Natural Resources for Sustainable Development from edX

What's inside

Learning objectives

How countries translate natural resource wealth into sustainable development outcomes
How governance of extractive industries impact long term economic development

The policies necessary for the sustainable management of natural resource wealth
Why communication between government, industry, and citizensis critical to sustainable natural resource management

How countries translate natural resource wealth into sustainable development outcomes
How governance of extractive industries impact long term economic development
The policies necessary for the sustainable management of natural resource wealth
Why communication between government, industry, and citizensis critical to sustainable natural resource management

Syllabus

Module 1: Challenges and opportunities

History of oil, gas, and mining

Challenges& opportunities: oil, gas, and mining

The decision chain of natural resource management (I)

The decision chain of natural resource management (II)

Module 2: Political economy of natural resources

How natural resources shape and are shaped by political context

Corruption trends in the extractive sector

International governance

Natural resources& the broader governance framework

Transparency& accountability

Module 3: Fundamentals of oil, gas, and mining: industry considerations and policy

From oil well to car - market, players, and extraction process

From mine to mobile phone - market, players, and extraction process

How a company decides to invest

Project development

Evolving technology

Module 4: Legal overview

Legal& regulatory frameworks for extractive industries

Allocation of rights

Implementation& monitoring of legal frameworks

International law& the extractive industries

State-owned enterprises: Role and governance

Module 5: Fiscal regime design and revenue collection

Resource economics& fiscal regime principles

Fiscal instruments I: Royalty/tax systems

Fiscal instruments II: Contract-based systems

Fiscal regime implementation

Module 6: Anticipating and managing environmental issues

Environmental challenges and trends: oil and gas

Environmental challenges and trends: mining

Managing environmental challenges

Extractives and climate change

Environmental impact assessments

Module 7: Community rights

Social impact and engagement

Human rights and the mining industry

Mining and vulnerable populations

Company-community agreements

Module 8: Artisanal mining

Introduction to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)

Challenges of ASM

ASM and gender

Tensions betweenASM and large-scale mining

Theway forward

Module 9: Revenue management

Challenges of revenue management

Policy responses: savings, spending, public debt, and earmarking

Natural resource funds

Revenue sharing and decentralization

Module 10: Investing in sustainable development: Economic linkages to the extractives sector

Introduction to economic linkages

Local employment

Local procurement

Enabling tech transfer

Downstream linkages

Module 11: Investing in sustainable development: Looking beyond extractives

Investing in investing

Leveraging extractive industries for infrastructure

Resource-for-infrastructure deals

Module 12: Cross-cutting considerations and looking ahead

Political tripod and authorizing environment

Engaging citizens

Aligning extractive industries with theSDGs

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches about efforts to sustainably manage extractive industry investments

Develops critical understanding of key topics such as governance, policy, and environmental issues

Instructors are experts in natural resource governance

Suitable for various audiences including sustainability practitioners, extractive practitioners, researchers, and climate change activists

Offers a historical context of the extractives industry and its evolution

Examines the political, economic, and social impacts of natural resource extraction

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Natural Resources for Sustainable Development with these activities:

Review Types of Extractive Industries

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Review the different types of extractive industries to strengthen your foundational understanding of the course materials.

Browse courses on Mining

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Define extractive industries and their importance.
Identify the major types of extractive industries, such as mining, oil and gas extraction, and quarrying.
Describe the key characteristics and processes involved in each type of extractive industry.

Read 'The Curse of Natural Resources'

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Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with natural resource wealth management by reviewing this foundational text.

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Read the book thoroughly, taking notes on key concepts and arguments.
Summarize the main points of each chapter, focusing on the economic, social, and environmental implications of natural resource wealth.

Organize and Review Course Materials

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Enhance your learning by organizing and reviewing key course materials, including notes, assignments, and presentations.

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Create a system for organizing your course materials, such as folders or digital note-taking tools.
Review your notes and identify key concepts, definitions, and examples.
Summarize important points from assignments and presentations.

Two other activities

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Participate in Discussion Forums

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Engage with peers, exchange ideas, and deepen your understanding of course concepts through active participation in discussion forums.

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Read the discussion prompts and review the contributions of others.
Formulate your own thoughts and perspectives on the topic.
Post thoughtful responses that contribute to the discussion.

Develop a Sustainable Natural Resource Management Plan

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Apply your knowledge and skills to create a comprehensive plan for managing natural resources sustainably in a specific context.

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Identify a natural resource that is of particular interest or concern.
Research and analyze the current state of the resource, including its environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
Develop a set of sustainable management strategies and objectives.
Create a detailed implementation plan, including timelines, budgets, and performance indicators.

