Introduction to Environmental Sustainability

This interdisciplinary course examines how human activities influence planetary health and ecosystems by integrating ecological science with diverse cultural perspectives and environmental ethics. Students will apply the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework to analyze sustainability challenges from local to global scales, while exploring how both scientific and Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge offer approaches to environmental issues. Through case studies and collaborative problem-solving, students will examine how various interest groups shape environmental policy, governance, and sustainable practices, and will critically reflect on their own values and assumptions to develop effective approaches to contemporary sustainability challenges.