Each of the following questions or incomplete statements below is followed by four suggested answers or completions. Select the one that is appropriate in each case.

Assignment EnvStud 608

Steering business toward sustainability

This course addresses issues of responsible business activities in order to minimise human impacts on the earth´s ecosystems.

This course was introduced in 1996 as a United Nations University publication edited by Fritjof Capra (Tao of Physics, Web of Life, Hidden Connections) and Gunter Pauli, who built the world´s first zero-emissions detergents factory in Belgium.

Despite it is no longer up-to-date regarding the recent developments over the last decade in terms of eco-management und clean technology approaches and achievements in corporate environmental awareness and responsibility as well as in terms of education, the underlying concerns of excessive resources and energy consumption of commercial production operations, the degradation and pollution of the environment remain mostly in place, and despite partial or sectoral improvements, particularly in Western Europe, transitional countries like Russia, China, India, Argentina and Brazil, to name but a few major players, and the unwilligness and lack of commitment on the part of the United States have actually worsened the state of the environment since the publication of this coursebook.

The publication steering business toward sustainability is an excellent starting point for our UCN School of Environmental and Waste Management programme in Environmental Studies.

The examination in this course consists of

  • a multiple choice test, counting 20%
  • a written assignment, counting 30%
  • an essay, counting 50%

The minimum score for a pass is 70% of total grades.

At the postgraduate, particularly the doctoral degree level candidates are expected to conduct independent research and demonstrate their ability to scientific work and writing.