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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 366"
COURSE NAME: "International Environmental Politics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2023
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Luigi Sensi
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 11:10 AM 1:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: One introductory level Political Science course
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines public policy challenges in addressing international environmental protection. Students will examine such issues as climate change, sustainable development, protection of biodiversity/ecosystems/species, resource extraction and energy, which involve conflicting value systems enmeshed in complex power relationships. This course draws students’ attention to issues of scale, interconnectedness, boundaries, and the importance of creating solutions that are workable across and between jurisdictions. Students will engage these global challenges in order to develop the knowledge, and the problem solving and communications skills, to facilitate environmental policy work in the international arena.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

 

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT

· The rise of global environmental politics: the increasing scale, scope and visibility of environmental issues.

· Global cooperation in environmental politics: the principal actors and the main challenges.

· International regimes and competing paradigms in global environmental politics.

 

KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: For each of the following environmental issues, we shall define the problem, explain its causes, assess its potential consequences and analyze the cooperative arrangements and policies fashioned by the international community to address, mitigate and/or solve the problem.

- air pollution,

- the depletion of the ozone layer,

- water pollution and water scarcity,

- non-renewable and renewable energy sources,

- climate change,

- hazardous waste and toxic chemicals,

- deforestation,

- desertification and land degradation,

- threats to biodiversity,

- genetic resources: preservation, access and benefit sharing,

- international trade in endangered species, and

- whale hunting.


LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will become familiar with the principal environmental challenges confronting the international community.

Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of various private and public, national and international actors in the formulation, adoption and implementation of global environmental public policies.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Global Environmental Politics - Problems, Policy and PracticeHayley StevensonCambridge University Press9781107547537     
The Environment and International Relations (SECOND Edition)Kate O' NeillCambridge University Press‎ 978-1107671713     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Global Environmental Politics (EIGHTH Edition)Pamela Chasek and David DownieRoutledge 9780367227623  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance, class participation and in-class exercises 30
Midterm Exam 30
Final Exam 40

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

THE USE OF LAPTOPS, SMARTPHONES OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES IS NOT PERMITTED IN THIS CLASS.

There is a mountain of research that uniformly finds that these devices undermine learning---not just for the user, but for students sitting nearby. All phones, laptops or other electronic devices must be switched off and stored away before class. Please reach out to me directly if you have a documented need to use an electronic device in class.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

 You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until Friday, June 23rd.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

WEEK ONE – May 22nd

The Environment and Global Politics

UNIT 1 – MONDAY

Introduction to the course

Politics and the Global Environment

-         “Global Environmental Politics: Problems, Policy and Practice,” by Hayley Stevenson (hereinafter, “Stevenson”), pages 1-10. The first few pages of this book (this is the textbook you are required t purchase) have been posted on Moodle.

SYNOPSIS 1 (posted on Moodle)

 

UNIT 2 – TUESDAY,

The Tragedy of the Commons

-         Stevenson, Chapter 2 (pages 19-35)

-         “EES” pages 158-160 (posted on Moodle) from “Essentials of Environmental Science,” by Andrew Friedland and Rick Relyea (Second Edition, 2016) (hereinafter “EES”). This section is titled: “Human land use affects the environment in many ways”.

Ideas that shape environmental politics

-         “Morin” pages 54-68 (posted on Moodle) from “Global Environmental Politics: Understanding the Governance of the Earth” by Frederic Morin.

-         “Laudato Si’” paragraphs 66-70 from Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter “On Care For Our Common Home: Laudato Si’” (posted on Moodle)

SYNOPSIS 2 (posted on Moodle)

 

UNIT 3 – WEDNESDAY

Population growth, poverty and environmental impact

-         Stevenson, Chapter 3 (pages 37-57)

-         “EKC - The Environmental Kuznets Curve Explained” (posted on Moodle)

-         “Morin” pages 77-79 (posted on Moodle)

-         “Is Environmentalism Just for Rich People? Sometimes it can seem as if only the privileged support the cause. But the truth is more complicated,” by Neil Gross, from the New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/opinion/sunday/yellow-vest-protests-climate.html

SYNOPSIS 3 (posted on Moodle)

 

International Regimes and Global Environmental Politics

UNIT 4 – THURSDAY

Intergenerational and intragenerational environmental justice

-         Morin pages 80-85

International Relations Theories, International Regimes and the emergence of environmental concerns

-         “The Environment and International Relations,” (SECOND Edition, 2017) by Kate O’Neill (hereafter, “O’Neill”), pages 11-18 (“Scholarly Perspectives on International Environmental Politics”) and 28-41 (the emergence of global environmental concerns; and typologies of global environmental problems).

-         Additional suggested (not required) reading: O’Neill, pages 5-11 and 41-49

SYNOPSIS 4 (posted on Moodle)

WEEK TWO – May 29th

International Law and International Organizations

UNIT 5 – MONDAY

What is Public International Law and how does it work? What are Intergovernmental Organizations?

SYNOPSIS 5 (posted on Moodle)

 

International regimes and key actors’ roles

UNIT 6 – TUESDAY

The State, International Governmental Organizations and Public International Law

-         O’Neill, pages 51-63

-         Chasek, pages 44-49 (also, please skim pages 50-51) from "Global Environmental Politics" by Chasek and Downie (EIGHTH Edition, 2021) posted on Moodle

SYNOPSIS 6 posted on Moodle

 

UNIT 7 – WEDNESDAY

The negotiation of international treaties and the role of the state in the formation of international regimes

-          O’Neill, pages 79-93

-         Chasek, pages 87-90, and the two Boxes 1.2 and 1.3 at pages 14-15.

