A Divided Union? Polarization of Climate Change in the EU

This course examines how polarization and public opinion shape climate policy within the European Union. Focusing on fragmentation across member states, it analyzes how national preferences and contestation influence EU-wide ambition and governance. Students will critically assess institutional responses, the EU's leadership in global climate politics, and the challenges of sustaining collective action. Through country-specific case studies, progress reports, and an independent term paper, students explore the political dynamics that determine the EU's ability to act as a global environmental leader amid deepening societal and ideological divides.