Content

Students will be acquainted with the main approaches to analysing global environmental, climate, and sustainability politics. The roles of the main actors and processes of international environmental, climate, and sustainability politics as well as the most important principles and concepts of contemporary global environmental, climate, and sustainability governance will be discussed.

The course includes various activities:

• Each session consists of an online module and a class meeting. The online modules should be completed prior to the respective class meeting, during which its content, tasks, and case studies will be discussed;
• During small-group seminars, students will apply the knowledge that they acquired through the online module and a class meeting to real-life cases.
• During a simulation, students will take on the roles of country representatives and simulate the negotiations of an international environmental, climate, or sustainability agreement;
• Selected guest speakers will share their insights into different aspects of global environmental, climate, and sustainability governance.

Course material

All study material can be found on the online learning platform Toledo with an indication of whether it is compulsory or recommended:

• Each session consists of an online module and a class meeting.
• Students must complete the online modules prior to a specified deadline. The online modules consist of texts, videos, discussion questions, quizzes, and case studies. Completion of the online modules is essential to be able to engage in the class discussions and execises.
• The online modules prepare the class meetings during which the questions, case studies, and tasks will be discussed.

The electronic learning platform Toledo is used for:

• Sharing the online modules that are a core part of each session;
• Communicating information about the assignments;
• Uploading assignments;
• Collaboration amongst students.

Format: more information

The course consists of online modules, class meetings, seminars, and a simulation. Each online module prepares a class meeting and needs to be completed prior to the respective class meeting. The online modules can include short assignments and tasks that must be completed and submitted by a specified deadline. Students must complete all online modules and participate in the class meetings.

The course includes small-group seminars during which the content of the online modules and class meetings will be applied in practical excecises to real-life cases. Participation in the seminars is obligatory. Should for valid reasons participation in the seminars be impossible, compensation assignments can be foreseen. Such exceptions can only be granted based on a recommendation by the faculty’s ombudsperson who needs to be contacted prior to the date of the seminar. The seminars are linked to short group assignments that need to be submitted and are marked. The seminar assignment marks count for 20% of the final mark.

The course also includes a simulation during which students will assume the roles of country representatives and simulate the negotiations of an international environmental, climate, or sustainability agreement. If the public safety situation permits, the simulation will finish with a whole-day on campus negotition session on a Saturday. The exact date will be communicated on Toledo. Should an on campus negotiation session pose too high a health risk, the negotiation session will be held online. As part of the simulation, students are required to prepare a reflection paper, which counts for 20% of the final mark. This paper should be based on independent research and critical reflection. Each student must draft his/her paper individually and independently. The paper aims to encourage students’ reflection on the outcome of the simulation exercise. Details of the simulation will be provided on Toledo.

Failure to participate in the simulation will result in the failing of the reflection paper. Failure to participate in the seminars will result in the failure of the seminar assignment. If a student is unable to attend the simulation/seminars for valid reasons, (s)he should contact the ombudsperson prior to the simulation/seminar session.

This course is organized through block teaching and will finish in the end of November.