Students Handbook - IBM AI + Sust

SUSTAINABILITY + AI + TECH
TOGETHER FOR A
GREENER
FUTURE
STUDENT HANDBOOK
This curriculum has been made by 1M1B with the support of IBM to empower
students on sustainability using AI and emerging technologies.
INDEX
Student Handbook
Module 1
Chapter 01
Sustainable Development and SDGS
1.1 What is Sustainability and Sustainable Development
1.2 Why is it important.
Chapter 02
Youth and Sustainable Development
2.1 Sustainable Development in Action
2.2 Sustainability around you
Module 2
Chapter 03
Sustainability in AI and Tech
Module 3
Chapter 04
Green Skills and Green jobs
4.1. Bridging the Gap: Integrating Sustainability and Technology Skills
4.2. Building a Green Workforce for the Future – A Call to

Action for Students to Develop Green Skills
OVERVIEW
Welcome to our course on innovation and sustainability!
We'll learn about how artificial intelligence, technology, and sustainability come together
to make big changes.
In our connected world, it's important to see how technology helps the environment.
Let's explore how AI and tech can help solve environmental problems and make a
stronger future. Get ready to discover new ideas and make a difference!
This curriculum has been made by 1M1B with the support of IBM to empower students on
sustainability using AI and emerging technologies.
IBM Sustainability Module # 01

Sneak Peek into the course
You will find:

Concepts on Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Green Skills & Green Jobs
Educational Videos
Infographics and Images
SMARTIVITY
Working areas to think and express your thoughts and ideas about a topic.
ECO-EXPLORE
A knowledge hub section to find additional resources to support the

discussed topics and capacitate the individual.
GREEN GLOSSARY

Sustainable Development
CHAPTER 01
and SDGS
1.1 What is Sustainability and Sustainable Development
1.2 Why is it important?
CHAPTER 01
“ The choices we make today will determine the world our

youth inherit tomorrow. Let's choose sustainability.
“
Chapter 1.1
1.1 What is Sustainability
Sustainability
noun [suh-stey-nuh-bil-i-tee]
Noun
The ability to be sustained, supported, upheld, or

confirmed.
The quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural

resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance
Sentence: The committee is developing sustainability standards for

products that use energy.
Example:
Using a reusable cloth bag that will last
longer and have no adverse effects on
the environment. We will see more such
cases of how a process, an act or a
concept can be ‘sustainable’ in different
fields and how can you as students and
youth help create a strong movement
towards a sustainable world.

Chapter 1.1
But first, let us breakdown what is sustainability for you.
SUSTAINABILITY
(noun)
SUSTAIN ABILITY
(verb) (noun)
SUS tain* (tenere) able

(sub) *means stretch in italian (verb)
up from to hold easy to

below be hold, suitable
Sustain: as a verb, implies to ‘act’ and put this concept into practice in our daily life.
Watch this video to help you understand the concept of sustainability.
What is Sustainability by UCLA

Chapter 1.1
Here are some more definitions of what Sustainability means

according to
UN World Commission on Environment and Development.

“Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.”
According to the United Nations

“In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as
“meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.”
According to NCERT
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present
generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their
own needs.”
Sustainability according to a 10-year-old

“Sustainability means taking care of the planet so it stays nice for a long, long
time. It's like when you have a plant, you give it water and sunlight so it can keep
growing. But for the Earth, it's about using things wisely, like not wasting water or
electricity, and making sure we don't use up all the trees or animals. It's about
thinking about the future and making sure there's enough for everyone, including
animals and plants.”

Chapter 1.1
As we saw the breakdown of the word let us look at what it breaks down to.
The concept of Sustainability has three significant sectors
Environmental
Environmental
Economic
Social
Social Economic
Social Sustainability
Social sustainability includes environmental justice, human health, resource
security, and education, among other important social elements of society.
Efforts to increase social sustainability can also benefit the environment.
Example: An inclusive community for vulnerable people and people with
disabilities. Access to healthcare and needs.
Economic Sustainability
Initiatives to enhance environmental sustainability can contribute to the
economic sustainability of a community.
Economic sustainability encompasses job creation, profitability, and accurate
accounting of ecosystem services for effective cost-benefit evaluations.
Recycling valuable materials, such as electronic waste and textile waste,

can lower operating costs and reduce the intensity of resource extraction
required to sustain businesses.
The economic factors that drive companies to hire employees and
individuals to seek jobs can also promote social sustainability.

