BA/BSc Global Sustainability

BEP1150: Environment, Society and Business

Business-as-usual is threatening the stability of the ecosystems that support our lives. We are exceeding planetary boundaries: most of the land surface and the ocean are impacted by human activities, forests continue to be cut down to make space for agriculture and animal husbandry, the poles are losing their ice, the depletion of natural resources such as drinking water is affecting local communities worldwide, overfishing and loss of biodiversity are increasing at a dramatic rate. Addressing challenges of this scale require an interdisciplinary response. It requires cooperation, long-sightedness and critical, creative and system thinking. This module brings different disciplines together to draw attention to the role our economy plays in exacerbating the ecological crisis, and what a sustainable economy might look like. The module offers an introductory insight into ecology, environmental science and different traditions of economic thought linking the economy and the environment. In so doing, it provides the theoretical basis for understanding, designing and implementing new purpose-driven business models, enabling business to make a positive contribution to the environment and society. No prior knowledge skills or experience is needed in order to able to take this module. This module is recommended for interdisciplinary pathways.

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BIO1438: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies

The modern world faces a number of sustainability challenges. Finding solutions to these problems requires an understanding of the natural world and the social processes through which we interact and shape the world around us. This module will help you appreciate and connect the insights that different academic disciplines bring to bear on these issues. The module is designed to help facilitate your adjustment from secondary education to degree-level, and develop the tools necessary to become an independent learner in higher education. The module will examine a number of sustainability issues and introduce you to how different disciplines conduct research on these issues and provide a framework to integrate the findings from different fields of inquiry.

The module will enable you to acquire a range of specialist and generic skills, including reading critically, evaluating evidence, presenting complex ideas, handling data, and essay writing that will be important for your degree programme and are also important to employability. This module will involve lectures from different disciplines, small groups discussions, and practical classes and will involve independent self-directed study. These skills are the first step towards you undertaking research inspired inquiry-led learning (RIILL) at the University and will introduce you to the research background of departments at the Penryn campus.

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CGE1408B: Global Issues in Environmental Science

This module is designed to give you a clear, two-part journey through critical environmental issues we face today. We spend the first half of the term focused strictly on the science of "Planetary Boundaries"—specifically looking at the current state of our air, oceans, land use, and biodiversity. We zoom in on these areas because they have already crossed into risky, unhealthy territory.

In the second half, we widen the lens to include the human side of the equation further. We explore how those ecological lines we crossed earlier connect to real-world social issues like global health, mining, and natural hazards. The big takeaway is that these aren't separate problems; crashing through an environmental boundary often hurts human health, while trying to fix social problems can put more stress on the planet. Rather than just looking at "trade-offs," we aim to teach you how to navigate toward a "safe and just space" where humanity can thrive without breaking the Earth's life-support systems.

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CGE1412: Society, Environment and Energy

Understanding the way in which people interact with the environment is one of the most important issues facing contemporary society. Many of these interactions are shaped by our pursuit for energy, i.e. to help warm our homes, power our economy, help us to move around, and provide us with light, comfort and entertainment. As well as impacting upon society, the pursuit of energy also has profound implications for the environment.

This module explores the relationship between society, the environment and energy, and considers the way in which these dimensions, and the interactions therein, have coevolved over time. To do so, it will introduce you to broad themes in environmental understanding, and apply them to the specific case study of climate change and energy.

This module explores the range, nature and implications of society-environment interactions, with a particular focus on past, contemporary, and future energy systems. The module explores the contested nature of interactions in global, national, regional, and local contexts, and the role of different stakeholder groups (e.g. policy makers, interest groups, the media, the public etc.) in shaping them. The module will introduce students to key concepts and theoretical frameworks, as well as real world case studies, for critically examining these interactions.

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HIC1010: Foundations of Environmental Humanities

This module introduces you to the insights provided by a range of humanities disciplines dealing with urgent issues of climate and environmental change. You will be introduced to key concepts and ideas and will track the emergence of Environmental Humanities as a new interdisciplinary field. You will get to learn about cultural, ethical, historical, social, political, legal and literary perspectives representing environmental humanities inquiry. You will study an array of theories, themes, issues, questions, and debates within the humanities in dialogue with the sciences. We will address issues associated with knowledge, meaning, justice, crisis, and sustainability.

