The Age of Sustainable Development" gives students an understanding of the key challenges and pathways to sustainable development - that is, economic development that is also socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
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Syllabus
WEEK 1
Course Materials
Information about the general course structure and reading list can be found here.
What is Sustainable Development?
Professor Sachs provides an overview of the challenges the world faces, and introduces the topic of sustainable development.
WEEK 2
Inequality Around the World
Professor Sachs delves into the reasons for and the measurements of inequality between and within countries.
WEEK 3
A Short History of Economic Development
Professor Sachs provides a history of economic development, starting with the Industrial Revolution and ending with the current state of modern economic growth.
WEEK 4
The History of Inequality
Professor Sachs analyzes the intersecting roles of various factors that contribute to some countries advancing while others do not.
WEEK 5
The MDGs and the End of Extreme Poverty
Professor Sachs outlines the pathways for achieving the end of extreme poverty.
WEEK 6
Growth within Planetary Boundaries
Professor Sachs details the various planetary boundaries and their implications for growth dynamics.
WEEK 7
Human Rights and Gender Equality
Professor Sachs delves into the ethics of wealth, poverty and inequality as well as the forces that widen inequalities.
WEEK 8
Education
Professor Sachs provides an overview of the state of modern education, and what needs to be achieved for sustainable development.
WEEK 9
Universal Health Coverage
Professor Sachs provides an overview of the challenges and pathways to achieving universal health coverage.
WEEK 10
Sustainable Food Supply and the End of Hunger
Professor Sachs provides an overview of food security, farm systems, and ecology and reviews what can be done to achieve a sustainable global food supply.
WEEK 11
Sustainable Cities
Professor Sachs looks into what makes a city sustainable, the patterns of urbanization, and pathways for urban resilience around the world.
WEEK 12
Curbing Climate Change
Professor Sachs provides an introduction to the science behind climate change, and describes the negotiations and policies that are necessary to mitigate and prevent the consequences.
WEEK 13
Saving Biodiversity
Professor Sachs reviews the various threats to the world's ecosystem and biodiversity.
WEEK 14
The SDGs
Professor Sachs recounts the history of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and describes what is necessary to achieve them.