SYNOPSIS 7 (posted on Moodle)

 

UNIT 8 - THURSDAY

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), private businesses, the scientific community, individual leaders and public opinion

-         O’Neill, pages 63-77 and 95-109

SYNOPSIS 8 (posted on Moodle)

 

WEEK THREE – June 5th

Environmental Problems and the International Community’s Response

 

UNIT 9 -MONDAY

Air and water pollution; water scarcity; ozone layer depletion

-         SYNOPSIS 9

-         O’Neill, box 2.1, pages 34 and 35 (major international environmental problems).

-         EES, pages 215-224 (water), pages 241-249 (Air Pollution), and pages 256-259 (The Stratospheric Ozone Layer).

-         Stevenson, pages 88-92 (water scarcity) 

Additional suggested reading: “Montreal Protocol explained by UNEP” posted on Moodle

 

UNIT 10 – TUESDAY

National Security and the Environment; the “Precautionary Principle”; a New Anthropocene Epoch

-         EES, pages 308-309 (“Worldwide standards of risk”); and 372-373 (“The Precautionary Principle”)

-         Chasek, pages 31-36 (“Environmental change as a security issue”; and “the Precautionary Principle”).

-         “Scorched Earth: Climate and Conflict in the Middle East” by Marwa Daoudy, from 101 Foreign Affairs 51 (2022) posted on Moodle.

SYNOPSIS 10

 

UNIT 11 – WEDNESDAY

Does resource scarcity and environmental degradation necessarily lead to military and social conflict? The case of the “Water Wars”

-         Stevenson pages 81-88, and pages 92-106 (from Chapter 5)

Introducing Climate Change

-         EES, pages 337-346 (stop before “Global temperatures since 1880”) and from page 353 (“Global Warming Has Serious Consequences”) through page 356.

-         Dessler pages 24-26 “Ozone depletion is different from Climate Change” posted on Moodle

SYNOPSIS 11

Additional suggested readings:

-         “Glaciers Are Retreating. Millions Rely on Their Water,” by Henry Fountain and Ben Solomon, New York Times, January 16, 2019 in  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/01/15/climate/melting-glaciers-globally.html

-         “Ethical Enhancement in an Age of Climate Change,” by Paul Wapner, in Ethics and International Affairs, 28.3, Fall 2014.

 

UNIT 12 – THURSDAY, JUNE 8TH, MIDTERM EXAM 

Part of the class will be taken up by the Midterm Exam. The rest of the time will be spent on climate change

 

MIDTERM EXAM on THURSDAY,  June 8th

 

WEEK FOUR – June 12th

UNIT 13 - MONDAY

Energy sources: fossil fuels, nuclear power and RES (Renewable Energy Sources)

-         SYNOPSIS 13

-         EES, pages 181-184 (to mid-page 184), pages 190-193, figure 8.4 (page 185), figure 8.11 (page 191), table 8.2 (page 194), figure 8.20 (page 201), figure 8.24 (page 205) and table 8.3 (pages 208-209).

-         See the “Animation of Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking),” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY34PQUiwOQ .

-         “A Sensible Climate Change Solution, Borrowed From Sweden,” by Richard Rhodes, New York Times, February 5, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/05/books/review/bright-future-joshua-s-goldstein-staffan-a-qvist.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage 

Milestones of environmental diplomacy and Sustainable Development

-         Stevenson, pages 107-122 (Multilateral diplomacy and sustainable development)

 

UNIT 14 – TUESDAY

Climate Change and Transnational Governance

-         SYNOPSIS 14

-         Stevenson, Chapter 7

-         “U.S.-China Friction Threatens to Undercut the Fight Against Climate Change,” by Semini Sengupta, from the New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/climate/us-china-climate-change.html

 

UNIT 15 - WEDNESDAY 

The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement

-         Falkner on “The Paris Agreement and the new logic of international climate politics,” pages from in International Affairs 92: 5 (2016) 1107–1118.

-         SYNOPSIS 15

 

UNIT 16 -THURSDAY

Problem Displacement: Hazardous Substances and Toxic Chemicals

-         Stevenson, Chapter 10

-         SYNOPSIS 16

 

WEEK FIVE – June 19th

UNIT 17 - MONDAY

Global Economic Governance, Environmental Aid and the Environment

-         Stevenson, pages 167-183

-         Additional suggested, not required, reading: O’Neill, pages 139-168

-         SYNOPSIS 17

 

UNIT 18 - TUESDAY

Land management, Deforestation and Desertification  

-         SYNOPSIS 18

-         EES, pages 160-165 (“Land management and land use”).

-         Stevenson, pages 183-196

-         Chasek pages 272-274 (Ecolabeling)

-         “Why Iraq’s biblical paradise is becoming a salty wasteland,” from PBS, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-iraqs-biblical-paradise-is-becoming-a-salty-wasteland

 

UNIT 19 - WEDNESDAY

Biodiversity, endangered species, living modified organisms and genetic resources

-         SYNOPSIS 19

-         EES, pages 169-170 (“Genetic engineering”), 315-320 (biodiversity) and 326 (“Plant and animal trade”).

-         Chasek, pages 189-201 (from the 7th edition) - Biodiversity loss and the 1992 UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

 

UNIT 20 – THURSDAY

The International Regulation of Whale Hunting

-         SYNOPSIS 20

-         Chasek pages 243-252 (from the 7th Edition) the Whaling Regime

-         “Japan to Resume Commercial Whaling, Defying International Ban,” from the New York Times, December 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/world/asia/japan-whaling-withdrawal.html

 

 

FINAL EXAM: FRIDAY JUNE 23rd