Sustainable Development Training

The sustainability agenda is developing faster than any other part of the business agenda, with the relevant understanding and skills likely to be necessary conditions for success in the 21^st century. Many organisations find the term sustainability abstract, a concept with which it is difficult to connect. At its heart lies the simple idea of integrating economic, social and environmental policies to ensure a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. Sustainable development means meeting 4 objectives at the same time:

• Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone;
• Effective protection of the environment;
• Prudent use of natural resources; and
• Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth.

Course Objectives:

Innovation and creativity on an unprecedented scale will be required to yield new processes, new methodologies and new ways of managing the future role of technology. There is a need therefore to examine ways in which engineers and scientists are able to take a central role in finding new ways of meeting people’s needs, expectations and aspirations whilst ensuring that the economy, society and the built and natural environments grow and develop in harmony. Yet the environment is struggling to cope with even current levels of consumption and climate change is just the latest and loudest of a number of wake up calls.

Resource efficiency lies at the heart of the sustainability challenge and organisations need to become more “eco-efficient”. The objectives of the course are to provide delegates with the appropriate knowledge, skills and competencies to apply technologies

• To ensure that sustainable development meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs;

• To create more value with less impact;
• To seize opportunities to innovate and enhance competitiveness;
• To make better use of physical, human and financial resources;
• To meet growing consumer demand for more environmentally and socially acceptable goods and services.

Intended for:

The nature of the course is such that professionals from a wide range of backgrounds can be accommodated.

Methods of Instruction:

Course participants will be required to apply knowledge gained during tutored sessions into group discussions and syndicate sessions, and will identify and define appropriate technologies and their application to industrial case studies.

Delivery Methods:

Course delivery will comprise a combination of short power point presentations with flip chart demonstrations. Delegate handouts will include notes on technical theory and diagnostic exercises.

Programme Schedule:

An Introduction to Sustainable Development

Session 1 – Quality of Life

Session 2 – Eco-centrism -v- Techno-centrism

Session 3 – Capacity for Continuance

Environmental Burden

Session 4 – Environmental Impacts, Human Activity & Biophysical Limits

Session 5 – Protection & Enhancement of Earth’s Life Support Systems

Session 6 – De-materialisation

Improving Environmental Performance

Session 7 – Global Climatic Challenges

Session 8 – Socio-Economic Needs

Session 9 – Life Cycle Assessment

Corporate Social Responsibility

Session 10 – Increasing Productivity for Economic Development

Session 11 – Ethics, Technology & Ideology

Session 12 – Stakeholder Impacts & Future Challenges

Sustainable Development training Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dunfermline and other sites throughout the UK including onsite closed company courses are available.

Sustainable Development Training in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, India, Ghana and Nigeria is also available.