2018-2019 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

IDCE 30396 - Politics and Policy: Responses to Sustainability, Climate Change, and Energy


This course critically examines various political and policy measures implemented across the globe in response to various sustainability, energy and climate change challenges. Through multiple case studies we will approach the broad theme of environmental politics, governance and policy from three dimensions: global, national and city-level. Global level political and policy frameworks will focus on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. National level responses will focus on policy solutions and climate governance in the context of the European Union (Emissions Trading Scheme and various GHG emission and renewable energy targets) and the USA (taken as an example of a nation without an effective national climate policy). After examining the socio-cultural factors, strengths, impacts and limitations of international and national level political responses to climate change and sustainability we will then analyze the experiences of several frontrunner cities around the globe implementing innovative policy responses to climate change in the building sector. These cases will include several large cities from Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo), USA (Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston and New York) and Australia (Sydney and Melbourne). We will also examine innovative policy initiatives by other small communities around the USA to hasten societal transitions towards sustainability.

Anticipated Terms Offered: annually