IGESSIGESS (Institute for Global Economics and Social Sciences)

This course focuses on the understanding of environment and society as an integrated system. The course explores the theory of social-ecological systems, and with this theoretical underpinning, we will learn about different aspects of environment and society interactions. We will particularly focus on the role of human agency and its present and possible future roles for the state of the earth.
The course is roughly divided into two parts: (1) problems associated with the environment and society and (2) solutions toward more sustainable human-environment relationships.

At the end of the course, students will develop a good understanding of the main arguments related to environment and society relations from different case studies. These arguments include some of the classic environmental problems in our time, such as loss of biodiversity, climate change, water-energy-food nexus, environmental pollution, and diseases. The students will learn about efforts of conservation, and policies that strive to reduce human impact on the earth's natural systems that we need for our own survival.

英語 / English

Lectures will be carried out in each class, and there will be one or two sessions for student presentations. There will be opportunities for reflection and discussion on the lectures/readings in each class.

Feedback on assignments submitted by students will be provided in class or through the Learning Management System.
Please note that the teaching approach may vary according to which threat level we are at. The details will be announced through the Learning Management System.

あり / Yes

なし / No

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

Week 1：Nature and scope of the course

Introduction: guidance on the course. Environment & society: Nature and scope
Why we should study environment and society as an interlinked system?
Introduction to the concept of Anthropocene

Week 2：Critical viewpoints on environment and society relations

The human agency and its relation to the state of the earth

Week 3：Drivers of change

Drivers of change in society and nature: Focus on direct and indirect drivers

Week 4：Water, food and energy issues

Water-food-energy connections and their roles in land use change and landscape sustainability.

Week 5：Theoretical understanding of environment and society relations

A brief introduction of social-ecological systems theory and its relation to landscape sustainability.

Week 6：Cases studies

Selected case studies from Japan and abroad on unique socioecological relationships that ‘couple’ human and natural systems.

Week 7：Case studies

Diseases in the Anthropocene: Learning points from COVID-19

Week 8：Conservation 1

Valuing the wild: Landscape sustainability and the importance of ‘wild’ nature for human wellbeing. Some notable examples through case studies.

Week 9：Conservation 2

Putting people back to the landscapes: Landscape sustainability outside formally protected areas. Some notable examples through case studies.

Week 10：Governance and policies 1

Policies to link environment and society 1: Brief outline of biodiversity, ecosystem services and their role in the green economy and human wellbeing. Rebuilding institutions and communities.

Week 11：Governance and policies 2

Policies to link environment and society 2: Special focus on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: connectivity between landscape, people and policies.

Week 12：Presentations

Student presentations and discussions (Individual or group presentation will be decided based on the number of students enrolled)

Week 13：Presentations

Student presentations and discussions (reserve day)

Week 14：Summary

Course wrap up (including feedbacks on the students presentations). Learning from history and looking forward.

Students need to prepare for and review each session by using textbooks, references, and distributed materials.

Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

People and Nature: An Introduction to Human Ecological Relations. Emilio F. Moran. Wily Blackwell, 2017

None.

Class participation, discussions: 30%
Student presentations: 30%
Final paper: 40%

No significant change was required based on students' commnets.

None.

Please note that if the number of students attending the first class significantly exceeds expectations, in order for the instructor to effectively manage the class, the number of students who are allowed to register for the course may be limited.