Sustainability can feel overwhelming. It is easy to think of it as just about the environment, but it is much bigger than that. It is about fairness, justice, and the impact of our choices on people and communities across the world.
We spoke with City Lit tutor Anita Punwani, whose career spans engineering, governance, education, and advisory work, about what sustainability really means, why it matters, and how learners can take meaningful steps to make a difference.
What I enjoy most about studying at City Lit are the relationships I have built, they really are, for lack of a better phrase, priceless. Not just with the tutors but with the colleagues as well. Throughout the years, I have done so many courses, I have met so many people, and still have solid relationships with those people.
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself
My career has spanned facilitation, education, training, advisory, management, and governance roles across the public, private, and not for profit sectors. As well as degrees in engineering, management, and economics, I studied Global Governance and Ethics as a mature student at UCL.
Currently, as the UK ISO Head of Delegation, I work with an international community to develop a standard for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I have also contributed to shaping standards in governance, human trafficking, and modern slavery.
In May, I will also be teaching two online courses at City Lit: Shared Goals: Sustainability and Climate Action and The Global North & South: Prosperity, Power, and Inequality.
What first sparked your interest in sustainability and how did your early career shape the way you see today’s global challenges?
My interest in sustainability began at the start of my career when, as an engineer, I realised my responsibility to protect the public and the environment. Today, as a risk governance professional, I help teams understand global risks, which do not respect national borders. These include environmental issues like climate change and social justice concerns, such as the exploitation of child labor in global supply chains.
When people hear sustainability they often think environment. What bigger picture should we really be paying attention to?
The challenge I face every day is helping people see how risks to society and the natural world are connected. The bigger picture is the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These goals address social justice issues like poverty, hunger, inequality, and modern slavery, alongside economic and environmental concerns.
Your courses focus on global risks. What are some risks people might not immediately think about but should?
We live in a world where modern slavery, poverty, and inequality continue to affect people in the Global South, while people in the Global North face social, economic, and environmental risks from extreme weather events. Geopolitical pressures, including cuts to international aid, conflict, and economic stagnation, make these risks worse. Global governance solutions are essential to manage risks that cross borders.
What kinds of conversations do you hope students will experience in your City Lit courses?
I aim to introduce key ideas in a clear and accessible way, helping learners understand why local action is essential for global progress. Drawing on my studies in global governance, ethics, economics, and management, I facilitate sessions focused on tackling the biggest global risks. While much discussion about climate focuses on awareness, we will have conversations that recognise the real dangers our global society faces.
If someone is curious about sustainability but feels overwhelmed by the scale of the issues what would you say to encourage them to start learning?
Without each of us taking the time to understand global risks and act locally, we will not meet the goals of sustainability, which aim to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. Future generations depend on us having a shared understanding of these goals and working together for the benefit of people in both the Global North and South to create a fairer, more sustainable world.
Global & Regional Politics Courses at City Lit
Explore key political issues shaping our world today through accessible, expert‑led courses on global and regional dynamics.
