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Sustainable Development and the Circular Economy

Course developers

Course abstract

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the nature and regularities of sustainable development, as well as potential solutions to transition to a circular economy.
The course provides an understanding of the national and global relevance of sustainable development as well as the concept of a circular economy. The course focuses on potential solutions to achieving the sustainable development goals in economic processes. Students gain knowledge of the change of the linear economy model in the transition to a circular economy, get familiarized with solutions to implementing the circular economy, as well as get an idea of opportunities for the circular economy in various sectors of the national economy. The course familiarizes students with the current global initiatives and policies for the circular economy.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to:
Knowledge:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the latest developments in the field of sustainable development, as well as relevant regularities and policies – Discussion, a test, an examination
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the concept of a circular economy and the models and practical application of the models in the sectors of the economy in the context of sustainable development – Independent work, a presentation, an examination
3. Demonstrate the knowledge of waste management systems and opportunities for waste use – Study tour, discussions, group work
Skills:
1. Independently analyse and assess resources needed for development in the context of sustainability – Independent work, an infographic, a presentation
2. Select information on the regularities of sustainable development and the circular economy and analyse them – Independent work, group/pair work, an examination
3. Independently analyse and assess the transformation of circular economy business models for various industries – Independent work, an infographic, a presentation, an examination
4. Responsibly plan their time and resources for the completion of the assignments given – Practical assignments, independent work
5. Engage in and assume responsibility for group work and make an individual contribution to it – Group/pair work, discussions
Competences:
1. Independently identify and critically analyse the regularities of sustainable development and the circular economy – Practical assignments, discussions, a test, a presentation, an examination
2. Justify own conclusions and proposals for solving sustainability problems – Independent work, a presentation, discussions, an examination

Course Content(Calendar)

Full-time studies:
Lectures, 2 h for each topic.
1. Concepts of sustainable development and a circular economy
2. Economic growth and social development
3. International measures for ensuring sustainable development
4. UN Sustainable Development Goals. EU Green Deal
5. Ecoefficiency and an ecological footprint
6. Environmental management system
7. Environmentally friendly services and goods
8. Sustainable development measures for various industries of the national economy, territorial development
9. Linear and circular economies
10. Waste as a resource
11. Instruments for implementing a circular economy
12. Transformation of the circular economy
13. Sustainable business model within the conception of a circular economy
14. Impacts of globalization on sustainable development and the circular economy
15. Circular economy opportunities for various industries of the economy
16. Global policies and initiatives for fostering the circular economy
Practicals
1. Importance of sustainable development and the factors therein (3 h)
2. Poverty and the reduction thereof (2 h)
3. Economy, the environment and prosperity – the dimensions of sustainable development (5 h)
4. Genetically modified organisms and sustainable development (2 h)
5. Sustainable development nominations (2 h)
6. Waste management system and the use of waste in Latvia (4 h)
7. Environmentally friendly categories of goods and services (4 h)
8. Towards innovations in business models in the circular economy (5 h)
9. Examples of a circular economy in industries (5 h)
Part-time extramural studies:
All the topics intended for full-time studies are covered, yet the number of contact hours is ½ of the specified number of hours.

Requirements for awarding credit points

During the semester, the student must complete all practical assignments, as well as earn marks in a test and for independent work representing a study on the concept of sustainable development or a circular economy. As part of the course, the student must create an infographic on a topical issue of sustainable development or the circular economy. Both the results of the study and the infographic must be presented in a practical. There course ends with a written examination.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The student must complete two pieces of independent work: a study on the concept of a circular economy, the business models and their practical application in the economy, with the results being summarized a presentation of 10-15 PowerPoint slides; the second piece represents an infographic on problems of sustainable development or the circular economy and the solutions.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark represents a cumulative assessment of the following components: an examination – 40%, independent work – 30%, a test – 15%, an infographic – 15%.