The module aims to introduce you to the main themes, theories and discussion in current Environmental Humanities research, by focusing on cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives and approaches. You will develop a broad understanding of the relationship of nature, culture, history, science, technology, politics and economy in the context of today's climate and environmental crises. You will develop knowledge of the multi-layered and historically contingent relationship of nature, culture, politics, economy and science. We will discuss different perspectives on environmental, social and multi-species justice.

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CGE1405B: Earth System Science

The Earth consists of a series of interacting natural systems (lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, atmosphere). The interactions between these systems, called feedbacks, are central to analysing the functioning of major aspects of the Earth, such as climate, sea level and biotic evolution. This way of looking at our world is also critical in analysing the human impact on the Earth system and identifying management strategies to mitigate, remediate or predict geological and environmental hazards and impacts, and in identifying resources. This module is therefore about connectedness and the development of an approach to understanding the Earth that emphasises the connections between the components rather than the components themselves. This module requires no prior skills or experience and is particularly suitable for interdisciplinary pathways.

This module aims to:

• Explore our understanding of Earth origins, the evolution of the solar system, of the ocean, the biosphere and the atmosphere.
• Introduce natural systems theory.
• Identify the Earth’s component natural systems and the Earth’s climate system, its forcings and feedbacks.
• Describe plate tectonics and the role of the internal system in determining or controlling rock formation, the sedimentary cycle, the carbon cycle, Earth surface landforms (geomorphology), oceanic gateways and barriers, biotic evolution.
• Analyse orbital and gravitational controls on the Earth: tides, days, seasons, years.
• Explore the influence of tides on the timing and rate of Earth-moon separation.
• Describe solar variability and its impact on Earth climate.
• Describe the Earth’s radiation balance, atmospheric and oceanic circulation and their role in redistributing heat around the Earth.
• Analyse interactions between the hydrosphere and the cryosphere.
• Identify and describe major biogeochemical cycles, in particular the carbon cycle.
• Explore the causes of major climatic changes through geological time.
• Discuss the evolution of hominids and the interactions of humanity with the Earth system.t

The module will involve a fieldwork component involving an investigation of evidence for sea-level change on the Cornish coastline.

This module will help you to develop and extend your awareness of the importance of taught and learnt skills in strengthening employability potential, especially through the application of critical analytical skills (review of scientific literature, simple calculations) to a range of contemporary global challenges, notably climate change and geoengineering. More generally, through attending the fieldwork and weekly lectures, alongside your own independent learning, you will develop the following academic and professional skills:

• fundamental problem solving (linking theory to practice with academic guidance), collaboration (learning about the views and values of others), and audience awareness (presenting ideas effectively, persuading others of the importance and relevance of your views, responding positively and effectively to questions).

The teaching contributions on this module involve elements of research undertaken by staff, such as work on sea-level change (Scourse). Moreover, you are encouraged to undertake enquiry-led learning, specifically through the field component.

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CGE1423: Biodiversity and its Conservation

Most people will be aware that the world is considered to be experiencing a biodiversity crisis. You’ll hear or read about it in the media all the time. But what do we actually mean by biodiversity? Where does it come from and how is it maintained in nature? Why is it important to humanity? How do human activities lead to its decline? What can be done to slow or even halt the decline? In this module, we will address all these questions to give students a solid foundation in the science of biodiversity and an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of biodiversity conservation.

This module will introduce you to the theory and concepts of biodiversity and conservation science. It aims to provide you with a basis on which to build expertise in this area and grow your understanding of how conservation requires input from many disciplines beyond biology.

In addition, you will gain practical experience in some aspects of this field, such as conducting biodiversity surveys, carrying out an IUCN Red List assessment, and planning conservation action.

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LAW1016C: A Legal Foundation for Environmental Protection

In this module you will be introduced to law in the context of the environment and how important the legal process is in its protection. The module seeks to provide you with an overview of all the different ways in which law can be used to protect the environment and give you the tools to choose which types of law are most suitable in different environmental contexts.

You will develop empathy for the different stakeholders in environmental issues. We will consider pathways to reconcile competing interests in an attempt to strike a balance between developmental or industrial progress and the need to protect our environment.

You are not expected to have any legal knowledge or experience and the module is therefore ideal for students on an interdisciplinary pathway, as well as being a compulsory element of the Environmental Science degree.

The module is designed as an essential foundation for those seeking employment following graduation in an environmental field where a working knowledge of law and policy will be assumed. It also provides an excellent foundation for further legal study.

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BEP2002: Foundations in Sustainable Solutions

This module is part of the Minor in Sustainable Solutions and is available at the Penryn campus. Students at the Exeter campuses can select GEO2340 Foundations in Sustainable Solutions.

