Governing Climate Change: Theory and Practice

OVERVIEW
Climate change may well be the most pressing environmental challenge facing humankind. Despite scientific consensus on its main cause – us – current policies lack the ambition needed to tackle the crisis effectively. However, sprouts of positive change are seen everywhere. Some countries have decided to cut their emissions to zero over the next 30 years. We also see cities, companies, NGOs and powerful individuals responding to the challenge, collaborating in new and innovative ways to reduce emissions and adapt to the consequences of climate change. A complex global web of institutions, instruments and actors is shaping up seeking to govern climate change. In this course you will learn perspectives and acquire tools for analyzing the increasingly complex world of climate governance. 

COURSE CONTENT
On this course you examine different approaches to coping with climate change, from international agreements to market-based solutions and private activities. Theory is mixed with practice through lectures, discussions, games and excursions to provide concrete examples of how the issue is being addressed at various levels and by various actors. Along the way we invite you to question scientists, policymakers and lobbyists. 

Governing Climate Change is embedded in the teaching and research work of the Department for Environmental Policy Analysis (EPA), part of VU Amsterdam’s world-renowned Institute for Environmental Studies. In 2014 EPA was rated the best Dutch research group in environmental economics, sociology and policy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this course, you will:

• Understand how global climate governance has changed over the past 40 years and where it might take us in the future. 
• Be able to critically examine and assess current climate governance in terms of its emergence, effectiveness and efficiency, and be able to formulate reasoned opinions about contested concepts like fairness, legitimacy, equity and justice.
• Improve your communication and debating skills on climate change.
• Experience practical local and global solutions to climate-change issues in the Netherlands.

TEACHING METHODS
Lectures, excursions, discussions, group work, games

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
Short essay (1500 words)

FIELD VSITS
The course includes three excursions:

• Greenpeace International (Non-Governmental Organization) 
• De Ceuvel (city playground for innovation and creativity) 
• Guided bike tour through Amsterdam (with focus on sustainability and local climate change issues)

WHO SHOULD JOIN?
Master or PhD students and professions with an interest in climate action and policy. Students who are in their final year of bachelors studies or have obtained a full bachelors degree are able to register for this course. Our courses are multi-disciplinary and therefore are open to students and professionals with a wide variety of backgrounds.