Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2065: Environmental Politics

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to introduce you to the historical and contemporary character of environmentalism and sustainability as processes of public campaigning and political change. In so doing, it aims to introduce you to key scientific, philosophical and theoretical debates on the environment, alongside real world developments environmental policy and politics. The primary context will be the UK and the European Union, but the international scene will always be in evidence.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Understand the origins and evolution of green political thought
2. Critique the different ways in which environmental issues have been framed in public and policy arenas
3. Analyse the role and perspectives of multiple actors and perspectives on in environmental policy
4. Display knowledge of the complexities of addressing environmental policy across policy sectors and governance scales
5. Evaluate policy and public initiatives to tackle environmental problems
6. Recognise the difficulties of achieving meaningful environmental debates and global policy agreements
Discipline-Specific Skills7. Analyse debates and present coherent arguments about environmental politics
8. Evaluate the effectiveness of policy and public interventions
9. Understand the reasons for and barriers to policy intervention
Personal and Key Skills10. Evaluate ideas and debates
11. Present written material in a coherent manner;
12. Produce a seminar presentation and evaluate others’ performance
13. Contribute productively and co-operatively to class discussions