This module is your starting point on the Minor in Sustainable Solutions. It gives you the tools, confidence and perspectives you need to make a meaningful difference in a rapidly changing world. You will explore how global sustainability challenges are interconnected and learn practical ways to design and evaluate solutions that create real impact. You will develop the skills to work creatively, think critically and collaborate across disciplines. Through hands‑on tasks and real‑world examples, you will experiment with new ideas, explore how change happens and learn how to communicate your insights effectively. By engaging with the university as a living lab, you will investigate how large institutions operate and where genuine opportunities for positive change exist. By the end of the module, you will be ready to contribute to shaping a fairer, greener and healthier future, equipped with the mindset and capabilities of an emerging sustainability leader.

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BIO2468: Social-Ecological Systems: Cooperation, Sustainability and Conservation

How can we use natural resources in a sustainable manner and conserve the planet’s biodiversity & ecosystems? These are some of the most pressing issues facing human societies today. In this module you will gain an understanding of both ecological and social processes and the ways in which these interact, and an appreciation of the ways in which people can act collectively to sustainably manage their resources and conserve their environments. Through lectures, practicals, and discussions you will examine current sustainability and conservation challenges, investigate the evidence used to support academic research, and explore proposed solutions. The module is interdisciplinary & suitable for non-specialists and does not require pre-requisites.

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Understand the connections between human social systems and environmental systems

• Appreciate the logic of social dilemmas and the challenges involved in getting people to act collectively towards a common good

• Understand the different solutions to collective action problems and the ways people from around the world have sustainably managed their natural resources and successfully conserved their environments

• Appreciate the importance of local community involvement in wildlife & ecosystem conservation in practical and ethical terms

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BIO2469: Sustainability Field Course

During this module you will gain first-hand experience of sustainability issues in real-world settings and conduct hands-on research and investigation. By visiting locations in our region you will engage directly with local experts and find out about the experiences of local people and stakeholders. Topics covered are likely to include Human-Wildlife conflict, Environmental Management, Sustainable Fisheries, Sustainable Mining, and Ecotourism. During the trip you will work in groups and act as investigative reporters to research a topic aligned with your own interests and will present your findings.

In this module you will:

• Apply what you have learned in the classroom to the real-world

• Hear directly from local experts and stakeholders from outside the university about the issues and challenges they are facing and the steps they are taking to address them

• Understand how issues at a local level relate to global sustainability challenges

• Independently research and investigate a topic of your choosing

• Learn about collecting information and evidence in real-world settings

• Present your research findings in an accessible manner

• Develop teamwork and time management skills

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BEP2150: Ecological Economics

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to ecological economics in theory and practice. You will receive a thorough grounding in macroeconomics and microeconomics, alongside an in-depth knowledge of the economics and policy of environmental pollution, renewable and non-renewable resource use, as well as the connection between globalization and environmental degradation. With this basis, you will be able to identify possible solutions to environmental problems and assist in policy recommendation and decision-making.

This module aims to improve understanding of the link between ecological systems and economic activity. The module introduces core issues in ecological economics, related to micro and macro-economic theory, international trade and policy. Ecological economics is a transdisciplinary approach to economics that incorporates insights from the biological, physical and social sciences. In this module, you will apply ecological economic theory to a set of concrete environmental problems or challenges, in relation to the increasing scale of human impacts and the inequitable distribution of resources, in a way that encourages you to reflect on possible solutions and formulate policy recommendations. Seminars will complement lectures with more case studies and real-life examples.

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BEP2210: Circular Enterprise Economy

There is a mounting interest in rethinking and redesigning business strategies in the context of ever-increasing social-ecological crises. What has become apparent is that the assumption of an ever-expanding economy is not compatible with operating within the planetary boundaries, in a safe and just space for humanity. This calls into question the inherently intertwined relationship between infinite economic growth, business operations, and ever-expanding markets, from raw material extraction to post-consumption disposal and waste. What it is openly questioned is the capacity to sustain endless economic growth on a planet with finite resources, which is not only harmful to the natural ecosystems that support human life but to human life itself. Most notably, expansion, extraction, and pollution/intoxication have been carried out at the expense of human communities, not just natural ecosystems, but also future generations, particularly in the Global South.

Given this background, in this module, we will engage in learning activities that enable students to investigate business strategy in relation to sustainability and circularity as a theme that crosses subject boundaries. The module intends to form and frame a learning path for developing knowledge and understanding of transitioning to more socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and circular business models.

