Sustainable Development Goals: People, Place, and Environment
Explore how local action is the key to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and why personal experiences matter.
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
Sustainable Development Goals: People, Place, and Environment
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies. Find out more.
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Examine SDGs in the context of the individual
Global sustainability is deemed impossible without local sustainability. On this four-week course, you’ll examine how thoughts and actions by individuals are fundamentally linked to global sustainable goals.
You’ll be introduced to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and discover that when we focus on the everyday experiences of individuals and communities, we can drive transformative change.
Explore the importance of indigenous knowledge
Drawing on the latest dynamic research in social and cultural geography, you’ll connect with current thinking on a range of topics such as food waste, disability, and permaculture.
You’ll also identify the importance of indigenous knowledge, particularly Tikanga Māori (indigeneity) in SDGs. This knowledge will help you understand indigenous approaches to climate justice and how the SDGs link with people, place, and culture.
Discover how the individual impacts sustainable practices
You’ll explore a range of everyday places and spaces to explore why who we are – in terms of gender, ethnicity, indigeneity, class, sexuality, age, disability – impacts sustainable practices.
This understanding will help you gain insights into the ways people and places are critical in achieving sustainable actions.
Learn alongside the experts at the University of Waikato
The course includes interviews with leading Māori scholars, environmentalists, scientists, institutional leaders, and students who are all working towards sustainable futures. You’ll also have the opportunity to engage with other learners to explore personal experiences.
Guided by specialists from the University of Waikato, you’ll finish the course with an understanding of the many ways in which people, families, communities, and nations can work together towards sustainability.
What topics will you cover?
- Introducing the SDGs and ideas of scale, context, and indigenous knowledge
- Examining the interconnection between global and local SDGs and why personal experiences matter
- Investigating the connection between home and SDGs with case studies on everyday food waste from your fridge and disability and inclusion
- Reporting on community SDG projects and developing an understanding of sustainability action in neighbourhoods, with case studies on food poverty and food distribution in suburbs and permaculture and climate action
- Reflecting on cities by examining gender equality versus gender equity and monuments that reflect gender, ethnic politics
- Examining SDGs at a national level, including carbon footprints and carbon off-set projects, Indigenous approaches to climate justice and agricultural practices, dairy industry and water
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Demonstrate knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals
- Identify the importance of matāuranga Māori (Indigeneous knowledge) to SDGs
- Demonstrate how the SDGs link with people, place and environment
- Explain how SDGs work at different spatial scales
- Assess the SDGs in a critical manner
- Evaluate SDG projects and apply them to your local context
- Engage with other learners to explore personal experience and apply these to SDGs
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in gaining a holistic understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
It will also be beneficial for organisations who wish to align their practices and actions with the SDGs.
Who will you learn with?
Geographer and social justice activist
Who developed the course?
The University of Waikato
Sitting among the top 3% of universities world-wide, The University of Waikato prepares students to think critically and to show initiative in their learning.
Established
1964Location
Waikato, New ZealandWorld ranking
Top 380Source: QS World University Rankings 2021
Learning on FutureLearn
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- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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