POLS 362 Global Environmental Politics [CRN 79596]

Overview of Course

The “Global Environmental Politics” course invites students to explore one of the most urgent and fascinating arenas of 21st-century international affairs: how the world’s governments, corporations, activists, scientists, and communities negotiate the future of the planet. This course offers an accessible introduction to the political, economic, and ethical forces that drive global environmental change—and the innovative solutions emerging in response.
Students will examine major global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, ocean degradation, pollution, and resource scarcity. Through case studies, you’ll analyze why some international agreements succeed while others fail, how powerful actors shape environmental outcomes, and how local and global interests collide in everything from climate negotiations to protected-area management to sustainable energy transitions.
The course emphasizes interactive learning: simulations of UN climate talks, debates on environmental justice, analysis of real-world policy dilemmas, and team-based projects focused on designing viable solutions. No prior background in political science or environmental studies is required—just curiosity and a desire to understand how many individual decisions by corporations and States impact the health of our planet.
By the end of the semester, you will have a deeper understanding of the political complexities underlying environmental issues—and a clearer sense of how global cooperation (and conflict) will determine the planet’s future.