LNAK10087U Global Environmental Governance (extended version)

GEG is an interdisciplinary, project oriented course organised around an environmental theme, which may change from year to year. The course concludes with an oral examination.

This course consists of four main components: (1) An introduction to the general field of “global environmental governance” (2) Examination of a common environmental theme (3) A project assignment (4) Self-studies

Re 1. General introduction The course will introduce key concepts and issues of relevance for global environmental governance as seen from various professional perspectives (political science, geography, law and life science). Moreover, the course will introduce the most important of those governmental and non-governmental international institutions that regulate the interaction between society and environment. The students will obtain a basic understanding of how these international institutions interact with institutions at regional and national levels. It is intended to provide insights in the global and international character of environmental problems, and in those mechanisms of governance and regulation that have special significance for the solution of environmental problems. The aim of the introduction is to create a common conceptual framework for the subsequent work.

Re. 2. Examination of a common environmental theme The second component is an examination of a common environmental theme in the light of global environmental governance, again drawing on the various professional approaches, research traditions, analytical frameworks, etc. Examples of possible environmental themes are: biodiversity, water, forest, climate change. Focus is on the global and international levels of governance, but also with a view to how these levels interact with the regional and local levels.

Re 3. Project reports The students will work in teams in preparing a written assignment.

Re 4. Self-study In total, the curriculum will add up to approximately 1200 pages. The individual students will have to compose part of their own curriculum (approximately 600 pages). They must submit their proposed curriculum to the course coordinator for approval no later than three weeks before oral exams, and familiarise themselves with this part of the literature by self-study.