Sustainable Development

Subject description Subject title: Entrepreneurship and sustainable development Content: Sustainable development is a topic of current interest, especially in the debate on energy consumption. It represents not only ecological perspectives though; sustainable development is also about long lasting and sound development of economic and social areas of the society.

Different actions that hold ideas on sustainable development have been taken by governments’ world wide during the recent years. One example is common regulations concerning carbon emission trade in the EU. Another is the United nations Environment program (UNEP) which is working on what has become known as a “New green deal“. Characteristic for these kinds of regulations and programs are a tendency of limiting existing markets, something that on the other hand create possibilities for entrepreneurs to discover and develop new markets.

The demand for products and services within societies implementing the ideas and concepts of sustainable development will most likely increase in large scale during the next decade. But how may entrepreneurs implement ideas of sustainable development in their businesses? One concrete way is to develop new products and services that take into account the critical conditions of a sustainable development business environment. This environment is a window of opportunity for those entrepreneurs who embrace it.

Learning objectives:  Provide examples of entrepreneurial activities in the Northern Europe region within sustainable

development businesses

 Describe conditions specific for entrepreneurial activities within sustainable development

businesses

Working methods: Literature research and research of other sources; discussions within the student group; during their presentation they should use practical examples and exercises involving the audience.

Literature/Other Sources: Broekhoff D, Zyla K (2008) Outside The Cap: Opportunities and Limitations of Greenhouse Gas Offsets, Available online: http://www.wri.org/publication/outside-the-cap

Heilmayr R, HouserT, M Shashank (2009) A Green Global Recovery? Assessing U.S. Economic Stimulus and Prospects for International Coordination, Available online: http://www.wri.org/publication/greenglobal-recovery

Nef (2008) UK needs ‘Green New Deal’ to tackle ‘triple crunch’ of credit, oil price and climate crises, Available online: http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/greennewdealneededforuk210708.aspx, published 21/07/08

The Stern report. (2009) Available at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/stern_review_report.htm

Time magazine (2009) Denmark's Wind of Change, Available at: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1881646,00.html , published 25/02/09

Contact information of supervisor: Assistant professor Mathias Cöster Gotland university [email protected]

Expected outcomes:  Group report = 10-15 pages (one page approx. 2600 characters incl. spaces)  Presentation = 5 minutes/student for each presentation (all group member ought to present)