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The Open University

Climate change: transitions to sustainability

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

Human societies have to take urgent action to end their dependences on fossil fuels. We have to alter the whole path of our development and decision making in order to make our societies both environmentally adaptable and sustainable. This free course, Climate change, takes on the task of trying to chart some of the ways in which it might be possible.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Globalisation and environmental change
  • 1 Globalisation and environmental change
  • 1.1 What is 'globalisation'?
  • 1.2 Globalisation is about networks
  • 2 Globalisation and the global environment: three views
  • 2 Globalisation and the global environment: three views
  • 2.1 Political responses to climate change and the environment
  • 2.2 Vibrant civil societies and a networked globe
  • 3 Governance, citizenship and sustainability
  • 3 Governance, citizenship and sustainability
  • 3.1 Who will make the decisions?
  • 3.2 Governance – filling the hole where government used to be
  • 3.2.1 What is the difference between government and governance?
  • 3.2.2 Good green governance in five easy steps
  • 3.3 Green governance needs citizens
  • 3.3.1 Too late for the nation state?
  • 3.3.2 Citizenship beyond (species) borders
  • 3.3.3 Obligations to trees?
  • 3.3.4 Home-grown compassion, not public commitments
  • 4 Making it happen – sustainability in practice
  • 4 Making it happen – sustainability in practice
  • 4.1 Three approaches to global environmental change
  • 4.2 Capitalism – naturally
  • 4.2.1 Eco-efficiency = money in the bank
  • 4.2.3 Business needs sustainability
  • 4.3 Green from the grassroots up
  • 4.3.1 Ecological tax reforms
  • 4.3.2 Complementary currencies
  • 4.3.3 Pipe dreams?
  • 4.4 Signing everyone up to sustainability
  • 4.4.1 Partnerships for sustainable consumption
  • 5 New ways of looking at the world
  • 5 New ways of looking at the world
  • 7 Summary and final thoughts
  • 7 Summary and final thoughts
  • 7.1 Questions
  • 7.2 Answers
  • 6 Conclusion
  • 6 Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

Reviews

5.0 rating, based on 3 Class Central reviews

4.4 rating at OpenLearn based on 17 ratings

Start your review of Climate change: transitions to sustainability

  • Profile image for Athur Yordan
    Athur Yordan
    My overall experience with the "Climate Change: Transitions to Sustainability" course was exceptional. It deepened my understanding of climate change as a complex global challenge and inspired me to become an agent of change. The course provided a s…
  • Profile image for Giuliana Farias
    Giuliana Farias
    Conteúdo surreal de suma importância para a humanidade todos deveriam fazer esse curso e conhecer o que realmente esta acontecendo no planeta. As mudanças climáticas geram uma série de consequências ambientais graves, muitas até já podem ser observa…
  • Timsi Dilipkumar Modi
    My overall impression of the "Climate Change: Transitions to Sustainability" course was positive. It broadened my awareness of climate change as a complicated global issue and encouraged me to become a change agent. The course offered a good basis f…

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