Length Length

8 modules, accessible at any time

Effort Effort

2-4 hours per module

Price Price

FREE

Languages Languages

English

Video Transcripts Video Transcripts

All: English
Partial: العربية, Español, Filipino, Français, Italiano, Polski, Português, Српски

Prerequisites Prerequisites

None

Requirements Requirements

An internet connection to access course materials

THE ANTHROPOCENE
What is it and

why does it matter?

THE ANTHROPOCENE
RESILIENCE THINKING
Understanding the social-ecological implications of

sustainability

RESILIENCE THINKING
TIPPING POINTS
The big three boundaries of

the planet

TIPPING POINTS
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
How do we move forward as a planet for

sustainability?

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

Overview

This course is self-paced – you can enroll immediately and complete the course materials at any time before August 31, 2025.

A thriving global society relies on the stability of the Earth and its resilience across oceans, forests, waterways, biodiversity, the atmosphere and more. So how do we shape sustainability at a global scale? The boundaries set by the planet’s natural resources, the resilience of those resources, and the human activities that impact sustainability all come into play.

In this massive open online course, see the rapidly evolving trends in global environmental change and the responses aimed at slowing or eliminating these changes. Get an overview of what is seen by some scientists as our current geological epoch – the Anthropocene, or an age of global change driven most significantly by humans. Learn how unsustainable patterns of production, consumption, and population growth have challenge planetary resilience, all in support of human activity – and how our societies can develop in a just and safe way within the planet’s boundaries.

structure

  • Pre-recorded lectures
  • Readings
  • Quizzes
  • Discussion forum

Lead Faculty

  • Faculty Image

    Johan Rockström

    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

  • Faculty Image

    Sarah Cornell

    Stellenbosch University

  • Faculty Image

    Garry Peterson

    Stockholm Resilience Centre

  • Faculty Image

    Carl Folke

    Stockholm Resilience Centre

  • Faculty Image

    Lisa Deutsch

    Stockholm Resilience Centre

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    Kevin Noone

    Stockholm University

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    Victor Galaz

    Stockholm Resilience Centre

  • Faculty Image

    Thomas Elmqvist

This course is for

Anyone new to the concept of sustainable development who wants to understand the interplay between human actions and what the planet can support

Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students interested in the key concepts and practices of sustainability, environmental science, responsible consumption, and related topics

Sustainable development practitioners – as well as private-sector actors, such as those who work in corporate sustainability and responsibility – who want a concise overview of the latest developments in the field

Questions?

Course logistics and requirements

This course is self-paced. All course components are available now and can be completed at any time that is convenient for the students.

Please note that this course is not facilitated by a course team. We encourage students to engage with one another via the discussion forum. Any specific questions can be sent to the SDG Academy team at courses@sdgacademy.org.

Certificates

Learners who successfully complete the course will be eligible to purchase a Verified Certificate signed by the course instructors.

syllabus

Module 1: Introduction and the Big Picture

1.1

Introduction

1.2

The Big Picture

Module 2: Welcome to the Anthropocene

2.1

The Holocene and the Anthropocene

2.2

Visions of the Anthropocene

Module 3: Social-Ecological Systems and Resilience Thinking

3.1

Social-Ecological Resilience

3.2

Understanding Complexity in a Turbulent World

Module 4: Planetary Boundaries Framework – Part 1

4.1

A New Framework for Human Development

4.2

The Big Three Boundaries: Processes with Global Scale Tipping Points

Module 5: Planetary Boundaries Framework – Part 2

5.1

The Four Slow Boundaries

5.2

Human-made Planetary Boundaries Processes

Module 6: Planetary Boundaries and Global Equity

6.1

Natural Resources and Interactions Between Boundaries

6.2

A Safe and Just Operating Space for Humanity

Module 7: Moving towards Global Sustainability within Biophysical and Social Boundaries

7.1

Global Governance

7.2

Promising Pathways to Success

Module 8: Conclusion

8.1

Science in the Anthropocene and the Sustainable Development Goals

8.2

Conclusions