POAD9129 Environmental Policy and Governance

This topic is designed to develop your critical understanding of some of the key challenges to constructing successful environmental policy in a range of different contexts. It is also designed to provide you with an understanding of the complexity of environmental systems; as well as an awareness of some of the primary tools and techniques available for best practice environmental policy. During the topic you will: identify key environmental issues; demonstrate an understanding of different approaches to environmental policy; develop and apply your knowledge and understanding of the case study method in political science; apply your knowledge and understanding of environmental policy tools and theories to practical, real-world settings; critically evaluate existing policy regimes and their efficacy; and design appropriate environmental policy recommendations.

This topic aims to develop a critical understanding of:

• The key challenges in constructing successful environmental policy in a range of contexts
• The complexity of environmental systems as a policy problem
• The key tools and techniques available for best practice environmental policy and how to achieve good outcomes in their own context
• The use of the case study method in political science

1. Identify key environmental issues requiring a policy response, or, requiring a more effective policy response
2. Demonstrate an understanding of different approaches to environmental problems in a policy setting
3. Apply their knowledge and understanding of environmental policy tools and theories to practical, real-world settings
4. Apply their knowledge and understanding of the case study method in a variety of contexts
5. Evaluate existing environmental policy regimes and their efficacy
6. Analyse and design environmental policy recommendations appropriate to the context