NTRES 2480 Sustainability Leadership

Course description

While individual sustainability actions are crucial, the collective power of organizations – such as nonprofits, schools, businesses, and communities – can significantly amplify the impact toward sustainability goals through changes in organizational culture, environmental actions, policies, social norms, and behaviors. This course explores how anyone can become a sustainability educator and a sustainability leader within their organization to motivate their colleagues and peers to address social and environmental challenges. Through this course, aspiring sustainability leaders will explore how to foster transformative changes, sustainability learning, and environmental norms in their organizations, communities, and neighborhoods. Materials and activities of this course build on conceptual and philosophical frameworks that inform sustainable development (e.g., resilience, planetary boundaries, environmental justice, animal rights, indigenous knowledge, regenerative stewardship, circular economy), empirical studies about collective sustainability action and organizational transformation (adult learning, civic engagement, collective action, adaptive management, environmental governance), real-life case studies (environmental and climate consulting, organizational leadership), and action plans or strategies that drive real-world sustainability change (structural, institutional, policies). As agents of change, students in this undergraduate-level course will develop recommendations that guide teams and organizations toward sustainability and equity. Join us on this journey to cultivate sustainability leadership for a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous world.

Previously offered classes