• Describe, classify and critically discuss sectoral, company, behavioral or societal sustainability transitions actions from a systemic holistic and cross-disciplinary perspective
• Explain the systemic nature of sustainability transition action, drawing from different natural, technical and social science perspectives, business in society interaction and systems thinking
• Identify practices, strategies, policies and interactions to link climate resilience and biodiversity action leveraging intervention with nature base solutions connecting these systems
• Understand and critically discuss the use of tools and frameworks examining sustainability, such as planetary boundaries, life cycle assessment, cradle-to-cradle, carbon and biodiversity accounting and the triple bottom line
• Reflect upon the sources of risk, uncertainty, opportunities and controversy and trade-offs in carrying out actions for sustainability transition – from the points of view of business, government, organized civil society and individual actors
• identify, compare and assess contributions from various technological, scientific, business and political actions and their implementation in society possibilities

Climate change and Biodiversity loss are the most pressing environmental challenges for sustainability, impacting human health, socio-economic development and peace in human societies. Business, government and civil society are taking strong actions to face these complex sustainability challenges.  Delivering on the commitments enshrined in the Paris Agreement requires an urgent and unprecedented transformation away from today’s carbon- and energy-intensive and biodiversity damaging development paradigm. It is certain that no single actor or discipline can resolve in isolation the complex nature of the needed solutions. Intensive and properful interaction between disciplines and actors is needed. A momentous global commitment was reached in 2015 with the adoption of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Climate Agreement, with countries and big business committing to tackle major development challenges while working toward delivering a future where nature and people can trhive.

These challenges have global and local, financial, managerial, political, social and environmental components. Tackling them require strong, trustworthy and longlasting partnerships between the private and public sectors. Mobilizing to present a multifaceted strategy for a collective effort, and multi-stakeholder initiatives involving non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, venture capital and universities.

There is an increasing need, and demand for, managers, innovators and employees who understand the risks and challenges and are prepared with sustainability specialist skills, and who can also operate in multi-disciplinary teams. They need to have developed and be prepared to interact in common terms and understanding with specialists in other fields so they can bridge the gaps between science, technology and business solutions to sustainability. Accelerating deployment of scientific discoveries, technological developments or business innovations on sustainability require understanding from specialist in different fields regarding the complex challenges that are involved in a just transition. Business plans require understanding of the technological complexities; scientific breakthroughs and even non-technological solutions require a clear sense of how society and individuals can accept or reject them. Clear communication of risks and opportunities to the public or the political system is lacking; policy relevance may be unappreciated when exclusive focus is placed on the next technological innovations making the transition financially unfeasible.

This course builds deep interdisciplinary knowledge and skills and seeks to strengthen students capabilities to work toward filling these gaps. It is taught by faculty members from CBS, KU and DTU (see details below) and is particularly suited to cultivate interaction between students with different skills from different universities. The aim is to provide a new generation of specialist professionals with the relevant skills to properly operate and communicate in multi-disciplinary teams that seek to tackle and find innovative solutions to take action in the societal transition reversing climate change and biodiversity loss. The course will consist of lectures from faculty  of the three participant universities, active group work, discussion, presentations and hands-on exercises; all group work requires interaction of students from all participant universities.

This course is taught in connection with course Sustainability of Food for students wishing to obtain the COSI ‘Joint Certificate in Sustainability: Science, Technology and Business' (CBS/KU/DTU)

The certificate is assigned by a joint COSI committee from the three participating universities. To obtain the certificate, students need to pass the two Sustainability Challenges courses.

For more info on this initiative, please see: http://cosiuni.weebly.com

CBS students not seeking to obtain the joint certificate can also take one of the courses as self-standing electives.

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