Global Sustainable Development

ENVR 8086SEF

Course Guide

GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

ENVR 8086SEF

Course Guide

GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Course Start Date

Spr 2026

Course Level

Postgraduate

Length in Terms

1 term

Credits

6

Language

English

Fees ($) (including lab fees)

Details

Future Terms

Quota and Schedule

Course Start Date	Course Level	Length in Terms	Credits	Language	Fees ($) (including lab fees)	Future Terms
Spr 2026	Postgraduate	1 term	6	English	Details

Quota and Schedule

Course Coordinator:

Dr Chen Jianlin, BSc, MSc (TJU); PhD (CityU)

Introduction

ENVR 8086SEF Global Sustainable Development is an important course for students taking the Master of Science in Global Environmental Management for Sustainable Development programme. In this course, key environmental issues will be discussed to give students a full picture of how the issues relate to the socio-economic aspects of development.

Aims

This course aims to enhance students' understanding of the systems thinking approach to environmentally sustainable development on a global scale.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

conclude the relationship between environmental protection and socio-economic development;
judge the roles of renewable energy for global sustainable development;
evaluate major strategies for water, air, waste and land management worldwide;
explain the key concepts of environmental sustainability in the development of smart cities;
recommend the current best practice in sustainable development using a systems thinking approach; and
interpret current development and international trends in environmental management, green business and sustainable development.

Course contents

Conflicts between environmental protection and economic development
Sustainable social, economic and environmental development
Global cooperation: Sustainable development as a system
Renewable energy for sustainable development
Total water management strategy
Clean air programme
Waste resources management and recycling
Land reservation and reclamation
Environmental sustainability in the development of smart cities: Case studies

Assessment

Course assessment will include two assignments (50%) as the overall continuous assessment score (OCAS) and a mini project (50%) as the overall examination score (OES). The mini project consists of an oral presentation (20%) and a written report (30%), and will be done as a group project with individual assessment. Students with different academic backgrounds will be grouped to promote academic exchange. Students are required to submit assignments via the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

Online requirement

Students are required to submit assignments via the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

Set book(s)

There will be no set book for this course. The following books will be the main references of study:

Sanneh, E. S. (2018). Systems thinking for sustainable development: Climate change and the environment. Springer.
Hülsmann, S., & Ardakanian, R. (2018). Managing water, soil and waste resources to achieve sustainable development goals: Monitoring and implementation of integrated resources management. Springer.
Vesco, A., & Ferrero, F. (2015). Handbook of Research on social, economic, and environmental sustainability in the development of smart cities. IGI Global.
Zieliński, T., Sagan, I., & Surosz, W. (2018). Interdisciplinary approaches for sustainable development goals: Economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. Springer.
Blackburn, W. R. (2015). The sustainability handbook: The complete management guide to achieving social, economic and environmental responsibility (2nd ed.). Environmental Law Institute.
Barrow, C. J. (2006). Environmental management for sustainable development (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Ukaga, O., Maser, C., & Reichenbach, M. (2019). Sustainable development: Principles, frameworks, and case studies. CRC Press.