Compulsory reading

1. Ilgtspējīgas attīstības stratēģijas. [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 28.02.2023]. Pieejams: https://metrum.lv/lv/pakalpojumi/teritorijas-un-attistibas-planosana/ilgtspejigas-attistibas-strategijas
2. Kopnina H., Poldner K. Circular Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Ethical and Sustainable Business. Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, 2022. 226 p.
3. Kovacic Z., Strand R., Volker T. The Circular Economy in Europe. Critical Perspectives on Policies and Imaginaries. Routledge, 2020. 187 p.
Pieejams datubāzē EBSCO eBook Academic Collection ar LBTU IS lietotājparolēm. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2278689&site=ehost-live&scope=site
4. Roorda N. Fundamentals of Sustainable Development. Second edition. New York: Routledge, 2017. p. 382 p.
5. Makdono V., Braungarts M. No šūpuļa līdz šūpulim. Zaļā domāšana lietu pasaulē. Rīga: Jumava. 2012., 189 lpp.
6. Modak P. Practicing Circular Economy. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2021. p.365 p.
Pieejams CRCpress e-grāmatas
7. Sustainable development. European Economic and Social Committee. [tiešsaiste]. [skatīts 01.03.2023] Pieejams: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/policies/policy-areas/sustainable-development
8. Vide un ilgtspējīga attīstība. M. Kļaviņa un J. Zaļoksna red. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2010. 334 lpp. Ir LBTU FB 26 eks.

Further reading

1. Vide un ekonomika: Monogrāfija. Dz.Atstāja, Dž.Dimante, I.Brīvers u.c. Rīga: LU, 2011. 256 lpp.
2. A new Circular Economy Action Plan. For a cleaner and more competitive Europe [tiešsaiste]. Eiropas Komisija. [skatīts 01.03.2023] Pieejams:https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2020%3A98%3AFIN
Brebbia C.A., Miralles i Garcia J.L. Environmental and Economic Impact on Sustainable Development. [tiešsaiste]. UK: WIT Press, 2017. p.250 p. [skatīts 01.03.2023]. Pieejams datubāzē EBSCO eBook Academic Collection ar LBTU IS lietotājparolēm. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=1468141&site=ehost-live&scope=site
3. Bakari M. El-Kamel. The Dilemma of Sustainability in the Age of Globalization: A Quest for a Paradigm of Development. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2017., 223 p.
4. Čekstere A., Smirnova O. Vides un ilgtspējīgas attīstības mācīšanās rokasgrāmata studentiem. Rīga: LU, 2011. 115 lpp.
LBTU ESAF Studiju un zinātnes informācijas centrs - Skaits: 1 eks.
5. Johannesburgas deklarācija par ilgtspējīgu attīstību. [tiešsaiste]. [skatīts 01.03.2023.]. Pieejams: https://www.vestnesis.lv/ta/id/65591
6. Klimats un ilgtspējīga attīstība. M. Kļaviņa un J. Zaļokšņa redakcijā. Rīgā: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2016., 384 lpp.
7. Iedvesmojoši ekociematu stāsti: eko tehnoloģiju un prakses piemēri. [Redaktori: Ansa Palojärvi, Jarkko Pyysiäinen un Mia Saloranta]. Viļņa: BMK Leidykla, 2013., 118 lpp.
8. Lebedev Y., Anufriev V., Lebedeva T., Kaminov A., Yachmenyova A. 2015 Professional training of future green economy specialist and strategic priorities for sustainable subsurface management. Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences, Vol. 214. 657-666. Pieejams datubāzē ScienceDirect journals ar LBTU IS lietotājparolēm.
Pieejams: https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/science/article/pii/S187704281506019X
9. Ospanova A., Popovychenko I., Chuprina E. Green Economy – Vector of Sustainable Development. : Problemy ekorozwoju – Problems of sustainable development, Vol.17(1), 2022, pp.171-181. Pieejams: https://ekorozwoj.pollub.pl/no33/16.Ospanova_et_al.pdf
10. Paradigm of Development. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2017. 223 p.
11. Rīcības plāns pārejai uz aprites ekonomiku 2020.-2027. gadam. [tiešsaiste]. [skatīts 02.03.2023] Pieejams: https://likumi.lv/ta/id/317168-par-ricibas-planu-parejai-uz-aprites-ekonomiku-20202027-gadam
12. Vides zinātne. M. Kļaviņa redakcijā. Rīga, LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2008., 599 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Dienas Bizness: nedēļas laikraksts: Latvijas biznesa avīze. Rīga: Diena: Dagens Industri, ISSN 1407-2041.
2. Kapitāls: žurnāls lietišķiem cilvēkiem: krāsains biznesa un ekonomikas žurnāls. Rīga: Lietišķās informācijas dienests. ISSN 1407-2505.

Notes

Restricted elective course for the ESAF academic bachelor programme Economics, specialization Sustainable Economy and Territorial Development