COURSE DESCRIPTION
Cities are a core component of the UN’s 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. This mini-series is a companion piece to the SDG Academy's full-length Sustainable Cities course and also serves as a brief introduction to the topic of urban sustainable development and the SDGs. From the inclusion of SDG 11 to the emphasis on subnational actors, cities are increasingly recognized as key players in achieving the SDGs. In these five lectures, Professor Jeffrey Sachs asks the questions: What does it mean to be a ‘sustainable city’ in the 21st century? And what types of challenges do local governments face in adapting to new technologies, energy systems, modes of transportation and more? Join Professor Sachs as he delves into the challenges and opportunities that cities face in the 21st century. Whether you are an alumnus or current student of our Sustainable Cities course, or fresh to this field - there is something here for anyone interested in the future of our cities!
COURSE OUTLINE
Part 1: Introduction to the SDGs
Part 2: Why Cities? The Importance of SDG 11
Part 3: The 10-Point Agenda for 21st Century Cities
Part 4: Urban Environment and Energy Systems
Part 5: Cities as Hubs of Knowledge
Final Assessment
COURSE STRUCTURE & REQUIREMENTS
Our objective with this mini-series is to encourage a protracted dialogue about the many recent developments relating to SDG 11 and the notion of a 21st-century city. We encourage you to use the discussion forum to share your thoughts and ideas with other students from around the world. We hope that this course is helpful for students who are unable to participate in the full-length Sustainable Cities course.
The self-paced course is structured around a series of pre-recorded lectures. Each of these course components can be completed at a time that is convenient for the student until the course closes at 23:59 UTC on August 31, 2022. (Check your time zone here). The estimated time commitment to complete all course components is 30-60 minutes per chapter. Videos can be viewed directly (online) or can be downloaded for offline viewing.
VERIFIED STUDENTS: In order to successfully complete the course and to be eligible for a Verified Certificate, students must score an average of 70% or higher on the final assessment. While this course is not credit granting, we encourage students to work with their own institutions to explore the option of granting credit for online coursework.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions at any point throughout the course, you can get in touch with us in the following ways:
- Course content issues (questions about assessments and lectures) should be emailed directly to courses@sdgacademy.org, using the subject line "Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable Development” or “Cities Miniseries”.
- edX Technical issues should be directed to the Student Support Team via the Help button at the top of your screen.