CPT855: Environmental Policy and Climate Change

School Cardiff School of Geography and Planning
Department Code GEOPL
Module Code CPT855
External Subject Code 100408
Number of Credits 20
Level L7
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr Kirstie O'Neill
Semester Autumn Semester
Academic Year 2023/4

Outline Description of Module

This module explores debates on global environmental problems, with a particular view to anthropogenic climate change, and how policy is designed and used to address these problems. This is, thus, a module that explores environmental politics rather than environmental science.

During the module, we explore the relationship between environmental problems (including climate change) and their policy formulation and solutions through the analysis of critical environmental questions; we examine the tensions between participatory and expert driven modes of environmental policy; we examine political and policy constraints and opportunities for sustainable development and climate change; we consider the implications of climate change in different countries; and we also explore the relationship between local and global issues in the context of environment, climate change and development.  

Contemporary environmental problems are used to illustrate global environmental policy dilemmas.  The module addresses key environmental policy debates at a variety of spatial scales and critically analyses the role of different institutions and actors in addressing environmental issues and climate change.  Also, the module explores the relevance and implications of behavioural-economic theories, such as nudge theory, for environmental policy.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  1. Describe contemporary environmental problems and explain their drivers;
  2. Understand the complexities of policymaking in relation to environmental and climate issues;
  3. Recognise key issues and relationships between key actors in environmental and climate policy;
  4. Critically analyse environmental policy processes at global, international and national levels;
  5. Explain the causes and forecasted consequences of anthropogenic climate change;
  6. Critically assess the links between environmental and climate policy and development and between local and global issues;
  7. Critically assess key climate change and environmental policy debates;
  8. Explain the theoretical underpinnings of, and drivers behind, environmental and climate policy, and the inter-relationship between human activities, the natural environment and climate change (in both developed and developing countries);
  9. Distinguish between different approaches to environmental policy and climate change and evaluate their implications, likely consequences and underlying assumptions; and

      10. Develop and present coherent solutions to environmental                  and climate change issues.

How the module will be delivered

The module will be delivered using a blended learning approach, consisting of:

  • Online lectures with opportunities for student activities (e.g. film, online media);
  • Live, small-group seminars, based on key readings and class tasks with group work and debate;
  • Independent reading and individual study.

The lectures seek to provide key knowledge about climate change and contemporary environmental policy and its formulation. The seminars enable students to explore topics in more detail and depth through group work and guided activities, using film and online media to look at alternative representations of the studied topics. Students will also be required to deepen their understanding and knowledge through their own reading/research – key readings are set for each week of study and students are expected to familiarise themselves with these prior to lectures.  These readings are essential to enable students to meet the learning outcomes and to complete assessments.

The majority of timetabled activities will be delivered on-campus where it is safe and practicable.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Students will have an opportunity to develop, and will be expected to demonstrate, the following skills through contributions to debates and written submissions:

Academic skills:

  • An ability to analyse complex problems, in particular the complexities of modern environmental problems, anthropogenic climate change, and the policy dilemmas they create;
  • An appreciation of the wide range of partly conflicting values that characterise contemporary environmental problems and public understanding of them;
  • An ability to describe policy processes and the various actors that influence them globally;
  • An ability to critique the stance taken by governments, industry, NGOs and civil society toward key environmental problems, in particular climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Subject-specific skills:

  • An ability to identify key issues and relationships between key actors in environmental policy and climate change; and
  • An ability to develop and present coherent arguments about potential solutions to environmental and climate change issues.

Employability skills

  • Analysis: an ability to analyse complex policy and practice problems through case studies;
  • Judgement: an ability to provide reasoned judgment on complex alternatives;
  • Constructive and creative thinking: an ability to develop solutions to complex problems;
  • Communication: an ability to communicate ideas clearly and succinctly, in writing and orally.

 

How the module will be assessed

Summative assessment: The module will be assessed through a timed multiple-choice test, and a written essay / policy brief.  Students have the chance to decide whether to write an essay or policy brief, but each must critically analyse an aspect of the global environmental policy debate, drawing on the academic literature as well as contemporary policy debates. 

The principal aims of the assessed work are to:

  • Provide an opportunity for students to develop and demonstrate a detailed understanding of current environmental issues;
  • To further develop critical analysis skills (e.g. the identification of key issues and relationships, and assess the relative merits of different conceptual and intellectual frameworks for understanding environmental issues); and
  • To develop written communication skills.

Formative Assessment

Students will be provided with opportunities for formative feedback throughout the module, via seminar discussions, discussion boards on Learning Central, and meetings with teaching staff.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

Re-assessment

Students are permitted to be reassessed in a module which they have failed, in line with University regulations. https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/teaching-and-supporting-students/teaching-support/academic-regulations. You will only be reassessed on the components of the module in which you have failed. The format of the reassessment will be the same as the original assessment and will take place in the Summer re-sit period.

Data Collection and Ethical Approval

For some assessments, students may be required to collect their own data. In such assessments ethical approval from the School Research Ethics Committee must be obtained before data collection can begin. The module leader will discuss the process for obtaining ethical approval if it is needed in this module. Ethical approval is not needed for students using existing, open data sets (e.g. anonymised secondary data). This does not include social media data (e.g., Twitter or Facebook posts), where ethical approval must be obtained. The ethical approval process will take time and you are strongly recommended to adhere to the timetable outlined by the module leader to ensure you are not delayed in your assessment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Class Test 30 Multiple Choice Question Test N/A
Written Assessment 70 Essay N/A

Syllabus content

The module will provide an overview over the wide range of environmental policy problems and how climate change policy has been constituted at different levels from the local to the global level, and different political theories used to understand these processes.   We will focus on the role that the public can play in environmental policy, focusing on the instruments that conceptualise public participation and how this is operationalised.  We will explore the environmental policy process and environmental policy instruments, specifically focusing on New Environment Policy Instruments (NEPIs) as well as examining the implications of behavioural economics insights for environmental policy design, and will cover the key concepts in policy analysis and evaluation.

The module also examines the strategies of government policymakers in implementing climate policy. We also look at the politics and policy of climate change in various countries and the different strategies and challenges for implementing responses to climate change. 


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