Course Description
601:672. CLIMATE GOVERNANCE (3) WI
LE=20
3 credits: writing credit: no final exam. Assessment will be based on series of research and writing assignments, culminating in a briefing book.
Purpose
Climate governance is a sweeping term for measures aimed at providing tolerable climate conditions for life on earth as we know it. It raises classic issues of distributional justice, law and science, risk, uncertainty and precaution, technology policy, and international relations. Students will leave this course with an understanding of the sources and impacts of climate change, the key state, national and international policies, and the role of law.
This
course is intended for law students who wish to improve their
understanding of governance options in managing mitigation of and
adaptation to climate change, and who wish to apply their knowledge
to analyze and develop recommendations for a particular aspect of
climate governance.
Learning
objectives
Seminar participants will obtain an overview of the domestic and transnational governance strategies for reducing climate disruption (mitigation) and adapting to unavoidable climate disruptions. Participants will develop their ability to analyze a policy problem and develop law-based recommendations. They will develop their research, analytical, writing and presentation skills.
Basis for Evaluation
Grades will be based on the preparation of a paper, a class presentation and class participation. Students will be responsible for leading class discussion at least once during the semester. Grades may be revised upward for exceptional class participation and downward for failure to attend class on a regular basis.