Mining and Materials for Sustainable Development Transformations (edX)

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Agenda 2030 outline a global consensus on the interlinked needs to curb human-induced climate change and achieve sustainable development. The underlying transformations needed to achieve climate goals and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include the rapid decarbonization of our global energy systems and economies, and a scale-up of new technologies to meet the needs of a growing population. Mining and materials are at the heart of these sustainable development transformations and present both challenges and opportunities. Despite the important implications for mining investments and mineral-rich governments, the world still lacks a coherent vision to guide global actors in shifting the course of mining projects and mining companies in a way that leads to deep decarbonization; protects and preserves our fragile ecosystems; addresses the development needs of resource-dependent, low-income countries; and respects the rights and interests of impacted communities.

This course examines these challenges and opportunities and how we can pursue all these transformations in a manner consistent with human rights, poverty elimination, social inclusion, protection and preservation of ecosystems, and economic development.

This course is for:

- Mid- to senior-level government officials; members of parliament; and parliamentary staffers

- Civil society leaders with a track record of analysis, oversight, and policy advocacy related to mining, the environment, climate action, or a just energy transition

- Professors, researchers, graduate students, and other academics undertaking applied research or teaching on mining, the environment, climate action, or a just energy transition

- Professionals from development agencies, including aid agencies and international financial institutions

- Representatives from extractive industry or renewable energy companies and associations such as chambers of energy and minerals or industry think tanks

- Anyone interested in the role of extractive industries in the energy transition

What you'll learn

In this course, you will learn from leading experts in various areas of knowledge and with diverse viewpoints. Key topics covered include:

- The relevance of the energy and technological transformations to mining and materials value chains and their stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, companies, financiers, civil society, local communities, and the general public

- The roles and responsibilities of mining and materials stakeholders in the sustainable development transformations, including climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience

- The sustainable development challenges of renewable energy systems and an increasingly urbanized and digital economy

- Security of supply of critical minerals

- The environmental, climate, social, human rights, and economic impacts of mining and materials value chains

- The role of national plans, strategies, laws, and policies in addressing these challenges

Syllabus

Module 1: Contextualizing the scale and urgency of the energy and technological transitions that underpin the Sustainable Development Goals

Module 2: How the world is making, measuring, and monitoring progress toward global goals

Module 3: Decarbonization pathways and implications for mining and materials value chains

Module 4: Implications of sustainable development transformations for governments of mineral-rich countries

Module 5: Mining and materials value chains and the circular economy

Module 6: Going up and down mining and materials value chains

Module 7: Implications of sustainable development transformations for communities, workers, and suppliers in mineral-rich countries

Module 8: Implications of sustainable development transformations for national planning processes