Climate Solution Pathways
Responding to climate change requires transformations of energy, transportation, materials, buildings, food, etc. These transitions are often contested and involve unlikely coalitions applying pressure to fight incumbent blockers while supporting sustainability disruptors, creating a “sustainability flywheel” that drives transformations. We will examine transitions including California’s shift from fossil fuels to carbon removal; China’s scaling of solar, batteries, and EVs; Africa’s leapfrogging efforts; and Europe’s policy transformations. We will analyze how firms are “learning by doing” and activists are fighting while fostering. Ultimately, we examine how and under what conditions actors are able to advance climate solutions.
Topics
- This course introduces a broad range of cases, which we will analyze, critique, synthesize, and ultimately draw out implications and recommendations for moving forward. The readings, reaction papers, class discussions, and term project are designed to advance critical thinking about complex global problems for which there are rarely simple solutions. We will explore and refine our own frameworks for understanding the world, core dilemmas and blockers, rapid changes that are occurring in production and consumption systems, and where we might find points of leverage to advance more sustainable and equitable systems. Our goal is to think in a systems framework, and to understand the political economy of how industrial systems change, including the power and tactics working to block change. We will dig below the easy answers, engage real debates, and hone strategies for advancing solutions.
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027