Foundations of Sustainability Lectures

Summary: Home page for my two Foundations of Sustainability lectures, October 26 and November 2, 2011.

TOC: Introduction | Origins of Sustainability | Economic Aspects

Introduction

This site houses notes for Foundations of Sustainability lectures. We will address two learning goals from the syllabus for SUST605:

  1. Present and engage different definitions of sustainability and sustainable development, October 26
  2. Present an appreciation of the domain of economics of sustainability, November 2

October 26: The Brundtland Commission As the Origins of Sustainable Development

This material covers the original report from the Brundtland Commission and explains its origins and implications.

  1. Preview my Powerpoint presentation for the class.
  2. Browse the Brundtland Report and sample its findings and logic. This is a seminal historical document. I will explain the Brundtland Commission Report in class.
  3. Read the important Overview, noting the way that sustainable development was framed and the language used to define sustainable development, quoted below. Read the Brundtland section on sustainable development carefully. Note the Report's succinct working definition of sustainability: "Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
  4. See Professor Hayes's overview of Brundtland and the origins of Sustainable Development, which lays out important concepts for the course.
  5. Wiki presentation on Brundtland by Professor Hayes, including Wiki on Intergenerational Concerns and on Triple Bottom Line
  6. Lecture notes, part one and part two.

November 2: Economic Aspects of Sustainability

These readings introduce economic aspects for sustainers.

  1. For inspiration, we will start the class with Read Paul Hawken, graduation address, University of Portland, May 19, 2009, and his speech at Bioneers about his book, Blessed Unrest.
  2. Beyond Brundtland: Read Wolfgang Sachs, Fairness in a Fragile World: The Johanessburg Agenda, short version. Also, the full version is recommended.
  3. During class on October 26, I suggested two articles by Tom Friedman:
    1. Something is Happening Here, New York Times, October 11, 2011.
    2. Friedman is following up on his prior column on this topic, The Earth is Full, New York Times, June 11, 2011.
  4. In class on October 26, I referenced the disappointing emergence of a green economy. See Aaron Glantz, Number of Green Jobs Fails to Live Up to Promises, New York Times, August 18, 2011. Also, examine data on inequality among OECD nations.
  5. See Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Backing, Matthew Wald, New York Times, October 12, 2010. See also Google backs power cable for N.J. offshore wind, Eliot Caroom, Star Ledger, March 2011. See also Koch brothers declare war on offshore wind, Keith Harrington, Grist, July 15, 2011.
  6. I also recommended Donella Meadows, Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System. Note especially the leverage given to paradigm shifts.
  7. Please review the instantly classical article by Steffen, Will & Paul J. Crutzen & John R. McNeill. 2007: The Anthropocene: Are Humans Now Overwhelming the Great Forces of Nature?, Ambio v36n8 (December 2007): 614-621.
  8. View the presentation on economics and sustainability prepared to guide our class.
  9. Wayne Hayes, Economic Strategies for Sustainability, an overview of economics for sustainers, available as a MS Word download. See also lecture notes on approaching economics for sustainability. See also a workng definition of economics and my lecture notes on the economic strategies for sustainability.
  10. Peter Montague summarizes key points from Herman Daly's classic, Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development: Sustainable Development in Six Parts: Part I, II, III, IV. Note, for emissions trading, also see Annie Leonard, The Story of Cap and Trade.
  11. Wayne Hayes, Statement of Concern
  12. Discussion of Economics of Sustainability, spring 2012: see syllabus, schedule, Bulletin Board
©Wayne Hayes, Ph.D. | Initialized: 10/9/2011 | Last Update: 11/03/2011 | V. 1.4, Build #21