Sustainability and the Circular Economy

所在平台: Coursera

课程主页: https://www.coursera.org/learn/sustainability-and-the-circular-economy

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课程简介

课程名称：可持续发展与循环经济 课程概述：随着全球人口预计在2050年前达到100亿，商业实践的转变对于确保人类及非人类的高生活质量至关重要。如今的学习者对此有着高度的意识与动机，他们具备创造一个经济成功与可持续发展的未来的能力。如果你也是这样的学习者，那么欢迎加入这个课程。 课程大纲： 1. **全球挑战与一些好消息**：本模块介绍课程及其运作，探讨气候变化、海洋酸化、生物多样性丧失、塑料污染和社会不平等等全球主要挑战，通过行星边界理论和人类世的概念进行讨论，并分享正在推动变革的人与组织的案例。 2. **可持续发展的定义及其起源**：介绍可持续发展及其经典定义，探讨再生和修复实践的当代概念。讨论IPAT方程式，以宏观视角审视环境影响的产生。覆盖联合国可持续发展目标，分析商业如何积极影响这些目标，并探讨凯特·拉沃斯的《甜甜圈经济学》中提出的更具包容性的经济模型。 3. **气候变化的科学**：介绍温室气体的温室效应，重点讨论自工业革命以来温室气体的显著增长及其与人类活动，尤其是化石燃料的关系。解释二氧化碳当量的计算方式，讨论反照率效应及其对气候变化的促进作用，并介绍巴黎协定及变革的必要性。 4. **温室气体与电力生产**：探讨传统的发电方式，包括煤、天然气和核能。讲解这些燃料的形成过程及其热量、功率与能量的基本单位，分析核能的优缺点及其在零碳未来中的角色，并讨论联合国气候大会及巴黎气候协定的结果。 5. **日常生活中的可持续解决方案**：展示面对全球挑战的新兴解决方案，覆盖交通领域的电动车和电动飞机等发展。随着全球数十亿人迁往城市，本模块关注城市设计的机遇和成功案例。同时探讨再生农业、食品分配的变革以及时尚产业对环境的影响，强调消费者对可持续品牌的关注与需求。 6. **循环经济简介**：本模块介绍循环经济的概念及其与线性经济的不同，讨论线性经济支持80亿人口的挑战。讲解循环经济的三个基本原则，强调Ellen MacArthur基金会的工作，深入分析循环经济蝴蝶图，并举例说明其在实践中的应用，最后综述回收过程及面临的挑战。 通过本课程，学习者将全面了解可持续发展和循环经济的关键概念和实践，激发个人在应对全球挑战中的创造力和行动能力。

课程大纲

Name:Global Challenges and Some Good News

Description:Welcome to Sustainability and the Circular Economy! This first module introduces the course and how it operates. It then exposes you to the major challenges facing the world today, such as climate change, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution and social inequity. We capture this with a discussion of planetary boundaries (Rockstrom) and the concept of the Anthropocene. The module ends on a high note with people and organizations that are making real change possible.

Name:Sustainability Defined and How We Got Here

Description:This module introduces the classic definition of sustainability and sustainable development (Brundtland Commission), along with contemporary concepts of regenerative and restorative practices. We discuss the IPAT equation as a means of providing a macro-view of environmental impacts as a function of population and affluence. The UN Sustainable Development Goals are covered, with a view to how business can impact these in a positive way. The module concludes with an overview of neoliberal economics and the resulting wealth inequality it led to, and a more positive, inclusive model proposed by Kate Raworth in her book, "Doughnut Economics".

Name:The Science of Climate Change

Description:This module opens with an overview of the greenhouse effect resulting from greenhouse gases, both good and bad. We then illustrate from the Keeling Curve that GHGs are increasing and have been markedly since the dawn of the industrial revolution. We then discuss the relationship between GHGs and anthropogenic sources, meaning mostly fossil fuels, and the evidence linking the two. We cover the Carbon Dioxide Equivalent, and how one calculates it from GHG emissions and their respective global warming potentials (GWP). The Albedo Effect is then covered as a reinforcing mechanism to climate change. Finally, the module covers the Paris Accord and the need for change.

Name:GHGs and Electric Power Generation

Description:This module is all about conventional power generation using coal, natural gas and nuclear energy. The module begins with how coal, oil and natural gas are formed millions of years ago. We then discuss basic units of heat, power and energy, using both English and International units to communicate in a bilingual way. We dive deeper into nuclear energy, its pros and cons, and whether it should be part of a zero-carbon future. The module wraps up with a discussion of the UN's initiatives called Conference of Parties, or COP, and the resulting outcome of the Paris Climate Accord to limit global warming to 2.0o Celsius.

Name:Sustainable Solutions in Daily Life

Description:Now that you understand the global challenges facing all of us, this module showcases the emerging solutions demonstrating the value of sustainable products and to identify them. We cover the areas of transportation, noting the rapid transition to Electric Vehicles, and and developments in E-Planes. As billions of people across the globe migrate to the cities to live and work, there is considerable opportunity to design/redesign cities to be more livable, and this module highlights several successes across the world, including green building and retrofit techniques. We then explore sustainability in daily life, discussing the emerging area of Regenerative Agriculture, the process of growing more nutritious food with zero synthetic inputs, while benefitting the soil. How that food is distributed is changing as well, as consumers everywhere are paying attention not only to what they eat but who is providing it. The module then discusses the clothes that we wear, as consumers are becoming increasingly aware that what they put on their bodies is as important as what they put in their bodies. Apparel and the fashion industry are one of the greatest polluters of all industries, and consumers are demanding change. We wrap-up this module with a discussion of how Fast Fashion is giving way to a new model of Slow Fashion.

Name:Introduction to the Circular Economy

Description:In this final module, we transition from greenhouse gases, climate change and power generation to the product lifecycle, introducing the concept of the Circular Economy, and how it differs from today's linear economy. We begin with a brief overview of the linear economy, and how it is challenged to support 8 Billion people on the planet. We then show the three basic principles of the Circular Economy, and how it decouples economic growth from resource extraction. We emphasize the work of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, going through the Circular Economy Butterfly Diagram in detail, with many examples highlighting how this is put into practice. We conclude with an overview of the recycling process, its successes and current challenges.

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