James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2023

LB5411 - Resilience and Sustainable Development

Subject Description

Sustainability and resilience are the two sides of the same coin. There are indeed certain similarities between the two concepts. Accordingly, this subject focuses on the essential requirements for achieving smart, resilient and sustainable development. The subject also underpins the practical foundation and application of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the value of measuring progress on the SDGs. Further, resilience tends to prioritise processes of systems, whereas sustainability prioritises the outcomes of those systems. Neglecting similarities and differences between the two doctrines may blindside policymakers and prevent them from recognising the importance of capitalising on synergies, there seems to be a need to put aside this discourse of similarity and differences and start to think about these two concepts as intertwined. In this subject, students will learn about sustainable development and the 2030 development agenda, adaptation and adaptability, transformation and transformability, sustainable business strategy, development and social justice, human well-being and resilience for sustainable development, green and blue economies and smart growth and sustainable/resilient economies.

Learning Outcomes

• understand and apply the definitions of sustainable developments to different domains - environmental, social and economic
• critically analyse and evaluate the policy objectives and instruments aligned to the differing domains of sustainable development and human wellbeing
• ability to envision environment and climate change and propose pathways to address these issues
• develop in-depth knowledge of sustainable development and economic resilience theories, practices and methodologies

Subject Assessment

• Written > Case report 1 - (40%) - Individual
• Written > ePoster - (30%) - Group
• Participation > Online participation - (30%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Assumed Knowledge:  Basic knowledge of Management

Availabilities