Chapter 1.1
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability focuses on the well-being of the environment.
This pillar includes water quality, air quality, and reduction of environmental
stressors, such as greenhouse gas emissions. Human health depends greatly
on the quality of a person's environment, inextricably linking human health and
the state of the environment. the environment benefits people, too.
Environmental
Natural Resource Use
Environmental Management
Social - Environmental Pollution Prevention Environmental - Economic
Environmental Justice Natural (air, water, land, waste) Energy Efficiency Subsidies /
Resources Stewardship Incentives for use of Natural
Locally & Globally Resources
The 3 Spheres
of Sustainability
Sustainbility
Social Economic
Standard of Living Profit Cost Savings
Education Community Economic Growth
Equal Opportunity Research &
Development
Economic - Social
Business Ethics Fair Trade
Worker’s Right
SMARTIVITY
Think of your college, workplace, residential community, or any sector. Mention

one point that fulfills three of these areas.
Ex: Workplace
Social Sustainability: ……Ex workplace diversity…….

Economic Sustainability: ……………………………………
Environmental Sustainability: ……………………………...

Chapter 1.1
Sustainability and Sustainable Development:
Sustainability is viewed as a long-term objective, the ability to maintain or

support a process continuously over time.
Whereas sustainable development encompasses the various methods and
routes to attain it.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is different from

SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainable development Sustainability refers
refers to the to a long-term goal
"development that meets people hope to
the needs of the present achieve, while
without compromising the sustainable
ability of future development is the
generations to meet process and direction
their own needs." to make it possible.

Chapter 1.1
ECO-EXPLORE
The term sustainability has its most known roots in the 1987 Brundtland Report
which officially defined sustainable development for the first time. The report defined
'sustainable development' as "Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
What is the Brundtland Report?
Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report, was published in October
1987 by the United Nations through the Oxford University Press.
This publication was in recognition of Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Norwegian

Prime Minister and Chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development
(WCED). (Wikipedia) Our Common Future placed environmental issues firmly on the
political agenda; it aimed to discuss the environment and development as one single
issue.
Watch this video to help you understand the concept of sustainability.
What is Sustainable Development ?
Sustainability is more like the mission to achieve; Sustainability Development is the

vision to go forward with?
Would you agree with this statement? Yes No

Chapter 1.1
Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the
aim of addressing poverty, inequality, and climate change by 2030.
These goals tackle broad challenges such as economic inclusion, environmental degradation,
and the impacts of climate change. Businesses, academia, and non-profit organizations
globally contributed to their development.
These goals tackle broad challenges such as economic inclusion, environmental degradation,
and the impacts of climate change.
Businesses, academia, and non-profit organizations globally contributed to their
development.
Watch this video to know UN Sustainable Development Goals.
UN Sustainable Development Goals - Overview
As the youth of this generation. Knowledge will enlighten your path towards betterment. You
can’t fight for your rights if you don’t know what they are. Everyone needs to know about these
rights to be able to achieve these goals. You can’t convince world leaders to do what needs to
be done if you don’t know what you’re convincing them to do. If the goals are famous, they won’t
be forgotten.
“
“ You can be the first generation to end extreme poverty, the most
determined generation in history to end injustice and inequality, and the
last generation to be threatened by climate change.
The SDGs offer a visionary framework for collective action towards a more sustainable future.
The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich, and
middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.
They recognize that ending poverty must go together with strategies that build economic
growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and
job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
(https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/)

Chapter 1.1
SMARTIVITY
SDG Quiz
How many SDGs have been formulated?
……………………………………………………..
SDGs were once called?
………………………………………………………
There are 7 SDGs that cater directly to Climate Action. Can you enter the number of
the 7 SDGs.
………………………………………………………
If you had to pick one SDG and work towards achieving the targets, which one would
it be?
………………………………………………………

Chapter 1.1
The Sustainable Development Goals in India
India plays a pivotal role in shaping the global achievement of the Sustainable Development
Goals.
At the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted,
“Sustainable development of one-sixth of humanity will be of great consequence to the

world and our beautiful planet. It will be a world of fewer challenges and greater hope; and,
more confident of its success.”
NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s premier think tank, has been entrusted with the task of
coordinating the SDGs, mapping schemes related to the SDGs and their targets, and
identifying lead and supporting ministries for each target. (box it) State governments are
key to India’s progress on the SDGs as they are best placed to ‘put people first’ and to
ensure that ‘no one is left behind’.
The UN Country Team in India supports NITI Aayog, Union ministries and state governments
in their efforts to address the interconnectedness of the goals to ensure that no one is left
75 +5
behind and to advocate for adequate financing to achieve the SDGs.