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BIO2465: Wildlife Exploitation

'To exploit' means to make full use of and derive benefit from a resource. Humankind has exploited both the terrestrial and the marine realms for millennia for food, trade, travel, leisure, and has developed a variety of ways in which to extract resources to meet the growing needs of the global population. Exploitation has had negative environmental consequences and is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss, affecting the delivery of the goods and services with which we have become accustomed. You will take a detailed look at particular issues regarding both extractive and non-extractive exploitation of resources and their associated impacts, which will put you in a stronger position to make informed arguments regarding the sustainable management of wildlife.

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CGE2441: Remote Sensing for Environmental Management

Spatial data acquired by satellites, and other flying platforms are increasingly used in decision-making processes about the natural environment. These ‘remotely sensed’ data are fundamentally measurements describing the way that electromagnetic radiation interacts with materials and substances on the Earth’s surface and scientists can use these to create dynamic maps and build models describing Earth system processes through space and time. In this module you will learn about the different ways that we can use remote sensing to monitor the Earth, starting from the ground and working upwards into space where Earth observation satellites are in orbit. In this module we cover the theory and applications of remote sensing drawing on examples from terrestrial and marine applications.

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CGE2458: People and Nature

In this module we explore relationships between humans and the rest of the natural world, and how our conceptualisations, representations and interactions with ‘nature’ shape the way we engage with and manage our environments. Working through historical, contemporary and cross-cultural ideas, we explore different theorisations of nature, from something ‘out there’ to something that is very much a part of our (more than) human existence. From the deepest forest to your back garden, we examine contemporary relations and tensions between different kinds of natures and cultures. We consider how the management and conservation of the natural world is contested and negotiated both in environmental conflicts and everyday life. We also explore the way nature is portrayed in art and visual media.

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CGE2467: Climate Change: The Physical Basis of the IPCC

This module evaluates the physical science behind the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC produces assessment reports and special reports that provide global policy makers with key information about likely future climate change. Consequently, there is a strong focus in these IPCC documents in presenting state-of-the-art climate change science that represents the full complexity of the coupled climate system to policy makers. This module will examine the structure and scope of the IPCC as well as the data used in establishing the headline statements made in the latest IPCC assessment report. Topics covered by this module will cover a cross-section of the coupled climate system including changes in atmospheric temperature, precipitation, Antarctic and Arctic ice dynamics, sea level change, ocean circulation and extreme weather. The module will take a hands-on approach to evaluating the data that underpins these reports and examines how the IPCC communicates the inherent complexities of the climate system to policy makers. We will explore how we observe the modern climate system and approaches to understanding how the climate system has changed in the past and how we can predict likely future climate change.

There are no pre-requisites requirements for taking this module.

This module aims to:

• explore the history, structure, and development of the IPCC.
• demonstrate how the IPCC effectively communicates complex scientific ideas.
• examine the approaches used by the IPCC to communicate uncertainty.
• demonstrate how Earth’s climate system has changed over past decades to centuries.
• explore the challenges in developing likely future climate scenarios.
• demonstrate key techniques in modelling future climate variability.
• demonstrate the importance of both internal and external factors in driving climate variability.
• establish key skills in analysing and communicating climate data.
• establish an understanding of the complexities inherent with the coupled climate system.

Through attending the lectures and practical sessions and through completing the assessments, you will work towards developing the following graduate attributes:

• Data analysis
• Coding skills (R)
• Report writing skills
• Presentation skills
• Problem solving (linking theory to practice)
• Developing your own ideas with confidence
• Being able to respond to novel and unfamiliar problems
• Task management (identifying key objectives, setting clearly defined goals, developing strategies to ensure individual success)
• Time management (managing time effectively)

The teaching contributions on this module involve elements of research undertaken by staff, such as work on high resolution climate records (Reynolds)

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ECE2002: Health, Place and Wellbeing

Our health, wellbeing and access to health care resources are shaped by the spaces and places in which we are born, live, move, study and work. This includes socio-cultural, economic and political as well as physical environments. This module will introduce disciplinary perspectives from health geography and spatial epidemiology to examine key issues pertaining to health, place and wellbeing, including health inequalities, geographies of wellbeing and disability, and global health.

Delivered in Cornwall, this is an optional module and is suitable for non-specialist students (i.e. does not require having taken other modules). The module is interdisciplinary in focus, and is open to students enrolled in different programmes.

