The «What solutions for a sustainable world? course is an introduction to the challenges of sustainability and the solutions identified, either already in existence or yet to be developed, to meet them. It summarizes the scientific knowledge available on these issues.
This course has been designed as part of a Bachelor's-level university module, and is aimed at anyone wishing to learn more about these issues. Most of the content is presented in layman's terms to make it as accessible as possible, with no pre-requisites.
The course is divided into two main parts:
I. Problem space
II. Solution space
Sequencing is important for grasping key concepts. We recommend that you watch the different episodes of each part in order, especially the first part, to follow the thought process. The episodes are presented briefly below, with a list of references to help you delve deeper into each chapter.
Different types of resources are available
- For further information: suggestions for resources that can be explored without any particular prerequisites.
- Expert mode: scientific reports and articles requiring familiarity with this type of media.
- Other illustration sources: links to the sources of the images, videos and graphics that illustrate the course.
NB: this course is also available in Spanish (Parte I / Parte II) and English (Part I / Part II).
Part I: Problem space
The first part of the course presents the nature, complexity, orders of magnitude and interrelationships of the main environmental challenges we face.
Understanding planetary limits, these natural constraints, enables us to delimit the space in which human economic and social activities can develop without compromising the conditions of habitability on Earth.
It consists of 4 episodes of around 30 min, covering 8 chapters.
Episode 1
This first episode introduces the notion of the Anthropocene. It presents the main demographic, economic, social and environmental characteristics of human development. It then looks at the central role of energy in these transformation processes, and continues with the operating principles of the biosphere.
Chapter 1: Introducing the Anthropocene
Chapter 2. The central role of energy
Chapter 3. The main principles of the biosphere
Episode 2
This episode presents the scientific theory of planetary limits and its various components. The exploration of the different orders of magnitude of humanity's metabolism begins with energy.
Chapter 4. Planetary limits
Chapter 5: Human metabolism: orders of magnitude and limits of physical resources
- 5.1 Energy
Episode 3
Following on from episode 2, this episode introduces the other resources and physical constraints of human metabolism: mineral resources, greenhouse gases, climate change and other types of pollution.
- 5.2 Metals and other mineral resources
- 5.3 Pollution
- 5.4 Greenhouse gases
- 5.5 Other pollution
Episode 4
This final episode looks at the impact on the biosphere and the limits to the exploitation of living resources. It takes a forward-looking look at humanity's future needs, and reviews some of the theoretical models and institutional frameworks that can help us devise possible solutions to these global challenges, which are detailed in the second major part.
Chapter 6. Human metabolism: orders of magnitude and limits of resources derived from living matter
- 6.1 Biosphere
- 6.2 Marine environments
- 6.3 Land environments
Chapter 7. Future development needs
Chapter 8. Framing the solution space
Resources
In this PDF, you'll find reference articles for further reading on the topics presented in the various episodes, as well as the sources of the illustrations used.
Part II: Solution space
The second part of the course presents different ways of addressing the issues explored in the first part.
The episodes cover different, complementary topics. They propose broad approaches, systematically illustrated by examples from the field or from specialists in the field.
The series consists of 9 episodes, each lasting around 60 minutes.
Episode 1 - Introduction
This introductory episode takes up the key elements of the first part and explains the construction methodology of the following episodes.
Episode 2 - Measuring what counts
This episode looks at what is really relevant to evaluate.
It presents work on the various components of “quality of life” and on ways of measuring human prosperity.
The episode ends with examples of alternative indicators to GDP that have been proposed to measure the “richness” of human life.
Episode 3 - Stabilizing the climate
This episode looks at the various complementary courses of action being considered, depending on the sector of activity, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to “net zero”, the point at which climate change could be halted.
Episode 4 - Changing the energy system
Following on from the episode on climate stabilization, this episode presents the major levers identified to decarbonize energy production systems and limit their environmental impact.
Episode 5 - Transforming humanity's metabolism
Following on from the episode on the energy system, this episode looks at how mankind extracts and uses resources to keep itself going. It presents and illustrates, with examples, the main principles for limiting the quantity of matter that enters the cycle of production and consumption of material goods.
Episode 6 - Regenerating the biosphere
This episode presents possible approaches to protecting and regenerating the biosphere, and to halting the collapse of biodiversity.
Here again, the main principles are illustrated by examples of successful initiatives.
Episode 7 - Feeding humanity differently
This episode explores the issues involved in transforming agri-food systems and suggests ways of producing and consuming differently, in order to reduce environmental pressures, while enabling the whole of humanity to eat healthily.
Episode 4 - Changing the energy system
This episode explores the need to transform educational models.
It offers an overview of the innovative pedagogical models emerging to meet the challenges of contemporary education.
Through concrete examples, it encourages reflection on the new educational approaches needed to prepare today's and tomorrow's generations to meet our common challenges.
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