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University of Waikato

Sustainable Development Goals: People, Place, and Environment

University of Waikato via FutureLearn

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Overview

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Examine SDGs in the context of the individual

Global sustainability is deemed impossible without local sustainability. On this four-week course, you’ll examine how thoughts and actions by individuals are fundamentally linked to global sustainable goals.

You’ll be introduced to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and discover that when we focus on the everyday experiences of individuals and communities, we can drive transformative change.

Explore the importance of indigenous knowledge

Drawing on the latest dynamic research in social and cultural geography, you’ll connect with current thinking on a range of topics such as food waste, disability, and permaculture.

You’ll also identify the importance of indigenous knowledge, particularly Tikanga Māori (indigeneity) in SDGs. This knowledge will help you understand indigenous approaches to climate justice and how the SDGs link with people, place, and culture.

Discover how the individual impacts sustainable practices

You’ll explore a range of everyday places and spaces to explore why who we are – in terms of gender, ethnicity, indigeneity, class, sexuality, age, disability – impacts sustainable practices.

This understanding will help you gain insights into the ways people and places are critical in achieving sustainable actions.

Learn alongside the experts at the University of Waikato

The course includes interviews with leading Māori scholars, environmentalists, scientists, institutional leaders, and students who are all working towards sustainable futures. You’ll also have the opportunity to engage with other learners to explore personal experiences.

Guided by specialists from the University of Waikato, you’ll finish the course with an understanding of the many ways in which people, families, communities, and nations can work together towards sustainability.

This course is designed for anyone interested in gaining a holistic understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

It will also be beneficial for organisations who wish to align their practices and actions with the SDGs.

Syllabus

  • Sustainable Development Goals: The importance of place for fair futures
    • Welcome to the course
    • What do you know about UN SDGs?
    • Culturally distinct paths to sustainability
    • End of Week 1
  • SDGs close to home: What happens at your place?
    • Welcome to Week 2
    • Local and Global SDGs: Bringing them home
    • Let's open the fridge! Everyday food waste in the home
    • Disability and accessibility
    • End of week 2
  • SDGs in urban spaces: Sustainable and inclusive cities?
    • Welcome to Week 3
    • Food poverty and distribution in urban spaces
    • Food rescue as climate action in the neighbourhood
    • Gender politics in city spaces
    • End of week 3
  • Transforming our countries: SDGs at the scale of the nation
    • Welcome to Week Four
    • Talking carbon reduction
    • SDGs and the workplace
    • Indigenous approaches to climate justice
    • Dairy Industry and water
    • Concluding the course

Taught by

Lynda Johnston

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4.4 rating at FutureLearn based on 5 ratings

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