Integrating Economic Sustainability Issues in Principles of Economics Courses 2009 Annual ECCSSA Conference

1. Integrating Economic Sustainability Issues in Principles of Economics Courses2009 Annual ECCSSA Conference Dr. Satarupa Das Montgomery College March 28, 2009

2. Sustainability • Sustainable development is defined as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (Brundtland Commission, 1987). • Sustainable development is about developing practices that are compatible with environmental constraints and responds adequately to social and economic needs ( Norwegian University of Life Sciences) • Millennium Development Goals • It is an issue of living in a very crowed planet.

3. Relevance of the Topic • Is education sustainable without relevance? • Emerging Theories and Methods in Sustainability Research (THEMES): Marie Curie Summer Schools • Sustained effort for sustainability

4. Importance of Sustainability Education • In 2003 the United Nations declared a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014): “The international community now strongly believes that we need to foster—through education—the values, behavior and lifestyles required for a sustainable future. Education for sustainable development has come to be seen as a process of learning how to make decisions that consider the long-term future of the economy, ecology and equity of all communities. Building the capacity for such futures-oriented thinking is a key task of education.”

5. Human Development causes Environmental Degradation

6. Implication of Increased Food Production

7. Implication of Increased Energy Use

8. What can economists do? While Science and Technology will do much of the work • Need to better understand the interaction between economy and environment. Economy Environment • Formulate appropriate government policy – taxes and subsidy • Understand equity implication of economic policies and climate change and devise corrective measures (such as taxes on carbon and technology transfer).

9. What can be done in Principles classroom? • Attribute importance to Malthusian theory • Environment as a factor used in production. Economic growth is unsustainable due to overuse of environment, and limits to environmental resources such as clean water affecting health and growth. • Explain economic concepts using environmental and sustainability examples: Marginal Benefit and Cost, economic incentives, Taxes, subsidies

10. Provide Resources • Link economic concepts to sustainability issues with my website: http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/~sdas/index.htm

11. Thank You!!Questions??