The Great Sustainability Transition: Global to Local
Learn about global sustainability challenges and take local action in this comprehensive course on environmental issues.
Learn about global sustainability challenges and take local action in this comprehensive course on environmental issues.
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of global sustainability challenges and empowers learners to take local action. It covers four key areas: biodiversity, climate breakdown, pollution, and the great transitions needed for a sustainable future. Each module combines theoretical knowledge with practical local actions, encouraging students to engage directly with their environment. The course begins by examining biodiversity loss and conservation efforts, followed by an in-depth look at climate change causes, impacts, and solutions. It then explores various forms of pollution and their effects on ecosystems and human health. The final module ties everything together, discussing the economic and political transformations necessary for sustainable transitions. Throughout the course, students participate in hands-on activities such as biodiversity mapping, climate change discussions, local trash collection, and analyzing personal consumption habits. This approach bridges the gap between global challenges and individual actions, fostering a deep understanding of sustainability issues and the skills to address them locally.
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What you'll learn
Understand the concept of planetary boundaries and their importance for sustainability
Explore the causes and impacts of biodiversity loss, and learn about conservation strategies
Analyze the mechanisms of climate change, its global impacts, and potential solutions
Examine various forms of pollution and their effects on ecosystems and human health
Investigate the economic and political challenges in transitioning to sustainable systems
Develop skills for local environmental action and community engagement
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
3.83 Hours PreRecorded video
8 assignments
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FullTime access
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There are 4 modules in this course
This course provides a comprehensive overview of global sustainability challenges and strategies for local action. It is structured into four modules, each focusing on a critical aspect of environmental sustainability: biodiversity, climate breakdown, pollution, and the great transitions needed for a sustainable future. The curriculum combines theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on activities that encourage students to engage directly with their local environment. Key topics include planetary boundaries, biodiversity loss and conservation, climate change causes and impacts, various forms of pollution and their effects, and the economic and political transformations necessary for sustainable transitions. Throughout the course, students participate in local actions such as biodiversity mapping, climate change discussions, trash collection, and personal consumption analysis. This approach helps bridge the gap between global environmental challenges and individual actions, fostering a deep understanding of sustainability issues and developing skills to address them at a local level.
Week 1: Biodiversity
Module 1 · 8 Hours to complete
Week 2: Climate Breakdown
Module 2 · 5 Hours to complete
Week 3: Pollution
Module 3 · 4 Hours to complete
Week 4: The Great Transitions
Module 4 · 7 Hours to complete
Fee Structure
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Instructors
Associate Professor of Environmental Science
Dr. Paul Behrens is an Associate Professor at Leiden University, specializing in environmental change, sustainability, and the areas of energy, food, and economic systems. He is the author of The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Futures from the Frontiers of Climate Science (Indigo Press, 2020), which explores humanity’s trajectory and potential futures through a balance of pessimism and hope on topics like the economy, energy, land, and food. He has also contributed to Food and Sustainability, an interdisciplinary textbook for Oxford University Press. His research has been published in leading scientific journals and media outlets such as Nature Sustainability, Nature Energy, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Behrens won Leiden University's Discoverer of the Year Award in 2018, the Stan’s Award for Best Outreach in 2021, and the International Champion title in the Frontiers Planet Prize in 2023. His work also includes projects like CIRCOMOD, SiTaSol, and the Water and Society Lab.
Associate Professor Environmental Science
I am an Associate Professor in Environmental Science at Leiden University, the Netherlands. My research focuses on the impacts of contaminants on the environment.
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4.9 course rating
32 ratings
Frequently asked questions
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