Students undertaking this module will develop specialised knowledge and a critical understanding of the interdisciplinary social research that investigates the complex interactions between health, wellbeing and place, focusing on the dynamic environments in which people live and move. This module covers a wide range of evidence, case studies and theoretical approaches relevant to health geographical topics.

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ENE2009: Renewable Energy Systems 1

Renewable Energy Systems is an introductory module that focuses on the concepts of energy and renewable energy sources, providing background understanding of renewable resources and technologies to enable you to study the in-depth specialist technology modules offered in Year 3. You will apply your background in science, engineering and scientific computing from Year 1 to various renewable energy technologies.

The module sets-out briefly the historical overview of the energy landscape, before focusing on four major elements of renewable energy: wind, solar, marine and renewable heat. It will provide you with an opportunity to apply your knowledge of computational tools to understand the resource for various renewable energy sources.

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ENE2014: Energy Policy, Markets and Law

The module introduces the key elements that shape which energy technologies are deployed, and how policy, economic and social factors can shape innovation and deployment of new energy technologies. The module introduces and explains basic elements such as how legislation is developed and used as a tool to shape policy and then moves from there to explain UK and other renewable energy policy, the barriers to growth and the successes and failures of different policy instruments. Students should finish the module with both an understanding of what shapes policy and the shape of current UK renewable energy policy.

There are no pre-requisites for this module, and it is available to all students.

1) To provide candidates with the opportunity to develop a sound understanding of basic economic principles and knowledge of how these apply in the energy sector;

2) To provide candidates with an understanding of the basic structure of the market for electricity delivery and an introduction to regulation pertinent to its operation;

3) To enable an understanding of the social, economic and other diverse barriers to deployment of renewable energy sources and the policy instruments that have been employed to overcome them;

4) To introduce candidates to other elements of sustainable energy practice and the policy relating to it, for example, conflicting policy goals, energy efficiency, demand side management and smart grids.

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HIC2009: Ecology and Empire

This module examines how colonialism has shaped both the environment we inhabit and the ways we imagine our relationship to it. Through the lens of environmental history, it traces the ecological consequences of imperialism, the colonial formation of environmental knowledge, and the entanglement of globalisation, land politics, and sovereignty. Students will explore how anticolonial and environmental movements have contested these legacies and consider what it means to think beyond them.

You will engage with a range of historical sources—including archives, letters, photographs, and maps—and develop skills in interpreting them through postcolonial and settler‑colonial perspectives. By situating imperial and global histories within environmental frameworks, the module addresses questions such as:

• What is imperialism, and how has it shaped the world around us?
• How does an environmental history lens change our understanding of colonisation and decolonisation?
• In what ways has colonialism organised knowledge about the natural world, and how might we move beyond those frameworks?

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LAW2016C: Environmental Regulation and Redress

If you are concerned about environmental destruction and ensuring accountability on a global basis, then learning to articulate your argument and back it up with a sound grasp of the law might help you to make a real difference! The module will help you establish a working knowledge of how the law can be used as a mechanism to reconcile competing values in the protection of the environment and seeks to develop an understanding of the legal avenues available to mitigate environmental harm. As an environmentally aware individual, how can you use the law to prevent harm and what can you do if you feel that another individual or business has committed an environmental wrong? How can legal tools be used to redress and repair environmental harm? As you progress through the module, you will discover answers to these and other questions.

You will look at the role of national and international law in setting environmental standards. You will critically reflect on the extent to which the law across the world, including indigenous laws and cultural norms, might be used to embed pro-environmental and sustainable behaviour.

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CGE3324: Professional Placement

Increasingly, graduate positions request that applicants have work experience applicable to the role. This year-long module will enable you to immerse yourself in a professional environment; you will learn to apply the skills learnt during the first and second years, improve personal and transferable skills, make new contacts and enhance employability. Feedback and support will be provided by the module convenor and the placement host.

This module will enable you to develop subject-specific and general professional skills. You will research suitable organisations, consider the opportunities that positions offer you and practice writing covering letters and CVs. This module offers an excellent opportunity for you to immerse yourself in an environment where you can develop subject-specific and general professional skills, gain a greater understanding of the use of your degree and ultimately improve your CV. You will gain feedback throughout the placement from the placement host and the module convenor and you will be encouraged to reflect on your experiences during the placement to help you to make career decisions for the future. The module allows you to apply your learning during your degree to a real-world setting.