States Series 1 Series 2
India Score: 66
KERALA 75 +5
TAMIL NADU 74 +7
HIMACHAL PRADESH 74 +5
ANDHRA PRADESH 72 +5
UTTARAKHAND 72 +8
GOA 72 +7
KARNATAKA 72 +6
SIKKIM 71 +6
MAHARASHTRA 70 +6
GUJARAT 69 +5
TELANGANA 69 +2
PUNJAB 68 +6
MIZORAM 68 +12
HARYANA 67 +10
TRIPURA 65 +7
0 20 Series 1 Series 2 40 60 80 100
MANIPUR 64 +4
WEST BENGAL 62 +2
MADHYA PRADESH 62 +4
ODISHA 61 +3
CHHATTISGARH 61 +5
NAGALAND 61 +4
RAJASTHAN 60 +3
MEGHALAYA 60 +6
ARUNACHAL PRADESH 60 +7
UTTAR PRADESH 60 +5
ASSAM 57 +2
JHARKHAND 56 +8
BIHAR 52 +2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Union Territories Series 1 Series 2

India Score: 66
CHANDIGARH 79
+9
PUDUCHERRY 68 +2
LAKSHADWEEP 68 +5
DELHI 68 +7
ANDAMAN AND
NICOBAR ISLANDS 67 +6
JAMMU AND 66 +2 +7
KASHMIR
LADAKH 66
DADRA AND NAGAR

HAVELI & DAMAN 0
62
20 40 60 80
SDG India Index
100
AND DIU
2020-21
Performance of States and UTs

Chapter 1.1
ECO-EXPLORE
Another interesting representation of the Statewise progress on individual SDGs.
Click to view the data

Chapter 1.2
1.2 Why is Sustainability Important?
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 committed the United States to
sustainability, declaring it a national policy.
“ To create and maintain conditions under which humans and nature

can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social,
economic and other requirements of present and future generations.
“
Role of your government in Sustainability

Environmental law plays a crucial role in safeguarding land, air, water, and soil.
addressing climate change by regulating greenhouse gas emissions and

promoting sustainable practices.
help in limiting global warming by setting emissions standards, encouraging the
use of renewable resources, and promoting energy efficiency.
enable the government to hold individuals accountable for mistreating the
environment.
Regulatory bodies of Sustainability.

Here are some regulatory bodies and commissions in our country.
1. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC)

is the nodal agency in the administrative structure of the Central Government for the
planning, promotion, coordination and overseeing the implementation of India’s
environmental and forestry policies and programs
Click this to visit website.
The Ministry of Environment
2. State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)

Each state in India has its own SPCB, responsible for implementing environmental
laws and regulations within the respective state or union territory. SPCBs work in
coordination with the CPCB to address local environmental issues.

Chapter 1.2
3. National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

The NBA operates under the MoEFCC and focuses on the conservation of biological
diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of
benefits arising from the use of biological resources.
4. Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)

The CGWA, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, is responsible for regulating and
managing groundwater resources in the country. It formulates guidelines for the
sustainable use of groundwater and issues NOCs for industries and projects that
require groundwater extraction.
5. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)

The WCCB, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, focuses
on combating organized wildlife crime. It works to prevent illegal trade in wildlife and
their products.
The need for these regulatory bodies stems from various environmental challenges
and the recognition of the importance of responsible environmental management.
Regulatory bodies help in the following areas to promote sustainable development.
Pollution control
Conservation of natural resources
Hazardous Waste Control
E-Waste Management
Climate change mitigation
Wildlife conservation
Sustainable Forest Practices
Legal enforcement and adjudication

Chapter 1.2
SMARTIVITY
Does your college, workplace or community have a regulatory body/ Sustainability Policy?
Formulate 5 points in policy making that need to be followed as part of this policy?
……………………………………………………..................................................................
……………………………………………………..................................................................
……………………………………………………..................................................................
……………………………………………………..................................................................
……………………………………………………..................................................................

Youth and Sustainable
CHAPTER 02
Development
2.2 Sustainability around you

Chapter 2.1
As we saw in the beginning of Chapter 1, the basics of Sustainability, we learnt

that ‘Sustain’ is a verb.
After learning the 3 pillars of Sustainability and what it means to the People Profit
Planet P and P,
It is only agreeable to say that Sustainability is a ‘call to action’.
Sustainability and Youth
It is vital that we help you and the next generation participate in the green
economy by teaching them skills to design a better future and create value from
sustainability.
Integrating these topics into the curriculum is not just about solving future
challenges but creating a future ready superheroes taking up today’s challenges
for a better tomorrow.
Educating the current generation (Gen Z) on climate literacy today has proven to
ease their worries and uncertainties, providing them with a platform to address
the climate crisis actively and meaningfully, starting now.
ECO-EXPLORE
A handbook for youth on SDGs
handbook

Chapter 2.1
What can YOU do?

