Prof. Dr.

Rudi Kurz
Office hours: Tuesday 13:45-15:15
Office: W4.1.02
Email: rudi.kurz@hs-pforzheim.de

Sustainable Development

ESR3105

Syllabus

Summer Semester 2016

Weekly hours 4
ECTS-Credits 5
Workload 150 hours (50 contact hours + 100 hours of self-study)
Level Advanced
Prerequisites Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Economics
Teaching Approach Lecture
Grading Test (60 min)
Time Monday 15:30-17:00; 17:15-18:45
Room W3.2.04
Start March 21

Learning Objectives
 Understand the basic concept of Sustainable Development (SD), the environmental,
social and economic dimensions.
 Know the history of the SD idea.
 Be able to discuss the conflicts which are involved in the SD concept on the national
as well as on the global scale.
 Be familiar with potential strategic options for SD (efficiciency, sufficiency).
 Be able to discuss the (dis-)advantages of instruments for SD.
 Understand the SD challenge for companies, their responsibility and their potentials
for action.

General Introduction
Sustainable Development (SD) is defined as “development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
(Brundtland Report 1987). More specific sustainable development goals (SDGs) have
been formulated by the UN in 2015. The most critical resources for the survival of future
generations are climate stability and biodiversity. Therefore, we have to respect the
planetary boundaries of economic activity today. However, today many people are still
far from being able to meet their basic needs, especially in developing countries. SD not
only addresses the question of inter-generational justice but also this intra-generational
issue: How to improve the life of the poor without overburdening the ecosystems? This is
a challenge for individual lifestyles (especially in rich nations), for companies and for
government policy. The lecture provides a basic understanding of these challenges,
introduces strategies and instruments for sustainable development.
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Contents

1 Introduction and History: Brundtland, Rio, SDGs

2 Basic Concepts, Strategies and Measurement
3 Efficiency and Innovation, Green Growth and Rebound
4 Sufficiency, Income and Labor, Consumption Patterns and Lifestyles
5 Poverty and Inequality
6 Instruments for SD
7 Governance, Education and Science System
8 Climate Change
9 Biodiversity
10 Company Perspectives

Schedule (preliminary Feb 2016)

EGV Einführung
March 21 Introduction and History
April 4 Basic Concepts, Strategies and Measurement
April 11, 18 Efficiency and Innovation, Green Growth and Rebound
April 25 Sufficiency, Income and Labor, Consumption and Lifestyles
May 2 Poverty and Inequality
May 23 Instruments for SD
May 30 Governance, Education and Science System
June 6 Climate Change
June 13 Biodiversity
June 20 Company Perspectives
June 27 Q&A, Exercises, Feedback
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Literature and Course Materials

 FU Hagen / Lund University, Climate Change – A Question of Justice? Massive

Open Online Course (MOOC), Units 4, 7, 8 https://mooc.umweltwissenschaften.de/

 Check e-learning platform for new additional course materials

2.1 Literature
Buchholtz, Ann K. / Carroll, Archie B. (2009): Business & Society, 7th ed., (South-
Western, Cengage)
Crane, Andrew / Matten, Dirk (2010): Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship
and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization, 3rd ed., Oxford (Oxford University
Press)
Duflo, Esther / Banerjee, Abhijit V. (2001): Poor Economics. A Radical Rethinking of the
Way to Fight Global Poverty, New York (PublicAffairs) soz 3.19 2012 93
Hart, Stuart L. (2005): Capitalism at the Crossroads: The Unlimited Business
Opportunities in Solving the World's Most Difficult Problems, Philadelphia, PA
(Wharton School)
Hoffmann, A. J. / Woody, J. G. (2008): Climate Change: What’s Your Business Strategy?
Boston, MA (Harvard Business School Publishing)
Nieuwenhuis, Paul (2014): Sustainable Automobility. Understanding the Car as a Natural
System, Cheltenham/Northampton (EE)
OECD (2007): Instrument Mixes for Environmental Policy, Paris
OECD (2008a): Conducting Sustainability Assessments, Paris
OECD (2008b): People and Biodiversity Policies. Impacts, Issues and Strategies for
Policy Action, Paris
OECD (2009): Promoting Consumer Education. Trends, Policies and Good Practices,
Paris
OECD (2011): Towards Green Growth, Paris
OECD (2012a): OECD Environmental Outlook 2050+, Paris
OECD (2012b): Environmental Performance Reviews: Germany 2012, Paris
OECD (2014): How was Life? Global Well-being since 1820, Paris
Perkins, Dwight H. / Radelet, Stefen / Lindauer, David L. (2006): Economics of
Development, 6th ed., New York / London (W.W. Norton)
Perman, Roger et al. (2011): Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, 4th ed.,
Harlow (Pearson)
Piketty, Thomas (2014): Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Cambridge, MA / London
(Harvard University Press)
Rainey, David Lloyd (2008): Sustainable Business Development: Inventing the Future
through Strategy, Innovation and Leadership, Cambridge (Cambridge Univ. Press)
Randers, Jorgen (2012): 2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years, launched by
the Club of Rome, Post Mills VT (Chelsea Green Publishing)
Reinhardt, Forest L. / Vietor, Richard H. K. (1996): Business Management and the
Natural Environment, Cincinnati, OH (South-Western)
Sachs, J. D. (2008): Common Wealth. Economics for a Crowded Planet, London
Schaltegger, S. / Burritt, R. / Petersen, H. (2003): An Introduction to Corporate
Environmental Management. Striving for Sustainability, Sheffield
Skidelsky, Robert / Skidelsky, Edward (2012): How Much Is Enough? Money and the
Good Life, New York, NY (Other Press)
Stern, Nicholas (2007): The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review,
Cambridge (Cambridge University Press)
Strange, Tracey / Bayley, Anne (2008): Sustainable Development. Linking Economy,
Society, Environment, OECD Insights, Paris
Sukhdev, Pavan (2012): Why Corporation 2020? The Case for a New Corporation in the
Next Decade, Washington, DC etc. (Island Press)
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TEEB (2010): The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Mainstreaming the

