Sustainability Fundamentals

Location: On campus

Date: 9 November 2023

Duration: 3 hours

In this session, we will review the current state of the Earth and learn about the ajor dynamics that are taking place in ecosystems to understand how we are impacting our planet.

We will introduce the key notions of biodiversity and ecosystems (what are they, and how do they work) that will allow you to identify the potential impacts that your activities have on the natural systems regulating our planet. These concepts will also lead us to the definition of Planetary Boundaries. Regarding our impact, we will learn about the great acceleration (socio-economic and natural systems) and develop the concept of Anthropocene.

At the end of the session, we will analyse a case study from different perspectives (financial and environmental aspects) and see how the sector reach a compromise between these two constraints.

Location: Online

Date: 16 November 2023

Duration: 3 hours 

To highlight the connections between our activities and the state of the planet, we will focus on the two human activities that have the largest impact on the environment: agriculture and the energy sector.

Firstly, we will analyse the consequences of the methods used in intensive agriculture, both on land and in the ocean, and understand the concept of eutrophication. We will see how agro-forestry and agro-ecology can address some of the issues of our current food production systems.

Secondly, we will analyse the current state of the energy sector (primary versus final energy, energy sources, energy & electric mixes, pros and cons, perspectives). We will relate each energy source to its impact on the environment, and highlight the potential ways to decarbonize the energy sector.

This session will also be the opportunity to develop our system thinking abilities and to introduce the concept of life cycle analysis.

Location: Online

Date: 23 November 2023

Duration: 3 hours

Now familiar with the main concepts and big pictures of our impacts, we will introduce quantification methods, starting with the carbon footprint.

The first part of the session will focus on carbon footprints (definition, methods to compute it), both at the personal and professional level. Prior to the session, you will have to compute your own carbon footprint, that will be debriefed and compared to national average after a short theoretical introduction. This session will also highlight the concept of life cycle analysis with practical examples of LCAs applied to daily-life products.

Workshop: the second part of the session will be led by a carbon expert and the CEO from Tapio, a company that helps businesses on their journey towards a low carbon economy. After a short theoretical introduction, they will highlight their methodology with a practical example that we will require your inputs and full participation: computing the carbon emissions of the programme!

Location: On campus

Date: 7 December 2023

Duration: 3 hours

In this session, you will take part in a simulation game which puts you in charge of a company (a fishery) whose success relies on utilising resources from a shared pool (the fish stocks), which is also exploited by other companies.

Along with an introduction on fisheries and the current state of real fish stocks, this game will have you face the challenges that companies have to deal with when devising their strategy. We will then debrief the results of the game and analyse the different causes of non-sustainability.

This session will highlight that one driver of unsustainability is the overexploitation of self-renewable resources: it is mostly driven by economic incentives, but it is exacerbated by the nature of complex system dynamics and political factors. Also, we will see that unsustainability is not inevitable: avoiding it relies on proper governance that reinforces conducive social norms and behaviour.

Location: Online

Date : 21 December 2023

Duration: 3 hours

You will learn about how the role of business in society has evolved and the frameworks that corporations (have to) use to integrate and respond to these changing demands. You will also understand how CSR differs from sustainability, and identify, measure and monetise internalities (benefits accruing to the company) from GSR. The following topics will be covered : 

• Foundations of CSR 
• Changes in Corporate Governance Codes
• Development and maturity in CSR practices
• CSR and sustainable development
• Internalities
• Intro to ESG investment

Location: Online

Date: 11 January 2024

Duration: 3 hours

At the end of the module, you will be able to identify structural leverage points for business and industry transformation. You will also learn about the current best practices in terms of mitigation pathways and their business case. The following topics will be covered : 

• Business and industry transformation with an application to the circular economy
• Leverage points and policy design
• Leverage points in business : collective action and cascades 
• How to meet the climate challenge (introduction to decarbonization pathways and drivers)

Location: On campus

Date: 18 January 2024

Duration: 3 hours

In the last module, there will be an exchange with 2 business leaders who will testify how they have transformed their business sustainably. After this first part, you will be introduced to who is best placed to accelerate societal change, and how to overcome resistance to change. Last, a stock taking exercice will be performed that will allow you to see how you progressed since the first module regarding sustainability knowledge and application. The following topics will be covered : 

• Radical transformations (vision zero, zero-carbon world) 
• System level change (reinforcing loops, multi-stakeholders' engagement)
• Organizing for change within your company