Sustainability: Understanding Global Change, Bringing About Transformation

Seeing the Big Picture

Many sustainability problems are casually summarised under the term "climate crisis". In my module "Earth System Science" in the M.Sc. Sustainability Management, we therefore look at the scientific interrelationships between the atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere in order to properly understand the major crises of our time, climate change and the loss of biodiversity. I use interactive learning methods together with the students to develop a "big picture" that ideally enables them to help companies become more sustainable after they graduate.

Human influence and ESG

Humans play the decisive role in issues relating to climate change. Our impact on the climate system, especially through emissions, is fuelling climate change. The consequences: global warming and weather extremes. At the same time, urbanisation and the conversion of forests into agricultural land are also drastically reducing the diversity of animals and plants.

As managers in an industrial company in particular, people are constantly making decisions that can have major consequences for nature and the climate. From building a new production facility in a wooded area to the automation of labour and economic growth targets; the scope of action of managers is vast.

ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) has become a standard for responsible corporate governance with regard to social justice, climate- and environmental mitigation. Only those who have a basic understanding of the physical interrelationships can bring about positive change in a management position according to ESG criteria. I am therefore delighted to be able to convey this basic understanding with the "Earth System Science" module as a foundation module in the Sustainability Management degree programme.

Understanding scientific relationships

What exactly will the module be about? Students learn what leads to global change and climate change from a scientific perspective. They gain an insight into the functions and services of ecosystems and learn to understand the complex interactions between the different spheres of the earth system. This is necessary to enable them to take a differentiated view of entrepreneurial measures in their later professional life. Because not everything that is labelled as sustainable today actually is.

Let's take a look at a few examples:

1. Environmental protection versus climate mitigation

True sustainability means achieving long-term positive change for climate and environment. There are conflicts when it comes to implementation because environmental protection is always climate protection, but climate protection is not always environmental protection. The construction of wind turbines for climate mitigation, for instance, requires a lot of raw materials and energy. Trees may have to be felled or soil sealed for the area on which they stand. Electric mobility is not sustainable in the long term either, it is merely better than petrol-powered propulsion, but it also requires a lot of raw materials and energy and produces a large amount of electronic waste that has to be recycled.

2. Climate adaptation versus climate mitigation

As climate change progresses, it has become necessary to adapt to our increasingly warmer and more extreme climate. There are also conflicts in this regard. The construction of a dam, for example, protects people from flooding, but it consumes a lot of energy and emits CO₂, destroying natural ecosystems as well as human settlements. In the best-case scenario, a climate adaptation measure is therefore simultaneously a climate and environmental protection measure, such as the renaturalisation of forests or wetlands which leads to flood protection and CO₂ storage at the same time. It is therefore important to understand that sustainable initiatives must serve a variety of objectives.

Technology is not always the solution, we need to rethink

Sustainable solutions are often sought in technology. And yes, modern technology can help us to achieve sustainability goals. However, it is not the sole solution, but merely one adjusting screw in a complex system. In my perspective, it is much more important to question habits and outdated systems. Holistic, interdisciplinary thinking and action in companies and along their (global) value chains are in demand. Those who start to harmonise economic goals, social goals and ecological goals and look for long-term sustainable solutions are shaping the future. 

Combining sustainability and management

The "Earth System Science" module is one of six foundation modules in the new Master of Science in Sustainability Management. It consists of interactive teaching with lots of practical exercises. In excursions, students also immerse themselves in the practical work of climatologists, for example, take real measurements in nature and develop solutions for greater sustainability as a team. The programme will start for the first time in October 2024 at RWTH Business School. One year of professional experience and a passion for sustainability are required for the English-language degree programme.

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