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3.03 Global Challenges - Sustainable Futures

Instructor: Dr. Andrzej Ancygier
Language of instruction: English
Course type: Subject course, A-Track
Contact hours: 48 (6 per day)
Course days: Monday & Thursday
ECTS credits: 6
Course fee: € 1,300
Can be combined with all B-Track courses
🌍 Critical global issues addressed in this course: Climate Action (SDG 13); Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11); Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12); Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16)

Course Description

This course introduces students to politics, governance, and ethics of sustainability in an increasingly interconnected world. The defining challenges of our time - ranging from poverty and inequality to climate change, biodiversity loss, and political polarization - are global in nature. Yet the current system of governance, built on competing sovereign countries, remains poorly equipped to address problems that transcend national borders. As societies confront these shared threats, they are compelled to adopt a new logic of cooperation, responsibility for the global commons, and awareness of the long-term consequences of human activity.

Throughout the course, students will explore the major global challenges shaping the 21st century, divided into economic, social, political, and environmental dimensions. Special attention will be given to the causes and consequences of climate change, as well as to the international frameworks designed to address it, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Paris Agreement will serve as a case study for examining both the possibilities and limitations of global climate governance.

Beyond environmental concerns, the course will investigate wider systemic issues such as income disparity, migration, gender inequality, the rise of populism, and the rapid development of new technologies. We will discuss how artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and innovative governance models might contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future. The final sessions encourage students to think critically and creatively about global interdependence and to envision pathways toward a fairer, more resilient world.

Classroom discussions will be complemented by field visits and guest lectures that connect theoretical insights with real-world practice.

Download Syllabus (printable PDF incl. day-to-day schedule)

Recommended Course Combinations (Selection)