Humanity faces many overlapping crises of environmental sustainability, including climate change as the result of human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases, massive environmental pollution, loss of biodiversity, the depletion of natural resources including energy (oil, gas, coal) and groundwater. Sustainable development is the only viable path for humanity and Sustainability Science is an emerging discipline that seeks to understand the fundamental characters of interactions between nature and society to accommodate sustainable development. It is observed that the lack of integration across sectors in terms of strategies, policies and implementation has long been perceived as one of the main pitfall of previous approaches to sustainable development. It will be achieved if it is build with a shared focus on environmental, social and economic goals. Developing countries like India have their own internal challenges of balancing growth and environmental sustainability; vulnerabilities to adverse trends such as climate change; and rising geopolitical roles, regionally and globally. Therefore, the member States of United Nations, following a decision taken at the Rio+20 conference propose Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to succeed the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) as reference goals for the international community for the period 2015-2030. This requires establishing proactive approaches involving universities, governmental and non governmental organizations for producing group of leaders who can integrate the overlapping issues of common goal sustainability. Educational programme like PGDSS will ensure capacity building, and skill development in the field of Sustainability Science. The PGDSS programme mainly focuses on the genesis and principles of sustainable development, its tools, implementation and assessment strategies in a holistic way.
PGDSS holders will be fully equipped to serve various Government and NGOs dealing with environment, development and livelihood improvements. Fresh graduates who complete this Diploma will be the potential candidates suitable for employment at the grassroots, supervisory and other middle level positions in Environment and Development sector. The programme also strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of in-service personnel working in Government and Non-Government Organizations, Private or Corporate sectors and handling various sustainable development projects and programmes viz., Employees of the Institutes/NGOs, Private or Corporate sectors working in various Sustainable Development projects; Programme Officers, Project Officers, Research Investigators, and Research Assistants dealing with environment and development issues in various International and National Organizations.
Programme Objectives
· To provide opportunity to the learners to deepen their knowledge and understanding about sustainable development and the principles of sustainability science.
· To expand capacities of learners on various theoretical and practical aspects of sustainable development.
· To develop professional knowledge and skills in formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable development projects and programmes.