ENVS 122: Environmental Politics & Policy

"This course will engage environmental governance in the last half century and cover several social science research approaches. Learners will deepen their familiarity with the comparative method and sharpen their ability to critically evaluate a study's main argument and evidence as we discuss the social and institutional dimensions of environmental change. Part one reviews major environmental legislation in the US, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and policy responses to global warming.

"In part two, learners step back to interrogate the political ecology, science, and struggles over meaning and representation that underpin the politics of environmental policy change. The final section examines the rise of global environmental governance highlighting the roles of non-profit-organizations, civil societies and corporate firms.

"A concluding discussion identifies avenues for civic engagement, bottom-up accountability, and environmental citizenship. Learners will gain insight into the policy making processes through simulation games, reading and research, develop tools to assess policy outcomes, and find strategies to identify political opportunities."