992229 Sustainability and Global Governance

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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

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 multi-scalar 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 assess 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)

Teaching and learning strategies

Students are guided through a series of six online modules framed around active learning.

Each module draws on a wide range of historical and contemporary empirical and theoretical content. Students engage interactively through access to bespoke content, online discussion boards, embedded comments, and are scaffolded towards conducting their own critical analysis to address key challenges in sustainability and global governance.

This subject uses an authentic learning approach with students developing their critical thinking and writing skills through a research essay and case study report and learn to communicate their analysis to key audiences. Students explore debates and theories that align with the discipline of International Relations and apply these to contemporary social and environmental sustainability challenges. Synchronous online seminars provide an opportunity to revise key concepts, further develop connections with other students, and to prepare for assessments. Students receive formative feedback on assignment tasks both from their lecturers and peers, including early formative feedback.

Content (topics)

This subject explores the origins and challenges of cooperation efforts to achieve sustainability across local, national, and regional scales. The subject is designed to explore key ideas and international cooperation efforts around global climate change and environmental change with a focus on understanding the intersections between these issues and the formation of global governance structures. To examine how effective global environmental governance efforts are, we look at the history and present-day challenges and opportunities, as well as future trajectories of such cooperation efforts, as well as unpack some of the key actors that shape contemporary global governance efforts toward achieving sustainability. The subject encourages students to reflect on their own professional identity and experiences throughout each module to further their understanding of sustainability issues and how they can be effectively navigated and communicated across a variety of contexts and industries. In this way, students are introduced to concepts and encouraged to experiment with innovative ideas and approaches within their own contexts. Throughout, students participate in collaborative activities to share insights and observations with their peers.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Research Essay

Assessment task 2: Case-Study Report

Minimum requirements

There are no minimum requirements for this subject.

Required texts

Readings for this subject will be available via UTS Library and the subject site.