Module 1: Environmental Sustainability. The oxymoron of sustainability: a complex problem requiring complex thinking​

Communicate sustainability through clear, precise, and purpose-driven messages.

Main aim and main objective of the module​

• To establish environmental awareness among university students and its relationship with scientific knowledge by demonstrating that sustainability is an achievable goal.​
• To demonstrate that the oxymoron “sustainable development” requires a deep understanding of the complexity of the world and its interconnections, making the role of communication vital.​
• To strengthen education and communication and teach students not only to accumulate knowledge, but also to think critically, identify complex problems, and seek innovative and sustainable solutions and communicate them.​

The objective of this module is to adapt the communication provided by media outlets—including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and advertising—to the evolving contexts of modern society. The 21st century has witnessed two global economic crises and one worldwide health crisis. In their wake, society has grown more conscious of the need to create a sustainable world. To achieve this, a balance must be struck between what organizations and brands offer and what consumers are willing to accept. Both parties must commit to improving production, distribution, and consumption practices to make the world tangibly more sustainable. The focus of communication will be on the consumer, particularly the younger generations—those who are already sustainable consumers and those who want to be and are willing to make the change. Tools will be provided to ensure that economic activities are reflected through business proposals committed to society. A communication system will be offered to entrepreneurs, communication experts, journalists, influencers, and social media users to help them understand which organizations and brands are meeting sustainability standards, which are not, and which continue to engage in poor management practices. CU intends to contribute to this module by adding a legal perspective to the environmental sustainability, exploring the international environmental laws, the role of legal institutions in environmental protection, and the intersection of law with the SDO.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the five pillars of environmental sustainability 
2. Solve environmental issues
3. Understand the social, cultural, political and economic issues of sustainability
4. Understand regulatory bodies and their role in environmental governance
5. Understand the precautionary and polluter-pays principles
6. Identify the legal issues of SDO related to environmental sustainability