SDG Detail

POLITICS 313 : Governing Planet Earth

Undergraduate course

Project description

From climate change and land use conflicts to water pollution and plastic waste, environmental problems play an increasingly important role in the contemporary political landscape. In this course we examine the relationship between the exercise of political power and environmental degradation, which opens up questions such as: what does it mean to be �green� or �sustainable�? How do political institutions shape environmental policies and practices? Which actors should bear the costs of environmental problems and their solutions? This course critically examines the role of different ideologies and institutions in shaping these challenges and the solutions to them. It draws from examples around the globe. Topics include: water governance, tourism and sustainable development, climate change mitigation, ocean governance, biodiversity conservation, Indigenous environmental governance and environmental justice.

Year 2022

Location New Zealand

Organization University of Auckland

Project aims

Project outcome

By the end of this course, students will be able to: Identify major policy debates at the national and international level around governance of natural resources, ecosystems and climate change (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.3, 4.2 and 6.3) Understand and explain how environmental policies are framed in national and international agendas and forums (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1) Understand and critically evaluate the aims of environmental policies, the actors involved in environmental governance and their interactions both at national and global level (Capability 1.3, 2.1, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3) Be able to understand and analyse the influence of different worldviews and cultural factors on resource governance and sustainability (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.3, 4.2, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2) Critically examine policy narratives and different approaches to environmental policy-making and resource governance (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 4.1, 4.2 and 6.3) Communicate policy ideas in both written and verbal form for different audiences (Capability 1.3, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 5.1)