economics of sustainability
3. To learn from real world exposure to our surroundings
4. To be able to develop and execute strategy for sustainable environmental management

In addition, the topic aims to develop the research skills (developing reach question, conducting research and technical writing) required to convert environmental strategy into action.

The topic is an introduction to the principles, methods and practice of sustainable environmental management. It starts with a discussion of the meaning of environmental sustainability and related concepts, and of the principles that make the concept operational. The topic then examines the main strategies for achieving greater sustainability, grouped into technological, environmental, economic, and consumption strategies. It then looks at the policy instruments available to try to change the environmental behaviour of people and organisations, and the decision-making tools that help to decide on appropriate actions. Finally, we examine how to develop sustainability strategies for an organisation, and for a region.

At the completion of the topic, students are expected to be able to:

1. Understand the concepts and principles of environmental sustainability
2. Understand the principles, opportunities and limitations of the major strategies available to promote greater environmental sustainability
3. Evaluate the policies and tools available to change the environmental behaviour of individuals, businesses and institutions towards outcomes which are more environmentally sustainable
4. Understand the ways in which, and the extent to which, environmental sustainability can be made compatible with economic development
5. Independently research an aspect of sustainable environmental management and present the results of the research in a professional form, both written and oral