Since
2015 and the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement, global climate policy is
widely understood as a process that transcends the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is no longer primarily aimed at
producing and enforcing binding reduction targets for states but builds on a
flexible ‘pledge and review’ system of voluntary commitments by state and
non-state actors alike. Taken together, these changes have been described as a
shift away from a ‘regulatory’ and towards a ‘catalytic and facilitative model’
of global governance. They also signal the emergence of a ‘hybrid
multilateralism’ where, in addition to governments, non-state actors – NGOs,
cities, think-tanks, businesses, foundations… - are set to play a more
proactive role in the international climate debate.
In
a first instance, the module will provide students with an introduction to
climate politics (Weeks 1, 2 and 3). Over the course of the following weeks, we
will offer “deep dives” into two climate-related topics: Arctic politics and cities
as climate actors (with a focus on Paris)
There is not preferred textbook for this module. A useful resource for students (and non-students!) interested in the academic/scientific/political debates is Mike Hulme's edited volume: Contemporary Climate Change Debates: A Student Primer (2020, Routledge). It is a little expensive but a worthwhile investment (I have ordered copies of the book for the library).