Climate change is a serious threat to the future of humanity. As a consequence governments around the world have moved to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, but so far their efforts have been inadequate: emissions are still rising. This is despite the fact that we know how they can be brought under control at a reasonable cost. It turns out that the main obstacles to more effective action are political. This module is designed to give you an understanding of these obstacles and how they can be overcome. Topics covered include the science of climate change, how greenhouse gas emissions can be cut, the main policy options for encouraging or mandating cuts in emissions, international negotiations and agreements as they relate to climate policy, and political strategies for enabling more vigorous action to be taken.

On successful completion of the module a student will be able to set out and evaluate the scientific arguments that underpin the belief that climate change is occurring; describe, explain and evaluate the main ways in which climate change could be mitigated as well as the main policy options for putting these in place; describe, explain and evaluate the main relevant international negotiations and agreements at EU and global levels; describe, explain, evaluate and apply relevant theories of policy making; and identify, explain and evaluate political strategies for enabling more vigorous action to be taken to bring climate change under control.

Lectures and seminars. Lectures are designed to provide orientating information. Seminars are designed to enable students to integrate information into their understanding of politics and public policy via debate, the exchange of ideas, and collaborative work.

Assessment by a single 4000 word essay is designed to require students to research, describe, analyse and evaluate climate policies and associated political strategies. Oral and written feedback will be given.

The science of climate change, options for mitigation, policy options, international negotiations and agreements at EU and global levels, political strategies for enabling more vigorous action to be taken.

Compston, Hugh (2008), ‘Political strategies for tackling climate change: a policy network perspective’, paper presented to the ECPR Joint Sessions, Rennes, 11-16 April

Compston, Hugh (2002), ‘Identifying Advocacy Coalitions’, Discussion Paper

Compston, Hugh (forthcoming 2009), Policy Networks and Policy Change, chapters 1-2

Compston, Hugh (2010), ‘The politics of climate policy: strategic options for national governments’, Political Quarterly 81(1).

Compston, Hugh, and Ian Bailey (ed) (2008), Turning Down the Heat

IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2007), Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report, Topics 1-3

IPCC (2007), Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report: Summary for Policymakers

Lorenzoni, Irene, Tim O’Riordan and Nick Pidgeon (2008), ‘Hot Air and Cold Feet: The UK Response to Climate Change’, in Turning Down the Heat, ed. Hugh Compston and Ian Bailey

Monbiot, George (2006), Heat

Official documents on British government websites, such as Climate Change: The UK Programme 2006 and The Energy Challenge: Energy Review Report 2006, plus links from these websites

Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change

UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) (2007), ‘Policies, measures, past and future greenhouse emission trends of Parties included in Annex 1 to the Convention’, Addendum to Compilation and Synthesis of Fourth National Communications