Consumo Sustentável, Comportamentos pró-ambientais e estilos de vida
Code
73220106
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Sociologia
Credits
10
Teacher in charge
Iva Miranda Pires
Weekly hours
2
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
It is recognized that some of the environmental problems that contemporary societies face is the result of patterns of unsustainable consumption that have become widespread in developed countries. This situation will worsen with the emergence of middle classes in countries with fast growing economies such as India, China and Brazil, which tend to copy the models of behaviour and consumption of the middle classes in developed countries. The lifestyle and consumption patterns typical of North America and Europe are becoming globalised in the 21st century, which is not sustainable and requires a process of change. Imposing limits on growth or consumption in countries that are beginning their process of development and which still have much lower carbon footprints than the OECD countries raises ethical issues of fairness. But how can consumers in developed countries be involved in initiatives to promote sustainable development without limiting their freedom of choice, which is so valued?
Prerequisites
Subject matter
This Curriculum Unit is intended to introduce a topic considered relevant to the promotion of sustainable development - (non) sustainable consumption - and other similar issues related to the shift to more sustainable lifestyles and changes in manufacturing processes, trade and patterns of mobility.
It is intended that students understand and discuss, in a critical manner the ethical, social, economic and environmental impacts arising from these processes of change, along with the formulation of policies to encourage change, the main social actors involved and the barriers conditioning this.
Bibliography
Baudrillard J.(2008). A Sociedade do Consumo. Lisboa: Edições 70.
DEFRA (2008). A Framework for Pro-Environmental Behaviours. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK, pp.3-11.
EEA (2007). Consumo e Produção Sustentáveis, in O Ambiente na Europa, Quarta Avaliação, cap. 6, pp.251-288.
Goodman, D. (2004). Consumption as a Social Problem, in Ritzer, G. Handbook of Social Problems. London: Sage, pp226-244
Jackson, T. (2007). Sustainable Consumption, in Atkinson, G (et all) Handbook of Sustainable Development. London: E. Elgar
Najam, A; Runnals, D; Halle, M,. (2007). Environment and Globalization: Five Propositions, IISD, Paper, 54 pages, IISD.
Strange, T & Bayley, A. (2008). Sustainable Development, Linking economy, society, environment. OECD, cap 2, pp20-35.
Williams, C & Millington, A. (2004). The diverse and contested means of sustainable development, The Geographical Journal, 170(2): 99-104.
Teaching method
Introduction to the themes and guided discussions. Reading and discussion of documents distributed to students.
Evaluation method
The evaluation will be based on a research paper written on a topic agreed upon with the teacher which will also be orally presented and discussed, involving all students with regard to problem definition, approach method, methodology used, and the main conclusions reached.