Aim
Many students 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.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• Be able to 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.

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

• Be able to describe and discuss 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 methods aimed at adressing environmental issues in business and organisations.

• Be able to identify and define a problem, following up with an analysis 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.

Limitation of resources related to the demands of modern industrialised society (non-renewable and renewable resources, conflicts over land use, etc.).

Critical appraisal of the concept of sustainable development. 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) and how they relate to EU-wide and national legislation. Responsibility for the environment and health in companies.

Introduction to environmental economics and policy instruments within the field of environment and energy (economic, administrative etc.).

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

Literature
Ammenberg, J: Miljömanagement. Studentlitteratur, Lund 2004.
de Facto (last edition, annual report)
Home page of Naturvårdsverket (basics of environmental studies)
Additional literature.