Sustainability and sustainable development, we are sure you must have come across these terms either on the news or in articles that talk about preserving the environment for holistic growth.

But do we understand the meaning of these words? Okay, we might know what it means and why it is important, but implementing sustainability ideas in the real world takes more than that.

We all know that pollution needs to be controlled, and green initiatives must be a part of every plan. But how do we go about achieving this? 

We talk about the ever-worsening state of air quality, green belt depletion and impact of several industries on flora and fauna, but what does it take to avoid the adversities they create?

We can't simply go out and shut all factories. It would leave thousands of people jobless. We can't change all the processes overnight, as it would collapse the world economy. So, what can we do?

Sustainable development is not just about adopting a few practices that we can talk about in brochures. It is more about adopting a new mindset that reflects in every business decision. It is about knowing the extent of changes we can make without breaking the system. Sustainability is also about looking back, learning from past mistakes, and making informed choices. 

To accomplish all this, you may need a more structured thought process. It requires a little more understanding of the proven and tested methods that have worked well before, along with some tools to help you make better decisions in the real world.

This is only possible if you have a formal education focused on sustainability goals and agendas. Don’t worry; you won't have to scour the internet to find the best sustainability courses in India. We have curated a list of five online and offline courses that you can choose to get on the path to becoming a sustainability warrior.

1. Exploring Sustainability in the Indian Context - Azim Premji University

If you are curious about the state of sustainability in India and wish to have a more in-depth understanding, this integrated multi-disciplinary course is the best choice for you.

This multi-instructor multidisciplinary course introduces students to sustainability in the context of India's growth. It provides a holistic view of sustainability that considers both ecological and social factors so that students can apply it to counter issues such as population, food, and climate change.

You as a student are expected to watch lectures, participate in interactive video discussions with faculty, and be a part of discussion forums.

The course fee is kept to a minimum at ₹1,180 so that most people can take up this online certification course. A fee waiver option is also available for deserving candidates.

2. Sustainable Livelihoods and Natural Resources Governance - Tata Institute of Social Sciences

This course aims to create livelihood experts with a thorough understanding of the philosophy and practices of sustainable livelihoods.

Natural Resource Governance and its interconnection with sustainability is also a big focus of this course.

This program will train professionals in the livelihoods sector to become more sensitive and secular. It will help them create sustainable livelihood methods, particularly for the poor and disadvantaged.

It is a full-time 24-month course that covers the following:

• Understanding Indian Society
• Introduction to Political Economy
• India's Development Experience