This is a bigger question especially when we know that Sustainability is beyond
just a mindset but a lifestyle.
Today you may even look for a university that has degrees in eco subjects: such
as sustainable agriculture, natural resources conservation and indoor gardening
and so on.
Eco-friendly Infrastructure
Some area you can
Construction of buildings with more efficient
environmentally friendly materials. Getting into the
research
science of materials that are eco friendly helps to learn
conserve energy and be efficient with resources. adopt
as part of your college team
Going paperless
The digital age has brought a positive shift to our
world. Many educational institutions now offer
computer classes, electronic libraries, and online
testing platforms. Digital notes to save paper and
money, instead of purchasing notebooks, opt for
borrowing books or buying them only when essential.
Opening a refectory with a local eco food

Most colleges now have individual spaces for organic gardening to grow plants,
vegetables or fruits that are used in the kitchen of the campus for preparing healthy food.
Having a place for refilling a water bottle
Fact: Did you know, only 20% of plastic bottles will be recycled. The question is where
did the other 80% proceed to?
Use reusable water bottles and provide stations of water filling.
Campaigns as part of the curriculum.

It is important for colleges to have some green project ideas for college students that may
evolve students to concrete actions toward the protection of an ecology. It can be
something like tree planting, street cleaning or any other environment-themed campaign.

Chapter 2.1
Transportation
Taking public transport or having a bicycle will not only save the planet but also will save
your money. Many colleges offer carpool boards which allow pairing riders with drivers and
a shuttle bus which runs on biofuel that is much safer for the planet than any other fuel.
Good old recycling

Every college must have recycling bins and trash cans on its territory. The faculty and
staff should be responsible for what and where they throw away – it will be a good
example for every student.
SMARTIVITY
Let us create an eco-friendly campus together.
Set some rules that your college must follow. We have two to start with
1. Turn off everything when not in use
2. Reduce, reuse, recycle
3. …………………………………………………….......
4. ...........................................................
5. ...........................................................
Now let us go a step deeper and make changes or propose eco-friendly and sustainable
alternatives to the infrastructure of your institution.
A ...Solar Powered Departments...
B Reduce, reuse, recycle
C …………………………………………………….......
D ...........................................................
E ...........................................................

Chapter 2.1
2.2 Sustainability Around You
As we saw in the beginning of Chapter 1, the basics of Sustainability, we learnt

that ‘Sustain’ is a verb.
After learning the 3 pillars of Sustainability and what it means to the People Profit
Planet P and P,
It is only agreeable to say that Sustainability is a ‘call to action’.
In Business
Many companies have been working to address environmental, social, and
economic issues, recognizing that collaboration and scaling up efforts are
essential. They engage with peers, industry bodies, customers, governments, and
society to address complex sustainability challenges.
website
SMARTIVITY
Which aspect in the ‘Triple bottom line’ can you see applied here?
……………………………………………………..……………………………………………………..

Chapter 2.2
In economic growth
Economic growth is not truly possible in Global Supply Chain
the long term without sustainability. Of

course, it is possible to ignore National Health Sector
environmental and sustainability issues,

but this will only lead to short-term Health System
gains. An economy that exists alongside

Medical Facility
the natural resources we require for (Hospital, Clinic)
many goods and services creates a

Clinical Care
stronger long-term economic and social Pathway
model. This includes looking after water, Basic

Materials,
waste, energy, and food. Drugs, and
Medical
Devices
Health care and well-being

Our mental and physical health is intrinsically tied to our surrounding natural and built
environments. Promoting sustainability helps create better environments in which we can
thrive, while also conserving resources for future generations, so social justice and a high
quality of life can be enjoyed by people in the future.
In Education
Education for Sustainable Development means adopting key sustainable development
issues into teaching and learning; for example, climate change, disaster risk reduction, eco
friendly science, and sustainable consumption.
Education for Sustainable Development allows every human being to acquire the
knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values necessary to shape a sustainable future.
It also requires engaging teaching and learning approaches that inspire and enable
learners to alter their behavior and act towards sustainable development.
Education for Sustainable Development encourages skills such

as critical thinking, envisioning future possibilities, and making
group decisions collaboratively.
In the setting of applying Sustainable Development in different sectors, we will now pivot
sustainability around Technology.

Module 2
Chapter 03
SUSTAINABILITY IN
AI AND TECH
“ Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence is
essential for achieving sustainability goals, as it
“
enables us to make smarter decisions, reduce waste,
and create a more resilient future for our planet.
Sustainability in AI
CHAPTER 03
and Tech
CHAPTER 01

Chapter 3
Let us look at how technology, like AI and renewable energy, plays a role in
making our world more sustainable.
We will see how innovations in tech help us tackle environmental challenges and
create a greener future for everyone.
3. Sustainability and Tech
In the previous chapters, we saw how Sustainability is all around us.

