Planetary boundaries and sustainability (5cr)

Objective

You gain an understanding of the limits of natural resources.
You learn the principles of sustainability and their applications.
You understand the human impact on planetary boundaries.
You learn how to use sustainable strategies and solutions.

Content

What are the principles of sustainability?
What are the limits of natural resources and their importance in environmental issues?
What is the relationship between human impact and planetary boundaries?
How can sustainable strategies be used to promote sustainable development?

Evaluation

Students can
a. use professional vocabulary systematically.
b. look for information in the key information sources of the field.
c. identify interrelated tasks.
e. use the key models, methods, software, and techniques of the professional field.
f. work as team members in a goal-oriented way.
g. justify their actions according to the ethical principles of the professional field.

Course material

Rockström, Johan, Steffen, Will, Noone, Kevin, Persson, Åsa, Chapin,F. Stuart; et al. 2009. A Safe Operating Space for Humanity. In: Nature Vol. 461, Iss. 7263, 472-475. DOI:10.1038/461472a (Available online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44160502_A_safe_operating_space_for_humanit y)

Steffen, W., Richardson, K., Rockström, J., Cornell, S.E. Fetzer, I. et al. 2015. Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. Science 347: 736, 1259855 (Available online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270898819_'Planetary_Boundaries_Guiding_Human_Development_on_a_Changing_Planet ')

Kitzmann et al. (ed.). 2025. Planetary Health Check 2025. (Available online at https://www.planetaryhealthcheck.org/wp-content/uploads/PlanetaryHealthCheck2025.pd f)

Further material announced in the beginning of the course.

Study forms and methods

Lectures, independent study and assignments. More detailed course description will be announced in the beginning of the course.

RDI and work-related cooperation

No R&D cooperation

Timing of exams and assignments

Assignment 1 due 28.1.26
Assignment 2 due 19.2.26
Assignment 3 due 16.4.26

No exam.

International cooperation

None

Student workload

Total workload about 135h consisting of:
Section 1 (including lectures and assignment 1) about 35 h
Section 2 (including lectures and assignment 2) about 50 h
Section 3 (including lectures and assignment 3) about 50 h

Assignment instructions will be given in the beginning of the course.

Course part description

Section 1: Introduction to the PB framework and the grand challenges of sustainability
Section 2: Case studies on planetary boundaries
Section 3: Planetary stewardship in the Anthropocene

Further information

Announced later

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Grade is determined by the total amount of points from assignments as follows:
grade 1: 50-59p
grade 2: 60-69p
grade 3: 70-79p
grade 4: 80-89p
grade 5: over 90p