Career center

Learners who complete Natural Resources for Sustainable Development will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Environmental Consultant

Environmental Consultants use their specialized knowledge to advise and support organizations in minimizing their environmental impact and meeting regulatory requirements. They work closely with clients to develop and implement sustainable solutions, such as pollution prevention strategies and waste management programs. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the extractive industry, including its environmental challenges and trends. It also covers managing environmental challenges, environmental impact assessments, and the role of extractive industries in climate change. This knowledge can be highly valuable for Environmental Consultants working in the extractive sector.

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Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers are responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies within organizations. They work to identify and manage environmental, social, and economic risks and opportunities, and to improve the sustainability performance of their organizations. This course provides a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with natural resource management, as well as the policies and strategies necessary for sustainable development. It also covers communication between government, industry, and citizens, which is critical for effective sustainability management.

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Natural Resource Manager

Natural Resource Managers develop and implement plans and policies for the sustainable management of natural resources, such as forests, water, and minerals. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, and community groups, to ensure that natural resources are used wisely and sustainably. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the extractive industry, including the governance of extractive industries, the policies necessary for sustainable management, and the challenges and opportunities associated with translating natural resource wealth into sustainable development outcomes.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research, analyze, and make recommendations on public policy issues. They work for a variety of organizations, including government agencies, think tanks, and non-profit organizations. This course provides a deep understanding of the political economy of natural resources, including how natural resources shape and are shaped by political context, and the role of transparency and accountability in natural resource management. This knowledge can be highly valuable for Policy Analysts working on energy and environmental policy.

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Energy Analyst

Energy Analysts study the production, distribution, and consumption of energy, and make recommendations on energy policy. They work for a variety of organizations, including government agencies, energy companies, and consulting firms. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the extractive industry, including the challenges and opportunities associated with oil, gas, and mining, as well as the policies necessary for sustainable management. It also covers the environmental challenges and trends associated with extractive industries, and the role of extractive industries in climate change.

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Investment Analyst

Investment Analysts evaluate and recommend investments for individuals and institutions. They work for a variety of organizations, including investment banks, asset management companies, and pension funds. This course provides a deep understanding of the fiscal regime design and revenue collection in the extractive industry, as well as the challenges of revenue management. It also covers investing in sustainable development and the economic linkages to the extractive sector. This knowledge can be highly valuable for Investment Analysts working on energy and natural resources investments.

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Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility Managers develop and implement strategies to ensure that their organizations operate in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including employees, customers, and communities, to address social and environmental issues. This course provides a deep understanding of the social impact and engagement in the extractive industry, including human rights and the mining industry, mining and vulnerable populations, and company-community agreements. It also covers artisanal mining and the challenges and opportunities associated with it.

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Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers develop and implement communication strategies to build and maintain a positive public image for their organizations. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including the media, investors, and community groups. This course provides a deep understanding of the communication between government, industry, and citizens in the context of natural resource management, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with engaging citizens. It also covers aligning extractive industries with the SDGs.

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International Development Specialist

International Development Specialists work to improve the economic and social conditions of developing countries. They work for a variety of organizations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and international development banks. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the extractive industry, including the challenges and opportunities associated with translating natural resource wealth into sustainable development outcomes. It also covers the political economy of natural resources, and the role of transparency and accountability in natural resource management.

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Journalist

Journalists research and write news stories for newspapers, magazines, and websites. They work to inform the public about important issues and events. This course provides a deep understanding of the extractive industry, including the challenges and opportunities associated with oil, gas, and mining, as well as the policies necessary for sustainable management. It also covers the environmental challenges and trends associated with extractive industries, and the role of extractive industries in climate change.

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Lawyer

Lawyers advise clients on legal matters and represent them in court. They work in a variety of settings, including private law firms, government agencies, and corporations. This course provides a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks for extractive industries, including the allocation of rights, implementation and monitoring of legal frameworks, and international law and the extractive industries. It also covers state-owned enterprises and their role and governance.

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Economist

Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. They work for a variety of organizations, including government agencies, businesses, and research institutions. This course provides a deep understanding of the resource economics and fiscal regime principles in the extractive industry, as well as the challenges of revenue management. It also covers investing in sustainable development and the economic linkages to the extractive sector.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and execute projects. They work in a variety of industries, including construction, engineering, and IT. This course provides a deep understanding of the project development process in the extractive industry, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with it. It also covers evolving technology and its impact on the extractive industry.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts study business processes and make recommendations for improvements. They work for a variety of organizations, including consulting firms, corporations, and government agencies. This course provides a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with economic linkages to the extractive sector, as well as investing in sustainable development and looking beyond extractives. It also covers resource-for-infrastructure deals.

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Community Outreach Specialist

Community Outreach Specialists work to build relationships between organizations and the communities they serve. They work for a variety of organizations, including non-profit organizations, government agencies, and businesses. This course provides a deep understanding of the social impact and engagement in the extractive industry, including human rights and the mining industry, mining and vulnerable populations, and company-community agreements. It also covers artisanal mining and the challenges and opportunities associated with it.

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