As sustainability evolves, blending it with technology offers hope for progress. With all the
changes and environmental issues in focus, merging sustainability and technology creates
a path to a greener, ‘fairer’ future.
This chapter explores how sustainability and technology work together, looking at new
ideas and progress that use technology to tackle environmental problems.
From renewable energy to smart conservation methods, using technology for
sustainability could change how we protect our environment.
We will look at some examples and new developments, we see how technology can be
used for good, making positive changes for a more sustainable future.
But first we will learn the ABCs of what Tech is in the current world.
A. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

B. Importance of AI in Addressing Social Issues
A. What is Artificial Intelligence?
Even if you are not part of the data science field, you have likely come across the
terms artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and deep learning in discussions
recently.
Sometimes, these terms are used interchangeably although they carry their own
unique significance beyond being buzzwords associated with autonomous
vehicles.
What are the first 3 things, silly or big, that come to your mind
when you think about Artificial intelligence?
……………………………………………………..……………………………………………………..

Chapter 3
Artificial Intelligence (AI) comprises a set of widely different technologies, which can
be broadly defined and grouped together as 'self-learning, adaptive systems'.
Let us divide Artificial Intelligence to simplify it right from its meaning.
A neural network approach to machine translation

With functions such as - the ability to understand language, recognize pictures, solve
problems, and learn (according to the Cambridge Dictionary).
seen in Concepts like - facial recognition, image recognition, natural language processing
through Agents such as (robots, self-driving cars)
Watch this inspiring video. In this, you will discover how #AI is generating miracles, giving
us a new perspective on the stars, and transforming ideas into creative discovery.
how #AI is generating miracles
Artificial intelligence is a broad term used for a branch of computer science in data and
analytics.
It refers to the ability of hardware or software to acquire and apply knowledge and
“think” or “behave” like a human.
This includes processes such as planning, problem-solving, and reasoning.
Let us first learn some important concepts in AI and see their applications.
Computer vision: Computer vision allows computers to identify and interpret visual
content. This technology is used in a variety of applications, such as self-driving cars,
facial recognition, and object detection.
Machine learning (ML): ML allows computers to learn from data and improve their
performance over time. This technology is used in a variety of applications, such as
predictive analytics, fraud detection, and recommendation systems.

Chapter 3
Natural language processing (NLP): NLP allows computers to understand and generate
human language. This technology is used in a variety of applications, such as machine
translation, spam filtering, and sentiment analysis.
Robotics: Robotics is the branch of AI that deals with the design, construction, and
operation of robots. Robots are used in a variety of applications, such as manufacturing,
healthcare, and space exploration.
website
C. Importance of AI in Addressing Social Issues
Artificial Intelligence is regarded as a groundbreaking advancement in human

history, has showcased its transformative potential globally. It's no wonder that
AI-driven innovations drive some of the most advanced solutions integrated into
our everyday routines.
Artificial Intelligence now enables organizations, governments, and communities to
create a high-performing ecosystem that benefits the global population. Its
significant influence on human life addresses crucial societal challenges.
AI has big potential to help with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It can tackle
tough global problems and speed up progress.
AI helps with goals like better education, health, and reducing inequality. AI can also help
manage energy, agriculture, and the environment, which are all important for sustainable
development and fighting climate change. With AI's help, we can make big changes for a
better future that's fair for everyone.
Climate Biodiversity Healthy Water Clean air Weather and

change and Oceans Security disaster
conservation resilience
Clean power Habitat Fishing Water Supply Filtering and Prediction and
protection and sustainably capture forecasting
Smart restoration Catchment
transport Preventing control Monitoring and Early warning
options Sustainable pollution prevention systems;
trade Water
Sustainable Protecting efficiency Early warning Resilient
production Pollution habitats
and control infrastructure
Adequate Clean fuels
consumption Protecting sanitation
Invasive Financial
species Real-time, infrastructure
Sustainable species and Drought integrated,
land-use disease Impacts from planning adaptive
control climate change urban Resilience
Smart cities (including management planning
and homes Realising acidification)
natural capital

Chapter 3
SMARTIVITY
A. What are some areas where you have seen AI powered solutions addressing
social issues.
……………………………………………………..……………………………………………………..
B. List an AI based intervention for the following areas in one sentence.
Use your own innovative ideas. Ideas today can be come inventions tomorrow.
1. Education:
2. HealthCare
3. Water and Sanitation
4. Urban Planning
5. Forest Conservation
Applications of AI for Social Good
In Education
In education for SDG4, AI is being used to monitor pupils' attention or to carry out
emotional surveillance to determine how.
AI Robots are assisting teachers and educators to enhance the classroom experience
for students. In many countries, AI is being used to develop personalized testing tools,
to identify areas of weakness and help students improve.
You must have heard of Duolingo. This language-learning app provides listening,
reading, and speaking exercises for over 40 global languages. By applying AI, lessons
are paced and leveled for each student according to their performance.

