Class 12 – Natural Capital, Ecological Limits and the Economics of Sustainability

25 Fevereiro 2026, 09:30 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida

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The final class focuses on natural capital as the foundation of sustainability. Students distinguish between natural capital and natural income, examining renewable, replenishable and non-renewable resources, as well as ecosystem services that are often unpriced in markets. The session highlights the economic implications of environmental degradation, resource depletion and irreversible disturbances. By integrating ecological and economic perspectives, students reflect on how businesses must incorporate natural capital accounting into sustainability strategies. The discussion reinforces the necessity of aligning corporate decision-making with the preservation and regeneration of ecological systems.

Class 11 – Sustainable Development: Historical Foundations and Conceptual Evolution

25 Fevereiro 2026, 08:00 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida

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This class revisits the conceptual foundations of sustainable development, beginning with the Brundtland definition and tracing its historical and intellectual evolution. Students explore early concerns about resource limits (Malthus, Daly, Meadows) and the shift towards intergenerational equity and global governance frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda. Sustainability is analysed as a dynamic process of political, economic and institutional change rather than a fixed state of equilibrium. The session situates sustainable development within broader debates on growth, environmental constraints and societal well-being.

Class 10 – Deontology, Consequentialism and Ethical Decision-Making in Practice

24 Fevereiro 2026, 09:30 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida

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This class analyses two major philosophical approaches to ethical decision-making: deontological (duty-based) and consequentialist (outcome-based) reasoning. Students apply these frameworks to real-world sustainability dilemmas, including plant closures, greenwashing, supply chain human rights issues, clean technology investments and crisis-related layoffs. The discussion highlights tensions between long-term societal benefits and immediate stakeholder duties, examining trade-offs inherent in corporate sustainability decisions. The session reinforces critical thinking by encouraging students to evaluate how different ethical lenses produce distinct managerial justifications and responsibilities.

Class 9 – Business Ethics and the Foundations of Corporate Responsibility

24 Fevereiro 2026, 08:00 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida

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This class introduces business ethics as the study of morally right and wrong decisions in organisational contexts. Students revisit the distinction between ethics and morality and examine Carroll’s pyramid of corporate social responsibility, with emphasis on ethical responsibilities beyond legal compliance. The session explores core ethical principles — honesty, integrity, fairness and stakeholder respect — as foundational to strategic CSR. Through theoretical grounding and contemporary research, students reflect on how ethical conduct underpins legitimacy, trust and long-term performance, positioning ethics as a precondition for sustainable management rather than a peripheral concern.

Class 8 – Sustainable Market Strategies and Best Practices in Corporate Sustainability

11 Fevereiro 2026, 09:30 • Isabel Cristina de Seixas Patrício Duarte de Almeida

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This class deepens the analysis of sustainable market strategies, focusing on demand-side transformation and strategic positioning. Students explore five key growth strategies: market development and innovation, market penetration and expansion, customer retention, product development, and diversification aligned with sustainability best practices. Real-world corporate examples illustrate how sustainability can enhance competitiveness through stakeholder engagement, supply chain management, design innovation, human rights policies, water stewardship and greenhouse gas reduction. The session highlights the strategic integration of ESG into core business models, demonstrating how sustainability initiatives can simultaneously drive operational efficiency, brand reputation and long-term resilience.