Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC1019: Green Politics in Theory and Practice

This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.

Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.

Overview

NQF Level	4
Credits	15	ECTS Value	7.5
Term(s) and duration	This module ran during term 1 (11 weeks)
Academic staff	Cristiana Olcese (Lecturer)
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
Available via distance learning	No

Environmental issues have become a major concern in both developed and developing countries. Not the least thanks to the increasing Europeanisation and globalisation of national economies, policies and societies, local environmental problems are closely related to and interact with developments at the national or the global level. In this module, you will examine the history, ideals, goals, organisation, and key actors of environmental policy making in Britain and other European countries. You will be familiarised with various competing national regulatory philosophies and look into political, economic and civil-societal approaches towards environmental regulation and protection. The implicit comparative perspective taken in this module will sensitise you to the challenges that European policy makers face when designing environmental policy solutions at EU level and during the implementation of these policies in various national policy contexts. You will analyse the changing role of green parties, grassroots organisations, academic experts and regulatory agencies in environmental policy formulation with a view to discuss potential trade-offs between democratic decision making and standard setting in ecopolitics. The module will combine theoretical approaches with case studies of major episodes and controversies in policy areas such as biodiversity, climate change, water pollution, energy and forestry.

No prior knowledge, skills or experience are required to take this module and it is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students. This course serves as a complement and useful introduction to Environmental Politics II which focuses on environmental politics in developing countries and at the global level.

Module created	17/2/2012	Last revised	07/07/2016