Global Environmental Politics

(3-5 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

The environment constitutes a key issue of public concern and political contention. Crucial challenges of our times revolve around it: climate change, biodiversity loss, resource scarcity, food and water, energy security, refugee crises, environmental conflicts and protest, pollution and waste management. Recognising that multiple understandings of nature produce different perspectives on environmental problems, this module will explore how competing political, economic, and social interests and values contend to define environmental issues and to formulate solutions. The students will study several conceptual and analytical frameworks and explore how ideas, interest groups and institutions have shaped environmental politics around the world, with an emphasis on environmental justice. The module introduces students to recent public policy, debates, issues and case studies to understand empirically how environmental change is produced and what are its political implications. Readings from a range of media, structured discussions, and problem-based learning will be employed innovatively to enable students to gain a critical and in-depth understanding on some of the most important issues of our times. This module will be taught by a PhD student, Ms Emanuela Ferrari.