GEOG 232 - Pathways for Sustainability

1 unit(s)

(Same as ENST 232 and URBS 232) We all want a sustainable and climate-smart future, but how do we get there? Communities at all scales, from colleges to cities to global institutions are seeking answers to this question. To have agency in transitions toward sustainability, we need to understand the range of approaches and practices available, and we need to understand a number of general issues: How do differences in scale and regional context create or constrain possibilities? How do we learn new approaches to decision-making with sustainability in mind? How do transitions toward carbon neutrality imply transformations in social relations and structures of production? Our aim here is to understand the ways communities and institutions address these questions as they envision a road map for putting sustainability principles into practice. We focus largely on the pivotal issue of energy, but we also address related topics such as building and transportation infrastructure, landscapes, and food systems. We draw on transformative examples from the US, Europe, and Asia to find pathways through the existential challenges of the climate crisis and sustainability goals.

Students must be available for a mandatory 4-day field trip to New York City during October Break.

Prerequisite(s): One course in Geography, Environmental Studies, or Urban Studies.

Two 75-minute periods.

Not offered in 2023/24.

Course Format: CLS