Aim
Many students from the programme will reach positions as directors or as projects leaders in large companies, with activities or production on/for an international market. These positions entail a personal responsibility for, e.g., environmental issues. Under these circumstances, a pro-active perspective, the ability to consider different aspects in advance, is are extremely important. The environmental and resource issues are such aspects, both short- and long-term.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• Present an overview of the important environmental and resource issues related to the demands in modern industrialised society.

• Be able to analyse critically the concept of sustainable development.

• Describe and discuss some basic concepts within environmental legislation, and be able to relate them to consequences for companies and organisations.

• Describe and discuss basic concepts in environmental economics and policy instruments.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

• Be able to critically analyse strengths and weaknesses of different environmental tools.

• Be able to identify and define a problem, following up with an analysis at a relatively advanced level, to present the results in a well-structured paper with proper text references and to defend it during a seminar..

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• Be able to identify and discuss the responsibility and role of companies in relation to sustainability, and to relate these to the demands of society.

Contents

• Description of environmental problems of large geographic range and serious consequences, both short- and long-term (i.a., global warming, acidification, atmospheric ozone, ecotoxic substances), and their relation to, i.a., energy supply and use.

• Limitation of resources related to the demands of modern industrialised society (non-renewable and renewable resources, conflicts over land use, etc.). Scarcity of fossil fuels and environmental problems, as compared to potential and possibilities for renewable resources in a critical perspective.

• Critical appraisal of the concept of sustainable development, with a focus on material flows and the energy system. Introduction to a life cycle perspective on services and products.

• Overview of environmental legislation in relation to the environmental issues: international conventions (e.g., the climate convention/Kyoto protocol, the Montreal protocol) à EU directives, etc. (REACH, RoHS) à national legislation, the Swedish “Environmental Code”, etc.). Consequences for companies and organisations (e.g., handling of chemicals, pollution control, …) Responsibility for the environment and health in companies.

• Introduction to environmental economics and policy instruments (economic, administrative, etc.): emissions trading, green certificates, taxes/charges, etc.

• Methods used in trade and industry to meet the demands of legislation and the customers: the ISO 14000 standards, etc. The basics of environmental work: environmental management systems, environmental labelling, communication.

Literature
Mulder, K (red): Sustainable Development for Engineers. A handbook and Resource Guide. Greenleaf publishing 2006. ISBN-10: 1-874719-19-5, ISBN-13: 978-974719-19-9.
Additional literature.