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Faculty who incorporate sustainability into their teaching offer students who would not normally learn about the field a chance to gain new, important knowledge. Because of its broad nature, sustainability pairs well with many disciplines. Below is five ways to incorporate sustainability into your courses and any associated resources you may need.
Penn State defines sustainability as “the simultaneous pursuit of human health and happiness, environmental quality, and economic well-being for current and future generations.”
The United Nations defines sustainability as “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Both of these definitions focus on the three pillars of sustainability:
Sustainability is more than just the natural environment. An expansive view on sustainability should address:
In collaboration with the Indigenous Peoples Student Association (IPSA) and the Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance (IFSA):
The Pennsylvania State University campuses are located on the original homelands of the Erie, Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora), Lenape (Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe, Stockbridge-Munsee), Shawnee (Absentee, Eastern, and Oklahoma), Susquehannock, and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations. As a land grant institution, we acknowledge and honor the traditional caretakers of these lands and strive to understand and model their responsible stewardship. We also acknowledge the longer history of these lands and our place in that history.
Sustainability requires more than just teaching about the natural environment; it includes teaching for justice and equity. A land acknowledgement statement is a first step in recognizing the past, present, and future Indigenous peoples of Pennsylvania and their land, which we live, teach, and learn on.
The United Nations has agreed on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve a sustainable future. These goals encompass the social, environmental, and economic pillars addressed above. Sign the #TeachSDGs pledge to commit to these goals.
The social, environmental, and economic issues around climate change and sustainability are relevant for all disciplines in the College of the Liberal Arts. Each of the topics below can be incorporated as class examples, case studies, or even whole units.
Follow the IPCC’s 6 Communications Principles: