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Governing for the Environment - POL00067M

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  • Department: Politics and International Relations
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

The module will examine key concepts (e.g. tragedy of the commons, sustainable development, ecological modernisation), different levels of governance (e.g. global, regional, national), a range of topics (e.g. policy instruments, international trade, regime formation), various policy problems (e.g. climate change, biodiversity protection, carbon leakage) and aspects of environmental politics (e.g. Green parties, party politics, ENGOs).

Module learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this module are to understand the complex theoretical and practical issues associated with the environment as a major policy problem, to identify the key actors involved in environmental politics and policy, analyse the making of global and national environmental policy and to examine emerging forms of environmental governance.

Module content

  1. The environment as a policy problem

  2. The environment and the economy

  3. Policy instruments

  4. Science, risk, and uncertainty

  5. Governing the global commons

  6. Environmental campaigning

  7. Environmental justice and development

  8. The European Union

  9. China

  10. Conclusion & assessment prep

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.

Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.

Indicative reading

Carter, N. (2018) The Politics of the Environment (3rd edition), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

DeSombre, E. R. (2020) What is Environmental Politics?, Cambridge: Polity.

Ding, I (2020) ‘Performative governance’. World Politics, 72(4), pp. 525-556.

Vogler, J. (2016). Climate Change in World Politics, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.