Earth at a Crossroads: Negotiating the Politics of Global Environmental Governance

Catalog description

How do nations come together to address the world's most pressing environmental challenges? Why do some international environmental agreements succeed while others falter? How do businesses, NGOs, and scientists shape global environmental policy? In this seminar, students will step into the roles of policymakers, negotiators, and advocates to explore the complex politics of global environmental governance. We will examine how international institutions and treaties attempt to regulate environmental issues such as climate change, ozone depletion, marine resource management, and Arctic conservation - often under conditions of scientific uncertainty and competing economic interests. Students will engage with case studies that highlight the tensions between environmental regulation, trade, investment, and development. Through a combination of simulations, debates, and policy analysis, we will investigate questions such as: How do governments balance economic growth with environmental protection? What mechanisms exist to provide scientific guidance to policymakers? What role do corporations and advocacy groups play in shaping environmental policy? Drawing on political science and environmental sciences, this course will introduce students to key theories and real-world challenges in international environmental governance. By actively participating in role-playing exercises, students will negotiate treaties, argue policy positions, and grapple with the difficulties of reaching global consensus. This hands-on approach will provide a deeper understanding of both the constraints and opportunities in tackling global environmental issues.