Free Online Course from Future Learn: Environmental Challenges

Future Learn Platform offers a free online course on Environmental Challenges. This course explores three aspects of conflict and resource scarcity, and applies these to explore decision making and negotiation skills.

This course is intended for:

The course is suitable for anyone with a general interest in conflict and environmental decision-making; no previous knowledge or experience is required.

Course duration:

2 weeks, 5 hours

Course topics:

• Be introduced to the pioneering environmental economist Ken Boulding.
• Understand the difference between a ‘cowboy’ economy based on throughput, and a circular ‘spaceman’ economy.
• Appreciate the role of technology in changing production methods and enabling increased exploitation of natural resources.
• Understand how demand for natural resources, in particular oil for energy, has led to conflict.
• Be aware of the contrasting concepts of ‘water wars’ and ‘water peace’ over access to and management of water resources.
• Understand how appropriately negotiated property rights and institutional arrangements are important for water peace.
• Understand how conflict can lead to increased environmental vulnerability of civilian populations and mass mortality though famine and disease.
• Be introduced to Amartya Sen and the concept of development as freedom.
• Be introduced to contrasting theories on international regimes.
• Understand the impact of conflict on environmental management in north Lebanon.
• Appreciate the role of trust relationships and the effect of ‘wasta’ on post-conflict environmental management.

Course objectives:

By the end of this course learners will be able to:

1. Compare the ‘cowboy’ economy with the circular ‘spaceman’ economy, through technological advances and resource exploitation.
2. Discuss the extent that resource demands can lead to conflict between different users.
3. Explore the way that conflicting forces subdue populations by denying them access to environmental resources.
4. Develop understanding of conflict resolution and negotiation techniques.

About Future Learn:

They offer a diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. These are delivered one step at a time and are accessible on mobile, tablet, and desktop, so you can fit learning around your life. Also, they believe learning should be an enjoyable, social experience, so their courses offer the opportunity to discuss what you’re learning with others as you go, helping you make fresh discoveries and form new ideas.

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