Chapter 3
SMARTIVITY
Do you think AI can replace teachers? What are your thoughts?
……………………………………………………..................................................................
……………………………………………………..................................................................
……………………………………………………..................................................................
ECO-EXPLORE
In this digital learning offering, created by ISTE and IBM especially for high school
students, you'll learn the foundational concepts behind AI systems, consider the ethical
implications of AI, explore applications of AI tools, and more.
AI Foundation - Powered by ISTE and IBM

14 hours (5 modules, 1 assessment)
AI Foundations
In Agriculture
In agriculture, AI can be used for farm management and predictive analytics based on
data from crops, soil, and weather monitoring to support decision-making and to
optimize the use of resources (water, fertilizers, etc.). It can help detect pests and
diseases by analyzing images of plants and data on the behavior of livestock.
Agricultural robots and automation are saving labour in many resource-consuming
tasks.

Chapter 3
Applications of Artificial Intelligence

Automobiles
Business Manufacturing
Education Gaming
Finance Government
Healthcare
Business and Finance

In the field of finance, AI is frequently utilized to offer guidance and support in
accounting and investment tasks, automating repetitive duties, identifying fresh
data trends that can aid in micro-investments to address poverty (SDG1) or in
the introduction of new financial services and infrastructure (SDG9).
Online translation and publishing software has revolutionized online publishing,
media, and the dissemination of text and materials, such as books and websites.
Urban Infrastructure and Transport

In transport, AI is helping facilitate fully autonomous vehicles and autonomous
driving systems (ADS), which steadily improve their driving and navigation skills
through self-learning programs, as well as for real-time traffic management
through urban spaces.
Various industries now utilize chatbots and intelligent assistants to handle
everyday customer inquiries and issues.
Chapter 3
ECO-EXPLORE
The AI for Good website from Google provides resources and case studies on various AI
applications for social good, including sustainability initiatives.
AI Google
Challenges
“ “
The greatest challenge of Artificial Intelligence is that people
conclude too early that they understand it.
Addressing these challenges necessitates interdisciplinary collaboration among

policymakers, technologists, ethicists, and various stakeholders.
This collaboration aims to create strong governance mechanisms, ethical guidelines, and
technical solutions that advocate for the responsible and fair utilization of AI.
Policy and regulatory frameworks for AI remain at an initial, formative stage. Key policy
questions that have arisen relate to:
Bias and Fairness in machine learning models and the data used to train them
which may result in unfair outcomes.
Ethical Dilemmas: Accountability and responsibility accompany the use of AI
models, privacy violation, job automation.
Lack of Transparency
Job replacement
Artificial intelligence for good

Module 3
Chapter 04
GREEN SKILLS
AND GREEN JOBS
The future will either be green or not at all."
-Bob Brown
Green Skills and
CHAPTER 04
Green jobs
CHAPTER 01

Chapter 4
3. Green Skills and Green jobs
In these times of economic uncertainty, green skills and jobs are proving to be particularly
resilient. Even though this change comes with big challenges, the new green economy
idea has amazing potential to help us get ready for a sustainable future in our jobs.
The main criterion that ‘Green skills’ fulfills is sustainability which basically makes it
applicable and useful for building a career for decades to come, because so much work
needs to occur in the world of the climate transition.
According to the survey of World Skills UK on Green Skills, young people in the UK
(ages 16 - 24), at least nine in ten didn’t feel that they knew what green skills were.
Let’s first learn what Green Economy is.

A green economy is characterized by being low carbon, resource-efficient, and
socially inclusive.
In other words, the increase in employment and income is stimulated by both public
and private investments in activities and infrastructure that promote lower carbon
emissions and pollution.
This type of economy enhances energy and resource efficiency while
safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services.
What is Green Economy?
Green Economy Explained in 3 Minutes

Chapter 4
ECO-EXPLORE
Check out this Carbon Footprint calculator to see how big or small is your environmental
impact with your daily lifestyle.
The formula is simple, in the attempt

to reduce environmental damage
and conserve our resources, we
are only creating an ecosystem of
opportunities and goals to
overcome through skilling and
retraining for a greener economy.
Green Skills
“ Green skills are the knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to
live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.
“
Green skills are essential skills needed to modify products, services, and procedures to
align with the requirements of climate change and environmental regulations in this
dynamic economy.
These skills cover a wide range of abilities, knowledge, values, and attitudes crucial for
addressing the issues related to climate change.
Green jobs and green skills are sometimes interchangeably used, therefore
differentiating between them becomes important.