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CGE3508: One Year Study Abroad

The Geography, Environmental Science, and Marine Science degrees in Cornwall offer you the possibility to apply for a place to study abroad at a partner university. You must attain average grades of 60% or above in your first year of study, and maintain an average of 55% in your second year, to continue on or enter the “with Study Abroad” programmes. The full application process is described on the Global Opportunities website at https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyabroad/outbound/.

If you meet the requirements and accept your university placement, you will spend one academic year abroad, usually the third year of a four-year programme. At the end of your Study Abroad year, your marks are translated into the Exeter grade system and contribute to your degree.

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BIO3446: BSc Sustainability Dissertation

The Dissertation module gives you the opportunity to undertake independent interdisciplinary research and analysis on a topic of your choice. Over the course of your final year, you will research and write a report based on the analysis of primary sources, or new or secondary information. The dissertation allows you to put into practice the key skills of analysis, evaluation of evidence, argumentation and independent study that you have learnt at levels 1 and 2, and represents the culmination of your training as an interdisciplinary sustainability researcher. The dissertation is your chance to pursue original research and to add your voice to the debates.

The dissertation provides you with the opportunity to undertake your own independent and original piece of research, drawing on the substantive intellectual themes developed in the Global Sustainability programme. The aims of the dissertation are for you to develop:

- knowledge of a specific topics of relevance to your programme

- an ability to integrate information and perspective from multiple academic disciplines

- an in-depth understanding of modern humanities discourse as seen through academic publications;

- an appreciation of the challenges of primary research, and the ability to deal with practical research problems (e.g. collecting, handling and analysing information)

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BIO3448: Global Sustainability Field Course

This module will provide you with a hands-on, in-depth exploration of a range of issues in Global Sustainability. Taking the knowledge from contemporary social and natural sciences and humanities that you have been learning about in class, the module positions you in the ‘real-world’ to learn more about how the processes you have been studying play out, the scale of the challenges people are facing, and the solutions that are being implemented to tackle these challenges. Exploring these issues through a global lens will allow you to see both the commonalities in the challenges facing different environments and societies, and the ways in which different social, ecological, economic, historical, and political contexts shape the ways in which people are responding to these challenges.

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BEP3004: Advancing Sustainable Solutions

This module is part of the Minor in Sustainable Solutions and is available at the Penryn campus. Students at the Exeter campuses can select GEO3329 Advancing Sustainable Solutions.

This module helps you develop the skills needed to design, refine and deliver effective sustainability solutions. You will learn how to scale ideas for greater impact, assess social, environmental and economic outcomes, and explore different ways sustainable projects can be financed. You will investigate how human behaviour influences sustainability transitions and discover practical strategies for encouraging positive pro‑environmental actions. The module also introduces you to sustainable supply chains, circular economy thinking, sustainable urban development and approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Throughout the module, you will use design thinking principles, apply policy frameworks and learn how to refine ideas based on stakeholder feedback. You will gain experience with advanced methods for measuring impact and evaluating the success of sustainability initiatives. By the end of the course, you will understand how sustainable systems operate on a global scale and how resources can be managed more effectively. You will also develop key transferable skills such as leadership, critical thinking, collaboration and future‑focused problem solving that will help you drive meaningful change and contribute to a more sustainable and socially just world.

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BEP3011: Business and Climate Change

This module is specifically designed for flexible learning and engagement with local communities . This module offers the opportunity for multidisciplinary study on a very wicked and complex topic that many businesses , policymakers and communiti es are very concerned about : Climate Change. In the lectures and classes, we will discuss the paradoxical role of business and climate change, addressing the following questions: How does climate change affect business? How can businesses develop climate change and net-zero strategies? How can business es potentially benefit from climate change? How do carbon markets work, and what are their limits and potential? Why do we find it so difficult to adopt less carbon - intensive lifestyles? What is the role of technology? What are the ethical issues that climate change raises? What are the responsibilities of business? How does business (and society at large) adapt to climate change? What does 'net-zero' mean? This module will address such questions, exploring the relationship between business and one of the, if not THE, most important question s of our time. As climate change requires immediate changes in behaviour and systems, w e will also apply our new-gained knowledge in practical settings . Students will form group s to work with local businesses, policymakers , and communities to bring about meaningful climate change action.

