ERS 310 Environmental Analysis V: Environmental Thought
Fall 2011
University of Waterloo
Teaching Assistant

Course Description
While by some human parameters (e.g. avg. life span, literacy, access to goods and services), things are improving, there are a number of major trends (e.g. ecological stresses, climate instability, inequity and poverty), which suggest an unsustainable path suggesting the need to reverse directions. This suggests three large questions: What alternative ways of living would work better? How seriously different are they from current approaches? And how can we make the needed changes?  This course takes an historical approach to these questions and others. It looks for insights and answers over the great long sweep of the human experience on Earth, paying particular attention to the path of changes that led to the ideas and practices that prevail (and are challenged) today.

More information about the Department of Environment & Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo can be found here.