Since the Industrial Revolution, the world has put in place a system of infrastructure, production, markets, public policy, values, and culture based on fossil-fuel energy. Today, we are tentatively beginning to make changes in all those areas, starting the transition to a low-carbon economy and a sustainable society. This special topics course may examine areas such as the challenges and opportunities in our scientific understanding of the impacts driving the transition; the role of the ICT (information & communication technology) revolution; energy-system technologies; core economic concepts related to environmental and resource sustainability; societal perceptions, values and norms; and issues of governance and politics, lifestyle, human settlement, livelihood, culture, economic activity, and trade. As these challenges constitute an interconnected system spanning civil society, state and market, the course content will be examined through a transdisciplinary approach.