EDUCATING LEADERS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

COURSE OUTLINE

Course topics change slightly from year to year.

DAY 1 – PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY

  • Introduction to the 3 “E”s of sustainability
  • Ecological and carbon footprints
  • Natural Step and 1 Planet Principles
  • Tour of a sustainable community

DAY 2 – FOOD SYSTEMS

  • The 3 “E”s of sustainable food systems
  • Social equity in Sonoma County’s food system
  • Economics of eating sustainably
  • Leadership in regional food policies
  • Tour of local sustainable farming

DAY 3 – ECOSYSTEM SERVICES I: ENERGY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

  • Energy policy and climate change
  • Peak Oil and renewable energy sources
  • GHG emissions reduction in Sonoma County
  • Waste management and recycling in Sonoma County
  • Tour of a material processing plant

DAY 4 – ECOSYSTEM SERVICES II: WATER SOURCES AND USES

  • Local water challenges & solutions
  • Ecosystems and watersheds of the North Coast
  • Wastewater management issues
  • Tour of a local water treatment plant

DAY 5 – HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL EQUITY

  • Race, class and green privilege
  • Youth voices for equity and sustainability
  • Local health care equity & effectiveness
  • Engaging stakeholders for success

DAY 6 – BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

  • State of our local economy
  • Socio-economic challenges & solutions – asset building & living wage
  • Emerging business models
  • Leadership for sustainable business & economy
  • Tour of a local Green Business

DAY 7 – SMART DEVELOPMENT: TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE

  • Legal basis for transportation & land use planning
  • Introduction to Smart Development
  • Livable, walkable, transit oriented communities
  • Transportation and the 3 “E”s
  • Local transit challenges & solutions
  • Tour of a mixed-used downtown

DAY 8 – SMART DEVELOPMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DESIGN

  • Affordable housing challenges & solutions
  • Planning policies: general plans, EIRs, zoning
  • Community Design and Climate Change
  • Tour and case study of local eco-village

DAY 9 – LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

  • Leadership for a new era
  • Connecting the 3 “E”s of the Program
  • Reflections on Lessons Learned
  • Class leadership project presentations
  • Tour & presentation of intentional community 



© Leadership Institute
for Ecology and the Economy

| More