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BIO3433: Ocean Management and Conservation

Oceans and seas were once thought to be too vast to be affected by anything other than localised human impacts. The persistence of this view well into the Anthropocene has been helped by the fact that, as a land-living creature, our attention is directed stubbornly above water and that the ocean surface conceals most of what goes on in the sea. While it is true that human impacts in the sea have lagged those on land, that impact is now rising fast. In recent decades human influence has expanded to even the remotest regions of the high seas, and to the bottom of the deepest abyss. Despite accumulating evidence of the growing scale and intensification of human impacts on the sea, management action has been slow, patchy and has lagged well behind efforts made to protect terrestrial wildlife. This module will introduce you to some of the most important dimensions of human influence on ocean life and ecosystems and the timescales over which they have developed and intensified. It will examine and assess the impacts seen on ocean life and explore options to manage and mitigate their effects.

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CGE3437B: Climate Change and Society

The study of the human dimensions of climate change has been growing in momentum through research which attempts to describe and evaluate perceptions of climate change, understand more about risk and assess the construction of policy. Nevertheless, the work of social scientists in respect of climate change is clearly felt to be incomplete, judging by recent calls that important work still needs to be done to understand how individuals and communities respond to climate change based on ‘their needs, values, cultures, capacities, institutional forms and environmental features’. This module is of direct applied relevance to students interested in working in policy, government or consultancy.

This module explores how as a society we imagine, understand, communicate and respond to climate change. It explores climate change as the object of study of social scientists and humanities scholars, looking in particular at the unique contribution of human geography to this work. It explores some of the reasons why this global environmental problem has proved difficult to address, looking at key themes of adaptation, behaviour change, mitigation, attribution, scepticism and protest.

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CGE3470: Marine and Coastal Social-Ecological systems

The question of how human societies can live within environmental limits has been debated for hundreds of years. Exponential growth and the pressure of human activities on the Earth could be destabilising critical biophysical systems and causing irreversible environmental change, with catastrophic consequences for human wellbeing. These issues are exemplified in coastal and marine systems, where the impacts of humans on the marine environment and the ways in which the natural environment can affect coastal communities clearly demonstrate the need to consider social and ecological systems. In this module you will start to unpack the complex relationship between social and ecological systems through an understanding of poverty, wellbeing, ecological tipping points and trade-offs. You will study a range of interdisciplinary and cross-cutting topics across different regions of the globe to explore how coastal and marine resource management can intentionally and unintentionally impact the sea and the people and communities that depend on it. Lectures will be supported by seminars in which you will discuss and debate current sustainability challenges from a variety of different perspectives and explore proposed solutions and their consequent impacts on nature and society.

This module aims to develop your understanding of marine and coastal sustainability through a series of lectures that will:

• Examine the complex relationship between social and ecological systems in marine environments and coastal communities.
• Apply these ideas to understanding the unintended consequences of marine and coastal management
• Discuss key concepts and debates across different disciplines such as politics, geography and economics
• Use Research-Inspired Inquiry-Led Learning to look at real-world problems

The module content explores topical research areas of global relevance, drawing on current research from examples in both temperate and tropical environments. We will explore cutting-edge research, for example to investigate how links between ecosystem services and wellbeing are being explored in East Africa and how human behaviour is key to understanding UK fisheries. You will learn about the tools required to study such problems, and think about how such processes are measured in the field.

Through the seminars and assessments, you will develop skills relevant to future employment:

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CGE3475: Sustainable Cities

The future is urban. More than half the world’s population now lives in cities, and by 2050 that proportion is expected to increase to almost 70%. Urbanization is a defining characteristic and key driver of change in the Anthropocene, with important implications for how we live on this planet. Cities concentrate economic activity, cultures, and innovation, but they also concentrate societal challenges and environmental impacts. This module explores ideas around sustainable urban development, with a particular focus on the role of nature in cities. How does nature in cities contribute to human well-being, climate change adaptation, and resilience? We consider cities as complex social-ecological systems within larger landscapes that are impacted by urban metabolisms. We critically examine the notion of “sustainable cities” and interrogate the models and narratives of city design that are driving urban development across the world.

Through a series of interactive workshops and a field trip, this module explores urban development by drawing on multiple disciplines including human geography, urban studies, and sustainability science.

The module aims to:

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CGEM247: Transforming Energy Systems

This module provides a critical introduction to the key challenges and solutions relating to the process of energy system change.

Energy systems are integral to modern society. They are also undergoing profound transformation, not only in terms of technological change, but also to the roles and responsibilities of actors within the system.

