Dr Haluk Haksal, an experienced economist specialising in sustainability management and sustainable finance, is the developer and instructor of Globethics Academy's new World Class on Sustainability Ethics.

He brings a wealth of international experience into the classroom, ranging from research conducted as research fellow within United Nations agencies and international organisations to teaching assignments in the field of political economy and ecological, sustainability and governance (ESG) issues.

The Globethics team gets to know Dr Haksal a little better...

What is your background, and how did it lead you to know about Globethics?

I have over twenty years of academic and professional experience in research, training, and publishing in economic development and sustainability. I hold a Master’s in Finance and a PhD in Economics from Swiss universities. I am the author of a book on economic development.

My professional experience at the United Nations has naturally led me to know about Globethics because I believe that both sustainability and economic development require an ethical values-driven process, which is to be structured and reshaped through the economic, ecological, and social aspects, in line with the UNSDGs.

Why is the World Class on Economic, Social, and Ecological Ethics so important and how can it contribute to a more just and sustainable world?

The World Class on Economic, Social, and Ecological Ethics is very important because it is based on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainability, which aims to respond comprehensively to global challenges. It can contribute to a more just and sustainable world because the SDGs are urgent calls for action by all countries in a global partnership. The World Class focuses on these goals and the related targets and indicators to explain how to quantitatively measure progress on sustainability. During the course, we will examine related theoretical aspects and provide examples from real life when necessary to make evident the concrete steps forward.

What do you think makes the Sustainability Ethics World Class stand out - why should people take it?

We are in a new era, where sustainability ethics is not an option, but a must for our planet’s survival. Sustainability ethics is, first of all, a question of mindset change, as, in many cases, it is directly related to our preferences and actions in daily life. Sustainability ethics is not an individual property; it always involves the whole world community. The Sustainability Ethics World Class allows participants to learn about and integrate this lifestyle whatever their academic background and profession are and which country they are from.

What would you say are the key learnings of the World Class?

Sustainability may seem an abstract concept. However, it has rapidly been moving toward a measurable state of dynamic human-ecological systems thanks to the availability of a large number of economic, ecological, and social indicators. During the World Class, we will discuss how this conceptual framework can be implemented in our daily lives. This includes a variety of critical aspects, both at political and individual levels.

What motivates you in your work?

It is crucially important to exercise a profession that one loves. I have a passion for sustainability, as it is also a lifestyle for me. I like sharing my expertise with students and professionals who have the enthusiasm to learn about it.