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11.366J Planning for Sustainable Development


11.366/1.817 - PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

FALL 1998

TR 11:00-12:30

Room 3-401

 

Prof. Vicki Norberg-Bohm Prof. Jennifer Davis

Room 9-328 Phone: 253-5196 Room 9-320 Phone: 253-1516

email: vnb@mit.edu email: jd1@mit.edu

Office Hours: Tues. 4-6pm, or by appointment Office hours: Tues., Thurs. 10-11am or by appointment

Course description:

"Sustainability" is now a buzzword used by scientists, social scientists, community activists and politicians. Is there agreement on what it means? Do we know how to achieve it and how to "measure" successes and failures in our efforts? These questions have generated considerable intellectual contributions and policy innovations, but sustainable development remains an elusive goal to work toward rather than an objective stage to reach. Our goal in class is to provide tools and ideas that will be useful for those who want to help lead the journey toward sustainable development. More specifically, we focus on planning for sustainable development in developing countries of Latin America, Asia, and Africa, as well as the transitional-economy countries in Eastern Europe.

The first section of the course is an introduction to sustainable development. This section explores the debates and contradictions in this concept that will inform our efforts to operationalize sustainable development. The course then moves into in-depth studies of two realms central to sustainable development--land use and energy use. In each of these areas, current practices are generally non-sustainable and there is much potential for improvement. We will use studies to explore more broadly the "green" (resource use) and "brown" (pollution) environmental challenges that developing countries face, as well as the connections between these two types of environmental issues. Following these in-depth case studies, we will examine how to mobilize resources for sustainable development. This section considers domestic, international, and trans-national , as well as two cross-cutting issues: international and intergenerational equity and balancing political and technical rationalities.

Readings:

The course reader, which contains all required readings, is available from Graphic Arts. The reader is also on reserve in Rotch library, in Barker Library, and in the DUSP student commons and with Helena Schniewind in Rm. 9-312. This class is organized as a seminar. Students are expected to complete the required readings prior to class. In order to keep the cost of the reader down, recommended readings are on reserve in a notebook in Rotch Library. Recommended readings are suggested for students interested in a more in-depth treatment of a particular subject area.

Assignments:

There are four written assignments during the semester. The first three will be short essays (3-5 pages) and the fourth will be a concise term paper (8-10 pages).

Due dates:

Note: Late assignments will be penalized.

First assignment: Defining Sustainability ­ September 29

Second assignment: Sustainable Energy Resources - October 22

Third assignment: Sustainable Land Resources - November 12

Fourth Assignment: Term paper - December 10

Grading:

The first assignment will comprise 10% of the course grade. The second and third assignments will comprise 20% each. The last assignment comprises 25%. Class participation comprises 25%.

The rest of this syllabus was in a chart format and unable to be translated into html. Please contact the professor(s) directly for additional course information.

 

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