In this module you will:

• Learn about the role of energy systems in progressing towards net zero as well as contributing to wider environmental, societal and economic outcomes.
• Examine the specific challenges and opportunities related to electricity, heat and transport systems.
• Explore the shifting geography of energy technologies and infrastructures.
• Understand the role of innovation in affecting the speed and direction of transition.
• Learn about the role of individuals households, communities, governments and businesses in enabling (and resisting) system transformation.

This module adopts an interdisciplinary approach to understand the process of change from multiple perspectives. We will focus on real-world examples and discuss issues as they unfold in real time. The module requires no specific prior skills or experience and there are no prerequisites.

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CSM3409: Politics, Mining and Sustainable Development

This module covers the vital industry issues of corporate social responsibility, social license to operate, stakeholder engagement, health & safety and political & environmental factors that affect mining decisions. The module explores how environmental impact is measured, monitored and controlled, and what sustainability means in the context of mining. It also explores international and local mining legislation, expectations of local people in mining regions, and the long- and short-term impacts of mining on a local and national scale with a particular focus on the social, economic and environmental impacts of mine closure. The module covers the key aspects of health and safety management that future managers, engineers and scientists will need to know and find useful in their future lives and careers.

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ECE3001: Living with Environmental Change

The environment is changing locally and globally, from climate change to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, with increasing pressures on life-sustaining resources (including water, food, clean air, energy and materials). This environmental change is in the context of rapidly ageing populations and growing inequalities around the world. This in turn has important implications for human populations and ecosystems in the face of rapid global environmental change. Delivered in Cornwall, this is an optional module and is suitable for non-specialist students (i.e. does not require having taken other modules). The module is interdisciplinary in focus, and is open to students enrolled in different programs.

This module covers a wide range of topics related to opportunities and challenges faced when living with environmental change. These range from food and water security, land use and degradation, ecosystem services, and living in the built environment to the health and wellbeing benefits stemming from interactions with the natural environment. Insights from medicine, biology, geography, climatology and social sciences will be used to put these challenges in context, and possible approaches to prevention, mitigation and adaptation will be discussed.

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LAW3301C: Law and Policy for Sustainable Organisations

This module seeks to develop understandings of the integral role that the concept of sustainability plays in establishing effective environmental protections through environmental law and policy at the domestic and international levels.

You will be introduced to sustainable strategies and programmes developed at the local level and applied to public and private organisations to respond to environmental challenges, as well as international laws and policies developed at the higher levels of international governance to confront the significant environmental challenges facing the planet today, including marine pollution, waste management and climate change. The module extends thinking from domestic programmes to develop sustainable practices, through to global strategies to build and enhance environmental responsibility at the international level.

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POC3095: Environmental Knowledge Controversies

Environmental issues are a particular kind of policy issue. They are often transboundary, transmutable and difficult to solve. In other words, they are 'wicked'. In this module we focus on contemporary wicked environmental policy issues and think about ways forward for their governance within the context of a maze of contradictory scientific evidence. We explore social theories about the nature of scientific knowledge and knowing, and the ways in which knowledge is transferred into policy. Given the difficulty of reconciling science and democracy, we also discuss solutions for effectively moving from contradictory scientific positions towards a more consensual policy position and practice. This includes consideration of the role of experts in democracy and critiquing the idea of post-truth politics.

No prior knowledge, skills or experience are required to take this module and it is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students. This course serves as a complement to The Public Policy Process .

This module provides an applied introduction to environmental policy conflicts and state-of-the-art ideas for their resolution. In taking a close look at the scientific evidence base on conflictual environmental policy issues, you will come to understand how science is a socially constructed endeavour. You will be able to understand the challenges of producing consensual policy on issues that have a disputed evidence base, and which consequently polarise society.

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POC3117: The Politics of Climate Change

This module aims to introduce you to the political and governance challenges presented by climate change. In taking this module you will learn that producing effective climate policy is an inherently complex activity because of: the politicisation of climate science; issues surrounding intra and intergenerational equity; the interconnectedness of climate change and sustainable development; the cross-sectoral and multi-actor dynamics of climate issues; and the interaction between different governance scales. For successful completion of the module you will need to have a strong background in politics, international relations or human geography.

This module aims to help you examine why the issue of climate change is so difficult to address. While being rooted in concepts from political science, it aims to provide you with a platform through which the climate change problematique can be analysed from different disciplinary and theoretical perspectives. Through a mixture of activities your learning will be organised around key aspects of climate change governance, namely: adaptation and mitigation governance, the politicisation of climate change, climate justice, use of climate science, energy transitions and the multiple levels of climate politics.

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