Active learning ideas
This topic addresses the defining challenge of the 21st century: how to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Students examine the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the political difficulties of reaching international agreements like the Paris Accord. They analyze the tension between economic growth and environmental protection.
Activity 01
Students represent different nations (High Income, Emerging, and Low Income). They must negotiate a global carbon tax, experiencing the conflict between those who caused the most emissions and those most affected by climate change.
What is sustainable development?
Activity 02
Groups choose one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and research Ireland's progress toward it. They must identify one successful policy and one area where the government is failing to meet its targets.
How do international agreements address climate change?
Activity 03
Stations feature different approaches: individual action (recycling), corporate change (packaging redesign), and government policy (plastic bag tax). Students evaluate which approach is most effective and why.
What is the role of the individual in promoting sustainability?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Sustainable development is only about the environment.
The SDGs show that sustainability also includes ending poverty, reducing inequality, and ensuring peace. Using the 'three pillars' model (Social, Economic, Environmental) helps students see the full scope.
Individual actions like recycling are enough to solve climate change.
While important, individual actions cannot replace systemic change and government regulation. Comparing the impact of individual footprints versus the emissions of the top 100 companies helps surface this reality.
Methods used in this brief
The Process of Globalisation
Students investigate the economic, cultural, and political dimensions of globalization. The topic examines how global interconnectedness affects local communities.
8 methodologies
Global Governance and Inequality
This topic examines the institutions of global governance and their role in addressing global inequalities. Students critically assess the effectiveness of international cooperation.
8 methodologies