University of Technology Sydney

992229 Sustainability and Global Governance

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Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: International Studies: International Studies and Global Societies
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

As the climate changes, so too does our capacity to mitigate and adapt to these changes. Global environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, demand attention to a range of actors and institutions operating in international contexts. This subject equips students with the knowledge and skills to attempt to effectively tackle these challenges, make informed decisions, implement strategies, and contribute to dialogues on sustainable social, political, economic and environmental development. Students gain an overview of the development and implementation of multiscalar environmental policy and international law, and consider the role of key actors, including states, international organisations, civil society and the private sector. Students critically evaluate various approaches to international cooperation, including multilateral treaties and non-binding agreements, and assesses their effectiveness in addressing specific environmental issues, including implementation, enforcement, and compliance in local, national and global contexts. The subject examines international power relations and decision making relating to sustainability through different theoretical approaches and considers these in practice through different case studies. From this, students develop a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities for international cooperation in environmental governance and sustainable development.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a. Analyse key environmental challenges facing international communities and the impacts of these issues on different actors, places and scales
b. Apply critical perspectives on international cooperation efforts and assess their effectiveness in socially responsible governance in both Australian and international contexts
c. Examine power relations and decision making across multiple scales and actors to understand and demonstrate knowledge of how they influence global governance on mitigating and adapting to contemporary environmental challenges
d. Analyse the importance of recognising Indigenous perspectives and rights for sustainable development policies
e. Effectively communicate complex ideas and arguments related to international cooperation in environmental governance and sustainable development