Course on Sustainable Development and Human Prosperity

This course explores the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability from both scientific and ethical/spiritual perspectives inspired by Bahá'í principles. It includes both readings and videos to illustrate the latest thinking on these issues that are at the centre of community concern, social action, public discourse and global debate.

The six units are:

1. Introduction to the Concept of Sustainable Development

2. The Environmental Challenge and Bahá'í Approaches

3. Economic Development and Sustainability: Poverty and Wealth

4. Social Development: Crises and Solutions

5. Future Perspectives on Human Prosperity

6. Education for Sustainable Development: Individual and Community Action

The course materials, with each unit requiring a few hours, can be studied individually at your own pace, or used to organise your own class or discussion group among friends, in a community or organisation, discussing the materials as appropriate. You simply need to share the link with those participating. Each unit has a supplementary page of additional resources if you want to go further.

If you have difficulties accessing the content, comments or suggestions for improvements, please contact the IEF at ief@iefworld.org.

For many years, this course developed by IEF members was offered annually through the Wilmette Institute under the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. However a recent change in policy requiring faculty to be resident in the USA is replacing this course with one specifically addressing American concerns. The IEF therefore decided to make these materials available to anyone in the world through its own website.