Chapter 4
Definitions
Green Skills: are those that enable the environmental sustainability of economic activities
Green Jobs: are those that cannot be performed without extensive knowledge of
green skills
Greening Jobs: can be performed without green skills, but typically require some
green skills
Greening potential Jobs: can be performed without green skills, but occasionally
require level of green skills
Non-green Jobs: are those that do not require green skills to be performed
Green Talent: a Linkedin member who has explicitly added green skills to their profile
and/or are working in a green or greening job
important to identify and compare the skill requirements of green and non-green jobs to
see how it can assist in evaluating the level of ‘retraining’ necessary to bridge the gap
and facilitate the shift to a green economy.
Skill Requirements
Ecosystem System Agricultural Problem Solving & Environmental

Management Skills Skills Critical Thinking Skills Finance & Auditing
Sustainable Health Environmen Operational & Resource Energy

Research & safety tal Policy Management Skills Management
ECO-EXPLORE
Here is a source to help you understand the need for green skills and job based on the
empirical data and understanding.
Click this to visit pdf.
Global Green Skills Report 2022

Chapter 4
Allen Blue, Co-founder of LinkedIn, told the World Economic Forum that green skills are
more likely to be hired and that green jobs are proving to be resilient.
Fastest Growing Green Skills Globally, by category

Based on skills added by members, 2018-2020 average Growth
Carbon Neutral 94%
Pollution Sustainable Business 80%
Sustainable Fashion 64%
Prevention Green Technology 58%
Corporate Sustainability 56%
Bioplastics 47%
Waste Product Lifecycle Management* 39%
Zero Waste 37%
Prevention Bioprocessing* 32%
Product Stewardship 22%
Photovoltaics 94%
Renewable Hydrogen Storage 33%
Energy Photovoltaics Design* 32%
Solar Power 31%
Generation Offshare Wind 31%
Greenhouse* 53%
Energy Electric Vehicles 48%
Management Energy Star 46%
Green Infrastructure 37%
Low Carbon Technologies 37%
Waste 115%
Disposal 105%
Environmental Scrap* 89%
Remediation Tree Planting 59%
E-Waste 58%
Environmental Services 160%
Climate 155%
Ecosystem Mitigation 128%
Management Flood 127%
Surface Water 114%
Sustainability Consulting 31%
Sustainability Education 25%
Sustainability Environmental Education 20%
Education Hazardous Materials Training 17%
Chartered Environmental 17%
Energy Engineering 96%
Environmental Research 45%
Sustainability Agricultural Research* 41%
Research Filtration 30%
Climate Change Science 27%
Environmental Performance 78%
Environmental Sustainable Growth 78%
Greenhouse Gas 77%
Auditing Carbon 70%
Carbon Offsets 56%
Safety Programs* 192%
Health & Safety* 128%
Environmental OSHA 88%
Policy Regulations* 74%
EPA 70%
Supplier Performance* 118%
Supplier Evaluation* 97%
Sustainable Supplier Development* 59%
Procurement Supplier Diversity* 31%
Sustainable Procurement 26%
Sustainable Investing 57%
Impact Investing 36%
Environmental Carbon Markets 28%
Finance Socially Responsible Investing 22%
Environmental Finance 13%
Circular Economy 48%
Sustainable Low Carbon Economy 45%
Development Social Sustainability 35%
(across all categories) Green Economy 25%
International Sustainable Development 12%
*Skills that are not exclusively green and could be observed in other fields.
(LinkedIn)

Chapter 4
Green jobs are among the fastest-growing worldwide.

According to World Economic Forum, Job adverts for roles asking for at least one green
skill grew by more than 15%. The data shows that those with green skills have been hired
at a higher rate than those without (weforum.org)
Jobs have increased in places like making buildings save more energy,
insulating pipes, recycling, and creating new renewable technologies.
How do we act towards meeting these Green Needs?
Can companies, institutions, professionals manage this green labour market transition?
It comes down to one thing: Address the need and creating a green workforce. Here are 3
ways how this can be done -
Policymakers need to support green skills and train the workforce.
Business leaders should invest in training current and future green talent.
Everyone in the workforce should develop green skills to create change and compete
for top jobs

Chapter 4
ECO-EXPLORE
Launched in 2017, The Green Skill Development Program (GSDP) helps people learn skills
for sustainable practices and green technologies, promoting environmental
sustainability.
Click this to visitwebsite
The Green Skill Development Program
Growth in demand for green skills

is outpacing the increase in supply
Between 2022 and 2023
+12.3% +22.4%
Share of green talent Share of job postings requiring
i the workforce at least one green skill
(LinkedIn)
ECO-EXPLORE
Do you know who the Father of Green Revolution is India is?
……………………………………………………..................................................................
He is a Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan awardee.

