GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS

Students will examine the interactions between the physical environment in which we live and society that we have created. The mix of population, social organization and technology has had an impact on the resource base and environmental conditions in which human and non-human societies depend. Within the framework of global environmental policy, students will analyze energy sources, hazardous wastes, environmental accidents, endangered species, the environmental movement, deforestation, limits to economic growth, population growth and alternative views of the future.

Students learn about concepts such as sustainable development and ecological modernization. They study environmental policies which governments pursue on different levels. The couse will give students the opportunity to gain a deep insight into environmental problems and into the efforts and capabilities of politics to cope with it.

Active participation is expeted.

Previous knowledge not required.

Students will gain insights in the causes of environmental problems and their potential involvement in these problems as causers and as solvers of the respective problems. The course will allow students to understand the political processes that address environmental problems on different levels.