Economics of Nature: A Synthesis of the Approach, Conclusions and
Recommendations of TEEB
Todaro, Michael P. / Smith, Stephen C. (2011): Economic Development, 11th ed., Boston
(Addison-Wesley)
Victor, Peter (2008): Managing Without Growth. Slower by Design, Not Disaster,
Cheltenham, UK / Northampton, MA (EE)
Weizsäcker, E. v. et al. (2009): Factor Five. Transforming the Global Economy Through
80 % Improvements in Resource Productivity. A Report to the Club of Rome,
London / Sterling, VA (Earthscan)
Worldwatch Institute (2015): State of the World 2015: Confronting Hidden Threats to
Sustainability, Washington, DC (Island Press)

2.2 Company Strategies and Reporting (examples)

Daimler AG https://www.daimler.com/sustainability/

Ernst & Young http://www.ey.com/DE/de/About-us/Corporate-Responsibility

http://www.ey.com/US/en/Services/Specialty-Services/
Climate-Change-and-Sustainability-Services/
Six-growing-trends-in-corporate-sustainability_overview

General Electric http://www.gecitizenship.com/

SAP http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/sustainability/index.epx

Siemens http://www.siemens.com/sustainability/en/

2.3 Reporting, Rating, Ranking

GRI https://www.globalreporting.org/

Oekom Munich http://www.oekom-research.com/

INFRAS Zürich http://www.infras.ch/d/infras/

Corporate Register http://www.corporateregister.com/

UN Global Compact http://www.unglobalcompact.org/

PRME http://www.unprme.org/
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Course Contributions to Bachelor Programs’ Common Learning Goals

Contributions to Learning
LO Learning Objective / Outcome Assessment
Objectives
Expert knowledge

Students show that they have sound basic

knowledge …

1.1 … in Business Administration. Challenges of sustainable development for

business and management, responsibilities
of government and business. Sustainable
business strategies.
Discussions in class
1.2 … in Economics. Environmental instruments, efficiency and
sufficiency for sustainable development.
Environmental protection and economic
Written exam
growth.

X
1.3 … in Business Law.

1.4 … in Quantitative Methods. X

Use of information technology

2.1 Students demonstrate proficiency in using

computer programs to solve business
problems. X

2.2 Students are able to use information

systems effectively in real world business
settings.
3. Critical thinking and analytical
competence
Students are able to apply analytical and
critical thinking skills to complex problems.
Critical discussion of causes / consequences
and benefits / risks of sustainable Discussions in class,
development. Discussion of current
economic issues in the context of the global Written exam
sustainable development debate.

4. Ethical awareness
Understanding inter- and intra-generational Discussions in class
Students are able to develop business justice. Know MDG and SDG and their
ethics strategies and apply them to typical ethical fundaments.
business decision-making problems.
Communication skills

5.1 Students are able to express complex

problems effectively in writing
X
5.2 Students demonstrate their oral
communication skills in presentations and
papers.
6. Capacity for teamwork

Students show that they are able to work X

successfully in a team by performing
practical tasks.