GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS
Today we are facing serious environmental challenges: the climate crisis, ecosystem degradation, planetary pollution, increasing economic risks and social problems associated with the environment. These challenges require immediate and strong solutions. The next 10-20 years will be a critical period for changes towards a sustainable future for people and the planet.
Join us to create solutions to global environmental challenges during two summer intensive weeks with MCS.
You will learn about the latest scientific data on the current state of Earth’s ecosystems and the main trends of a green development from experienced practitioners in the field of the circular economy and sustainable development. Project work accompanied by a facilitator will help you to formulate bright solutions to environmental problems, work through them and make them more effective. Small group discussions and discussions during a round table will help you to develop your ideas as well as broaden your vision as you exchange ideas with your colleagues.
After two weeks, you will acquire a systems view of current environmental problems and ways to solve them, try yourself as policy-makers, develop your own ideas to achieve a prosperous future and find like-minded people.
FEE
The fee for the 2-week course of studies, lunch, field trips (if any) is 45 000 Rub
DATES
05 – 16 June 2023
LOCATION
Moscow, Krasnoproletarskaya 16c11
COURSE SUMMARY
A two-week summer English school dedicated to the global environmental challenges of our time and their solutions
A systems view of the global environmental problems and their origins
Understanding the basic principles of ecology and the interrelationships between the ecosystems, economy and human well-being
Studying the relevant concepts and ways to solve global problems (sustainable development, circular economy, ecosystems restoration)
Introduction to the current green trends in economy and management, studying the feasible tools at various levels: countries, companies, people
Developing a solution for one environmental problem during the project work
Working in small groups, improving the teamwork skills
Improving the discussion and presentation skills, creating a platform for reasoned expression of the ideas
Taking a course at the MCS School in the center of Moscow
Acquaintance with relevant vocabulary for discussing topics related to climate and ecology
COURSE LEADER
Lena Shelyagina.
Leader of the Biodiversity and Climate Hub in Moscow Circular.
Lena graduated from the Department of Ecology and Plant Geography of the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University in 2008, worked in the design of urban infrastructure in Moscow and environmental monitoring of industrial facilities throughout Russia.
More than 10 years – volunteer and researcher in the field of waste management, sustainable development, circular economy.
Graduate of the first cohort of the Oxford Climate Journalist Network program, winner of the popular science media competition on climate and environmental topics of the Environmental Platform of the Third Eurasian Women’s Forum.
Currently a Master’s student at the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the Higher School of Economics with a major in Macroeconomics.
REQUIREMENTS
Age 12-18
English level B2
Program content and result
The program consists of 40 hours of lectures, interactive tasks, discussions, project work on the design and developing of a solution to an environmental problem. At the end of the course and the presentation of the project, each student is awarded a certificate of successful completion of the curriculum.
SCHEDULE
COURSE TOPICS
WEEK 1 TOPICS:
Planetary boundaries and today’s environmental challenges
Biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems
Water on the Earth
Waste and pollution
Cities and urban growth
Climate crisis and energy
Climate negotiations
WEEK 2 TOPICS:
Linear and circular economy paradigms
Industry and energy system: new ways of development
Low carbon economy
Food and plastic
How to restore biodiversity through the economy
Sustainable cities
PROJECT WORK
During the project work, you will be able to choose any environmental problem and propose solutions to it. Together, using the tools of systems thinking, we will work out your ideas from the formulation of the problem to the ways of implementing solutions. Then we place the results in a presentation. We will discuss all projects within the round table on the closing day of the program.