Climate Change Policy and Law (IE 5518) – 15 Credits
Delivered by the School of Social Sciences (Department of Politics and History), in term 2 (approx. 3 hrs/week for 12 weeks)
Main aims of the module:
The modules intellectual aims are to:
- explore the development of environmental issues as problems of public policy since the 1960’s, with particular reference to climate change
- identify the challenges that climate change poses to the neoliberal paradigm
- evaluate key strategies to combat climate change, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
- critique proposals for a more radical response to climate change from the perspective of green theory.
- foster students’ abilities as critical thinkers
- develop students’ skills in written communication by requiring them to produce an analysis of a key policy document or academic article
- Hone students’ skills as team-workers and presenters by requiring them to present a workshop paper based on their draft reports, prepared in groups
- Enhance students’ skills in peer-review and constructive criticism – a key aspect of workplace teamwork – by giving them experience in peer assessment of the presentation skills, rather than the academic substance, of a workshop paper
Main topics of study:
- The rise of environmental politics – from ‘Silent Spring’ to ‘Sustainable Development’;
- Anthropogenic Climate Change: Understanding the Challenges;
- Neoliberalism versus Gaia? Environmentalism and the Sceptics;
- Key Actors in the Global Politics of Climate Change;
- Combating Climate Change: Key National and International Policies and Regimes
- Combating Climate Change: Green theory, critical perspectives
Learning activities:
Lectures, seminars, which will draw on group work and discussion, and workshops, scheduled for the last two weeks of the module, which will include the presentation of workshop papers and peer review of these presentations.
Examination and coursework essay.
