Ethical dilemmas are an inevitable part of sustainable development work, particularly in complex projects involving multiple stakeholders whose values, needs and interests can conflict. Leaders need to be aware of the ethical dimension of decision-making in order to create positive change. Sustainable development frameworks such as the triple bottom line (social, economic and environment) can help to inform organisational policy and strategy. Good decision-making, however, requires leaders who can scrutinize hard data and also use their personal judgement to weigh up the ethical dimensions of different courses of action. For example, is it right to promote biofuels? Should a government give permission for a gold mine to be built in an area of outstanding natural beauty and low employment? Is it right to subsidise an agricultural crop in a developed country when the same crop could be grown more easily in a developing country which is striving for economic growth? This module focuses on developing participants’ understanding of values, ethics, and the role they play in the decisions we make in the context of sustainable development
Participants explore how to develop and use an ethical framework to guide their decision-making, to identify social dilemmas, and to mitigate possible conflict. Exercises, discussions, and examples help participants explore their ethical boundaries and understand how to make well-considered decisions in their professional lives. Opportunities for participants to share knowledge and experience with each other are built into the schedule. A constantly updated range of on-line learning resources including selected articles, podcasts, books and film, supports face to face learning.
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