GRN 6510 - Drivers of Sustainability

(4 units)

This course sets the foundation for identifying and evaluating issues for organizations emphasizing the environmental aspects of sustainability. The course surveys how organizations impact the environment through generation of wastes and pollutants, consumption of resources, and habitat destruction. Students learn how an organization’s ability to prevent or mitigate these impacts is affected by scientific and technological principles, legal and regulatory constraints, economic and financial criteria, and consideration of societal impacts. This course also considers the potential for new business opportunities throughout the value chain that may arise from better managing environmental issues. The course describes common environmental management strategies and techniques to reduce costs, risk and regulatory burdens. It also reviews key U.S. legal and regulatory frameworks and compares them with those of other countries, voluntary international environmental management protocols such as ISO 14000 and the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, and market based solutions to reduce or eliminate unwanted impacts.
(San Diego)