About this course: The Age of Sustainable Development" gives students an understanding of the key challenges and pathways to sustainable development - that is, economic development that is also socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Created by: Columbia University
Taught by: Jeffrey Sachs
Director, Earth Institute; Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development; Professor of Health Policy and Management
| Commitment | 2 hours of lectures per module |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Course Materials
Information about the general course structure and reading list can be found here.
3 readings
What is Sustainable Development?
Professor Sachs provides an overview of the challenges the world faces, and introduces the topic of sustainable development.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: What is Sustainable Development?
WEEK 2
Inequality Around the World
Professor Sachs delves into the reasons for and the measurements of inequality between and within countries.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: Inequality Around the World
WEEK 3
A Short History of Economic Development
Professor Sachs provides a history of economic development, starting with the Industrial Revolution and ending with the current state of modern economic growth.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: A Short History of Economic Development
WEEK 4
The History of Inequality
Professor Sachs analyzes the intersecting roles of various factors that contribute to some countries advancing while others do not.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: The History of Inequality
WEEK 5
The MDGs and the End of Extreme Poverty
Professor Sachs outlines the pathways for achieving the end of extreme poverty.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: The MDGs and the End of Extreme Poverty
WEEK 6
Growth within Planetary Boundaries
Professor Sachs details the various planetary boundaries and their implications for growth dynamics.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: Growth within Planetary Boundaries
WEEK 7
Human Rights and Gender Equality
Professor Sachs delves into the ethics of wealth, poverty and inequality as well as the forces that widen inequalities.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: Human Rights and Gender Equality
WEEK 8
Education
Professor Sachs provides an overview of the state of modern education, and what needs to be achieved for sustainable development.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: Education
WEEK 9
Universal Health Coverage
Professor Sachs provides an overview of the challenges and pathways to achieving universal health coverage.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: Universal Health Coverage
WEEK 10
Sustainable Food Supply and the End of Hunger
Professor Sachs provides an overview of food security, farm systems, and ecology and reviews what can be done to achieve a sustainable global food supply.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: Sustainable Food Supply and the End of Hunger
WEEK 11
Sustainable Cities
Professor Sachs looks into what makes a city sustainable, the patterns of urbanization, and pathways for urban resilience around the world.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: Sustainable Cities
WEEK 12
Curbing Climate Change
Professor Sachs provides an introduction to the science behind climate change, and describes the negotiations and policies that are necessary to mitigate and prevent the consequences.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: The Basic Science of Climate Change and Consequences
WEEK 13
Saving Biodiversity
Professor Sachs reviews the various threats to the world's ecosystem and biodiversity.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: Saving Biodiversity
WEEK 14
The SDGs
Professor Sachs recounts the history of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and describes what is necessary to achieve them.
5 videos
Graded: QUIZ: The SDGs
Graded: Final Exam
How It Works
Coursework
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