ENVS671 - Sustainable Development Strategies: Purposes and Coverage

This course has several objectives. The central focus will be on developing a comprehensive understanding of the principles of sustainable development, an idea that was given prominence in the 1987 Report of the United Nations' World Commission in Environment and Development. This report defined sustainable development as:" . . . development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."


Behind this deceptively simple statement, however, lie a number of complex concepts: What is "development?" What types of "present needs" are we talking about? How will the "needs" of future generations be measured? What threats, practices, or processes will "compromise" these future needs? What changes in the distribution of wealth, access to health care, access to education, and participation in societal governance will be necessary to produce a truly "sustainable" society? The course will introduce students to the various dimensions of sustainable development.