AIP245 - Environmental Politics
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Peter Ferguson |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week 1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour online lecture per week (recordings provided) 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
Environmental problems, such as climate change, constitute one of the biggest policy challenges facing governments around the world. The difficulty which many states, including Australia, have had in implementing effective policy responses to this environmental challenge is one of the key political puzzles of the twenty first century. This unit explores the ways in which state, non-state and international organisations understand environmental problems and the diverse policy actions that have been proposed and/or taken in response. Five main themes are covered. These are: the unique challenge environmentalism poses to existing political ideologies and forms of political organisation; the relationship between the economy and environment; globalisation and the environment; international environmental politics; and the politics of climate change. These themes highlight both continuities and discontinuities with existing local, national and global political structures created by environmental problems. A range of specific issues such as sustainable development, carbon trading, consumption, environmental justice and the environmental implications of economic growth, trade and finance are also explored, using Australian and international case studies.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Review and analyse major theoretical, conceptual, and policy debates about environmental issues, and locate these within wider national and international political contexts | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Effectively communicate the findings and analyses of research on environmental politics that deploys political concepts, theories and technical knowledge in different written formats | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Analyse and critically evaluate different interpretations of environmental issues and policy responses | GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Generate and evaluate solutions to complex problems of environmental politics and governance at the national, regional, and global levels | GLO5: Problem solving |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Report | 1500 words or equivalent | 40% | Information not yet available |
| Assessment 2: Essay | 2500 words or equivalent | 60% | Information not yet available |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for AIP245 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.