Course

The course deals with contemporary issues relating to (un)sustainable development in Asia in a global context. In addition to a general introduction to the concept of sustainability and frameworks for identifying, studying and understanding sustainability, the students get acquainted with a range of issues and implications of (un)sustainable development in the context of contemporary Asia. The course proceeds from the notion that sustainability is multi-dimensional, multi-scalar and multi-temporal and must be approached from an international, intergenerational and intersectional perspectives. Single issues can be studied on local, national and global levels. The course aims to provide an opportunity for reflection on sustainability challenges, responses and implications in Asia in a global context. The objective is to develop skills in identifying, locating and tracing challenges and responses to sustainability in Asia and to problematise, understand and suggest options for tackling these within a global context. The course introduces trans-disciplinary frames and theoretical debates including the concepts of Sustainability, Sustainability Science, Earth System Studies and Earth System Governance. There is a focus on global and Asian sustainability challenges and responses relating to issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, overfishing, land use and degradation, food security, water scarcity, and health. The reshaping of Asian landscapes (such as deforestation, regulation of water courses, urban sprawl, tarmacisation) and changes in values in times of profound economic and social change is discussed. The tools include constructing, analysing and interpreting data on sustainability issues as well as presenting, discussing and evaluating data, conclusions and future scenarios.