Climate change, energy transition and digitalization are the most important three megatrends in the future.
• Climate change is considered one of the severest threats to humankind.
• The energy transition to renewable sources is the paramount reaction on climate change.
• Digitalization as an own megatrend interferes with the above ones, making many fields intelligent or “smart”.
The whole toolbox of energy and economy management has to be revised, enlarged, and amended facing the megatrends above.
• The first topic of balances and reviews will explain how sustainability, environment, energy, and greenhouse gases/ carbon can be measured comprehensively.
• Business function or domains make use of the information provided by accountancy. Facility Management, logistics, procurement etc. have to provide their role in overall eco- and energy-efficiency.
• All the investment opportunities and business cases in the functions have to be assessed according to short-term, mid-term, and long-term profitability.
• All this has to be implemented in an organization. The “International Organization for Standardization” (ISO) as issued various management norms applicable here.
In order to interpret those concepts, interdisciplinary communication have to be applied. Business and management have for example to find cost-reducing and profitable solutions to improve energy efficiency. Engineering provides the technical solutions for green energy generation, smart energy grids, and energy conservation. Technical energy management providing data may find answers what to do with the information in organizations and decision making. Natural sciences look at the impact of global warming on the environment, on water management, air quality, and so on. Many other branches of science are touched, for example didactics and education or environmental psychology trying to improve the awareness of people.
Teaching personnel (faculty) and student in institutions of the education sector may benefit from this course, notably at universities. Managers in private and public companies may find support to solve their practical problems in this field. Public administration and governmental authorities on all levels find a better understanding of problems and solutions.
