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 must be completed prior to the respective class meeting, during which its content, tasks, and case studies will be discussed;
• During small-group discussions, 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 one or multiple online module(s) 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 exercises.
• 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.

Format: more information

The course consists of online modules, class meetings, and a simulation. Each online module prepares a class meeting and must 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 discussions during which the content of the online modules and class meetings will be applied in practical exercises to real-life cases. The assignment is linked to those exercises and discussions, but each student must draft his/her assignment individually and independently.

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. The simulation will finish with a whole-day on-campus negotiation session on a Saturday. The exact date will be communicated on Toledo. 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. If a student is unable to attend the simulation for valid reasons, (s)he must contact the ombudsperson prior to the simulation/seminar session.

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