ASSIGNMENTS
Post Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Science (PGDSS) is the first educational programme in the area of Sustainability Science in India. The PGDSS was formally launched on 28th April 2011 and was offered through online mode from the academic session of July 2011 to July 2013. Now, the PGDSS is offer in ODL mode from July 2017 onwards.
The foundation of Sustainability Science started after the University level Chair for sustainable development was established in the year 2007 to promote sustainable development education in India. Professor M.S. Swaminathan, Father of Green Revolution in India was the Honorary Chair, Chair of Sustainable Development (2005-2014). The Chair sponsored special plenary session on Sustainability Science at 95th Indian Science congress - 2008 held at Vishakhapatnam. It was a milestone event to launch Sustainability science as a trans- and interdisciplinary programme of study in the Indian higher education system.
Prof. M. S. Swaminathan's guidance in developing academic and action research programmes have led to several Appreciation level and a PG Diploma level programme in Sustainability Science and Sustainable Development.
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 proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to succeed the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) as reference goals for the international community for the period 2015-2030. Achieving SDGs 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.