Global environmental affairs encompass, arguably, the most challenging political issues of our time. Never before has humanity had the power to determine its own planetary destiny as we do today.  From climate change and biodiversity loss to drinking water and desertification to overall poverty and pollution, events on one side of the globe now clearly influence those thousands of miles away.  This course analyzes the political context of this complicated and diverse landscape, highlighting the impact of both globalization and interdependence on the environmental front.

Our studies will be divided into four main categories. In the first two weeks we look at the ecological theoretical context and international relations framework in which this debate is set.  The next two weeks are spent looking at the specific actors involved in this debate, from states and international organizations to businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).  Here there is also an introduction to the various legal apparatus worldwide. 

Having established these critical foundations, the fifth week of the course begins examination of a number of specific issues world leaders struggle with (or ignore) today.  These include: climate change, ozone depletion, infectious disease, biodiversity protection, global fisheries threats, trade, hazardous waste, desertification, deforestation, soil erosion and topsoil loss, whaling, and fossil fuel transport/usage.  The course then concludes with a discussion of effectiveness of tactics to date, noting the role of civil society, institutions, and markets in both contributing problems and finding solutions.