Environment and Business a 留

36045

田中　章司郎

2.00単位

1年

2025年度前期

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of international objectives established for the period from 2016 to 2030. These goals, adopted at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, consist of 17 goals and 169 targets aimed at eradicating poverty and fostering a sustainable global future.

The business sector plays a critical role in achieving the SDGs, accounting for 60% of global GDP, 80% of capital, and 90% of employment (OECD.stat). As such, corporations are key stakeholders in this initiative. Terms such as "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)," "Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Criteria," and "Creating Shared Value (CSV)" are commonly used in discussions related to the SDGs. Additionally, there are numerous other acronyms, often referred to humorously as "Alphabet Soup."

This course will explore the intersection of the environment and business in two main segments. The first segment will review various historical approaches to environmental issues, providing essential background on topics such as environmental resources, population dynamics, and political factors. In the second segment, we will examine how businesses can develop profitable and sustainable models within the framework of the SDGs, with reference to emerging trends in corporate disclosures.

While definitive solutions to the complex and multidimensional challenges of SDGs are unlikely, this course will focus on identifying and critically addressing the current problems at the nexus of environmental sustainability and business practices.

a) being able to list three big names on the principles of human population as resource backgroud of environmental and business
b) to understand the origin of the word “ecology,” and social Darwinism
c) being able to present major world conferences and events related to environment
d) to look into how you can implement environmental factors to actual business with profit
e) being able to produce his/her own suggestions about profitable business models in terms of SDGs
<Skills to be improved>
Analytical skills, Identifying issues to be solved, Literacy of human and natural environment　

1. Development, Protection, or Conservation: Which Standpoint Do You Take? The Contemporary Relevance of the Club of Rome's 'Limits to Growth'
This lecture will explore the ongoing significance of the Club of Rome's influential 1972 report, "The Limits to Growth." We will critically examine the report's central thesis regarding the finite nature of Earth's resources and discuss its continuing relevance in contemporary debates on sustainable development, economic growth, and environmental protection.

2. Al Gore’s Two Presentations on Environment and Business
This session will delve into the dual perspectives of Al Gore on the relationship between business and the environment. We will analyze his advocacy for environmental sustainability within the business sector and critically assess the potential conflicts and synergies between corporate interests and ecological responsibility.

3. Historical Movements in Environmental Thought (1) - Heckel’s Monist League
In this lecture, we will examine the Monist League, founded by philosopher Ernst Heckel, as an early intellectual movement that sought to integrate nature, science, and human society. The discussion will focus on how Heckel’s ideas shaped early environmental and ecological thought.

4. Historical Movements in Environmental Thought (2) - The First Green Party
This session will focus on the formation and ideology of the first Green Party, analyzing its foundational principles and its impact on the global environmental movement. We will explore its emphasis on ecological sustainability, grassroots democracy, and social justice.

5. Historical Movements in Environmental Thought (3) - Social Darwinism
In this lecture, we will explore the concept of Social Darwinism and its influence on early environmental and social thought. We will discuss how ideas of natural selection and survival of the fittest were applied to human society and the implications for environmental policy and ethics.

6. The Three Major Perspectives on Human Population Growth and Resource Management: Key Frameworks in Global Sustainability
This lecture will examine three fundamental perspectives on human population growth and the management of natural resources. We will explore Malthusian, Cornucopian, and ecological viewpoints, discussing how these theories continue to influence global sustainability policies.

7. Key Global Events and Conferences Leading to the SDGs
In this session, we will review significant historical events and international conferences that have shaped the development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This will include an analysis of key milestones and agreements that laid the groundwork for the SDGs.

8. Business Frameworks Preceding the SDGs: Kofi Annan’s Vision and 'Better Business, Better World'
This lecture will explore the business frameworks introduced prior to the SDGs, including Kofi Annan's initiatives and the concept of "Better Business, Better World." We will assess how these frameworks have influenced corporate responsibility and the integration of sustainability into business practices.

9. Revisiting the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the Private Sector: Trends in Corporate Disclosure
This session will examine how the private sector has responded to the SDGs, with a particular focus on corporate disclosure trends in financial reports. We will assess how businesses are increasingly aligning their strategies with SDG targets and the growing importance of transparency in sustainability practices.

10. The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1, S2
This lecture will cover the role of the TCFD in promoting climate-related financial disclosures and its alignment with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 and S2. We will explore the growing integration of climate risks into financial reporting and its implications for businesses and investors.

11. GHG Protocol (1) - Scope 1
In this session, we will focus on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and its classification of emissions. The first part will cover Scope 1 emissions—direct emissions from owned or controlled sources—and the methodologies for measuring and reporting these emissions in corporate sustainability frameworks.

12. GHG Protocol (2) - Scopes 2 and 3
Building on the previous lecture, we will examine Scope 2 (indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity) and Scope 3 (other indirect emissions across the value chain) under the GHG Protocol. We will analyze how companies account for these emissions and the challenges they face in reducing their carbon footprints.

13. Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
This session will introduce the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), which focuses on the integration of nature-related risks into financial reporting. We will discuss how businesses and financial institutions can assess and disclose the impacts of biodiversity and ecosystem services on their operations and supply chains.

14. Profitable Business Models in the Pursuit of Sustainability (1) - Case Presentations
In this lecture, we will explore case studies of businesses that have successfully integrated sustainability into their profit models. Students will present and analyze real-world examples of companies that have achieved both financial success and positive environmental or social impact.

15. Profitable Business Models in the Pursuit of Sustainability (2) - Case Presentations
Building on the previous session, this lecture will continue with additional case studies and presentations. We will further explore the practical challenges and opportunities faced by companies in aligning business growth with sustainability goals, encouraging students to critically evaluate diverse approaches.

N/A

Students will be required to look into the themes through internet and/or in library and be prepared for in-class discussion of the scheduled topic, say, for half an hour or more.

References will be presented to students occasionally in class.

Ditto.

Exams not done during regular exam period.

Grades will be evaluated by: 1) results of quiz and participation in discussions (25%); 2) presentations (25%); 3) report submissions on selected topics (2 times: 50%). The reports on cardinal issues will get feed-back with scores.