Sustainability is much more than a trend—it is a central guiding principle for coexistence and economic activity in a world with limited resources. The MOOCs in this series provide a step-by-step introduction to the fundamentals and areas of action of sustainability: from ecological challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity to social issues of justice, health, and participation to economic topics such as responsible production, consumption, and the circular economy. The focus is on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs: https://www.sdgwatch.at/en/about-sdgs/) as a global framework that helps to highlight complex interrelationships and formulate concrete goals.

A recurring focus is systemic thinking: sustainability requires understanding the interactions between the environment, society, and the economy and considering the long-term consequences of decisions. This also includes life cycle thinking, which considers products and services from manufacture to use to disposal in order to reduce emissions and resource consumption. The courses in this series also address practical areas such as sustainable mobility, energy, and nutrition, as well as the role of education for sustainable development (ESD), which strengthens skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and participation.