FutureLearn

Introduction to Sustainability and Development (FutureLearn)

Offered by Deakin University,

Discover the impact of human activity on our planet, and what we can do to ensure a sustainable future for everybody. This online course explores why and how human activity impacts negatively on the environment, why this is important, and what we are trying to do about it.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Explore the relationship between humans and the environment

What is sustainability and what is development?
What impact has human activity had on the environment?
What actions have we taken so far for sustainable development?
What actions may we need to take for a sustainable future?

What topics will you cover?
The key topics addressed in this course on sustainability in contemporary international and community development, include:

Diverse understandings of sustainability and development
Changing planetary conditions and the growing human population
What the future might look like, and the potential for technology to save us

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

Critically review diverse perspectives of sustainable development
Investigate how interactions between human development and environmental life support systems are/have been managed in real world cases
Identify the characteristics and be able to differentiate between development, sustainability and sustainable development

Go to Class

MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

FutureLearn

St George's, University of London

Medical Equipment Donations to Low Resource Settings (FutureLearn)

Health & Society Medicine & Pharmacology

Learn how to plan a medical equipment donation to a low-resource setting that's appropriate, sustainable, and has a real impact. Navigate the pitfalls of planning and organising donations of medical equipment. Unavailability of essential clinical equipment can be a serious problem in low-resource settings. On this course, developed in collaboration with the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET), you‘ll learn best practices in planning a donation of medical equipment to a low-resource setting.

Self Paced

2 Weeks

Planning Health Sustainability

FutureLearn

The Open University

Understanding Development Management (FutureLearn)

Health & Society

Build your knowledge of the development sector and discover how development can be managed with this online course. Get a taste of the Open University's Development Management degree. Development can mean different things to different people. For development managers around the world, it’s about the process of bringing about change and achieving social justice. But how can development be managed and what tools do development managers need? On this course, you will discuss the answers to these questions and boost your understanding of development management as a whole.

Aug 12th 2024

2 Weeks

Development Global Development Development Management

FutureLearn

Hanken School of Economics

Organising for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (FutureLearn)

Management & Leadership Sci: Environment

What are the Sustainable Development Goals and how will we achieve them? Learn how you can work towards the United Nations’ SDGs. Learn how to tackle sustainability challenges through the 17 SDGs. The world is facing unprecedented and pressing social and environmental challenges. On this course, you’ll explore the what, why and how of the 17 SDGs and understand what key global challenges remain as we work towards a sustainable and inclusive world.

Jan 20th 2025

5-12 Weeks

Sustainability Global Change Environment

FutureLearn

University College London,Transforming Urban Mobility Initiative - TUMI,EIT Urban Mobility,ICLEI

Achieving Transitions to Zero Carbon Emissions and Sustainable Urban Mobility (FutureLearn)

Health & Society Sci: Environment

Discover how cities can transform their urban mobility systems to become more sustainable and reach zero carbon emissions. Understand the steps to becoming sustainable city. Transport accounts for a large proportion of carbon emissions, so ensuring urban mobility systems are sustainable is key to helping cities to achieve zero-carbon goals. On this four-week course, you’ll discover how cities can transition their mobility systems to become sustainable, innovative, and inclusive.

Self Paced

4 Weeks

Sustainability Sustainable Cities Urban Mobility

FutureLearn

EIT Food,EIT

Nutrition for Health and Sustainability (FutureLearn)

Food & Nutrition Health & Society

Learn what makes up a healthy, sustainable diet and how certain food types can help to treat and prevent disease. Explore the relationship between health, nutrition, and sustainability. Diet is the biggest single risk factor for preventable diseases in the world and a key driver of diabetes, heart disease, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). On this course, you’ll look at what makes up a healthy diet, and see what types of foods play a crucial part in preventing diseases and improving wellbeing.

Sep 4th 2023

3 Weeks

Health Sustainability Nutrition

FutureLearn

University of Reading

Teaching Climate and Sustainability in Primary Schools: An Outdoor Learning Approach (FutureLearn)

Education Sci: Environment

Build your confidence teaching climate and sustainability outdoors and develop ideas to implement in your school. Discover the importance of climate education and outdoor learning. Children around the world are demanding comprehensive and up-to-date education on climate and sustainability. Most teachers agree climate change education should be compulsory in schools, yet many feel ill-equipped to teach it.

Self Paced

2 Weeks

Sustainability Climate Teaching

FutureLearn

University of Bath

Modern Building Design (FutureLearn)

Management & Leadership Sci: Environment

Learn how climate change, technology and regulation are changing modern building design and professional practice in construction. Climate change, technology and regulation are changing modern building design, and the professional practices of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.

Self Paced

3 Weeks

Sustainability Architecture Technology

FutureLearn

The Open University,UNESCO UNITWIN Complex Systems Digital Campus,The Glass-house

Enabling Community-Based Leadership in Design: Sustainable Development of Historic Faith Buildings (FutureLearn)

Management & Leadership Business

Mobilise the power of communities to re-imagine and shape their place. Learn how to enable communities to lead design initiatives in places of worship. Apart from being special places where people practise their faith, places of worship play an important role for the wider community by providing pastoral care and much-needed local services. Community-based design initiatives can enhance the value of these places as a sustainable resource for multiple communities.

Self Paced

5-12 Weeks

Sustainable Development Design Community-Led Design

FutureLearn

University of Leeds

Environmental Challenges: Hierarchy in Property Rights (FutureLearn)

Sci: Environment

How does language help us develop our relationship with nature and determine the rights of access and ownership? Increasing populations and social changes are pressurising our relationship with the environment. Property rights are embedded in power structures and land management. This course explores the different ways that nature is perceived by different types of societies and the impact of property rights on natural resource management.

Self Paced

2 Weeks

Property Rights Environment Environmental Challenges

FutureLearn

MINCA,Biji-biji Initiative

Social Innovation: Global Solutions for a Sustainable Future (FutureLearn)

Health & Society Business

Discover the power of social innovation, and how it can change the world for the better. Explore the importance of social innovation in a changing world. Social innovation is the process by which new ways of doing things are created to respond to society’s needs. This can be technological – embracing open-source or online technology, for example – or it can be social, via encouraging local entrepreneurship.

Self Paced

3 Weeks

Sustainability Innovation Social Innovation

FutureLearn

University of Leeds

Environmental Challenges: Scarcity and Conflict in the Natural Environment (FutureLearn)

Sci: Environment

War and conflict can severely disrupt the governance of the environment. What is the impact on both people and the environment? This course explores three aspects of conflict and resource scarcity, and applies these to explore decision making and negotiation skills. Human conflict has both short and long term effects on the natural world.

Self Paced

2 Weeks

Environment Conflict War

FutureLearn

University of Bristol

Unleash Your Potential: Sustainable Futures (FutureLearn)

Health & Society Sci: Environment

Learn about the sustainability challenges of the modern world, and make a positive contribution to society. Find out how to deal with world sustainability issues. United Nations (UN) countries have adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. On this online course, you’ll learn about these UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the different roles people can play in creating a sustainable future.

Self Paced

4 Weeks

Sustainability Sustainable Development Sustainable Development Goals