The course
The course
What is sustainability? Is it just being able to maintain yields of agriculture, fisheries, or natural
resources? Or are we concerned about other non-target impacts of human activities?
With human society entering a sixth great mass extinction and accelerating climate change pressure on
natural resources is resulting in forest loss, declining fisheries, and coastline eutrophication amongst
other issues. At the same time, a large portion of the earth’s population doesn’t have access to enough
resources to meet basic needs for clothing, shelter, and food. Sustainability in all its forms is increasing
important to ensure resource use does not negatively impact critical earth systems processes, other
resource users, and the ability of future generations to meet material needs.
Canada remains a major exporter of natural resources from foundations industries such as forestry to oil
and gas, and mining, natural resources remain an important contributor to employment and national
economic health, especially in smaller communities throughout the country.
Taking a Canadian perspective, this course will explore the use of natural resources in Canada and the
increasing pressure on their use and effects of extraction and development of resource sustainability
from ensuring adequate resource supply for human consumption to expanding concepts of
sustainability to include impacts on biodiversity, climate, other resource users, and intergenerational
sustainability.
Last Completed Projects
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