Chapter 4.1
4.1 Bridging the Gap: Integrating

Sustainability and Technology Skills
Green industry expected to add 3.7

million jobs by FY25: TeamLease Digital report.
India, the US, and Germany are among the largest greenhouse gas emitters, yet these
countries are also experiencing rapid growth in green skills within carbon-intensive
industries.
Businesses that focus on upskilling their employees faster and transitioning to more
sustainable practices will gain a competitive advantage in attracting top talent.
t also makes it necessary for companies to invest in green skills to provide

professionals an opportunity to future-proof their careers and find new roles in a more
challenging economic climate.
We need to build a Green Workforce for the Future –

A Call to Action for Students to Develop Green Skills
The green job revolution extends beyond just hiring sustainability managers. From
engineers capable of constructing and managing wind farms or processing biomass to
fuel, to managers facilitating the merging of sustainability into daily business
operations in any sector, there is a pressing need to expand roles that demand green
skills for significant change to occur.
Sustainability is increasingly becoming a global priority, offering professionals with

green skills promising opportunities in industries focused on tackling environmental
issues and promoting a sustainable future.
The workforce is ready, and the planet

can’t wait: the time is now.
ECO-EXPLORE

Chapter 4.1
Sustainability is non-negotiable.
In today's world, facing the hurdles of climate change and environmental concerns, the
importance of green skills cannot be overstated.
These abilities not only boost job opportunities but also contribute significantly to
creating a sustainable and robust future for individuals, communities, and the planet on
the whole.
Together, these skills are increasingly important for conceiving and scaling better
solutions to the interconnected challenges of climate change and social inequality.

Chapter 4.1
GREEN GLOSSARY
Carbon offset: A reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases

made to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.
Greenwashing: Disinformation disseminated by an organization to present an

environmentally responsible public image.
Life cycle assessment (LCA): A technique used to assess the environmental impacts
associated with all stages of a product's life from raw material extraction through to
disposal.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is like a report card for companies that
shows how well they're doing in three important areas: taking care of the environment,
treating people fairly, and making good decisions about how they're run. It helps
investors decide if a company is a good fit for them based on their values.
Energy efficiency: The ratio of useful energy output to the total energy input in any
system, process, or activity, aiming to reduce energy consumption.
Sustainable sourcing: The practice of procuring goods and services in a manner that
respects social, economic, and environmental aspects, often through fair trade and
responsible supply chain management.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR): A business approach that contributes to

sustainable development by delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits for
all stakeholders.
Environmental stewardship: The responsible use and protection of the natural

environment through conservation and sustainable practices.
Ecological footprint: A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems,

representing the amount of biologically productive land and water required to sustain a
population and absorb its waste.

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SUSTAINABILITY + AI + TECH

4.2. Building a Green Workforce for the Future – A Call to

Welcome to our course on innovation and sustainability!

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

You will find:

A knowledge hub section to find additional resources to support the

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

1.1 What is Sustainability and Sustainable Development

1.2 Why is it important?

“ The choices we make today will determine the world our

1.1 What is Sustainability

The ability to be sustained, supported, upheld, or

The quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural

Sentence: The committee is developing sustainability standards for

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

But first, let us breakdown what is sustainability for you.

SUS tain* (tenere) able

up from to hold easy to

Watch this video to help you understand the concept of sustainability.

What is Sustainability by UCLA

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

Here are some more definitions of what Sustainability means

UN World Commission on Environment and Development.

According to the United Nations

Sustainability according to a 10-year-old

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

Recycling valuable materials, such as electronic waste and textile waste,

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

Think of your college, workplace, residential community, or any sector. Mention

Social Sustainability: ……Ex workplace diversity…….

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

Sustainability and Sustainable Development:

Sustainability is viewed as a long-term objective, the ability to maintain or

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is different from

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

What is the Brundtland Report?

This publication was in recognition of Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Norwegian

Watch this video to help you understand the concept of sustainability.

What is Sustainable Development ?

Sustainability is more like the mission to achieve; Sustainability Development is the

Would you agree with this statement? Yes No

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

Sustainable Development Goals

Watch this video to know UN Sustainable Development Goals.

UN Sustainable Development Goals - Overview

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

How many SDGs have been formulated?

SDGs were once called?

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

The Sustainable Development Goals in India

“Sustainable development of one-sixth of humanity will be of great consequence to the

behind and to advocate for adequate financing to achieve the SDGs.

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

Union Territories Series 1 Series 2

DADRA AND NAGAR

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

Another interesting representation of the Statewise progress on individual SDGs.

Click to view the data

IBM Sustainability Module # 01

1.2 Why is Sustainability Important?