Environmental Politics and Governance, 7.5 credits

Miljöpolitik och miljöstyrning, 7.5 hp

746A90

Main field of study

Environmental Science

Course level

Second cycle

Course type

Single subject and programme course

Examiner

Maria Jernnäs

Course coordinator

Maria Jernnäs

Director of studies or equivalent

Mathias Fridahl

Available for exchange students

Yes

Contact

ECV = Elective / Compulsory / Voluntary
Course offered for Semester Weeks Language Campus ECV
Single subject course (Full-time, Day-time) Autumn 2025 202549-202603 English Linköping, Valla
Single subject course (Full-time, Day-time) Autumn 2025 202549-202603 English Linköping, Valla
F7MSU Science for Sustainable Development, Master's programme - First and main admission round 1 (Autumn 2025) 202549-202603 English Linköping, Valla C
F7MSU Science for Sustainable Development, Master's programme - Second admission round (open only for Swedish/EU students) 1 (Autumn 2025) 202549-202603 English Linköping, Valla C

Main field of study

Environmental Science

Course level

Second cycle

Advancement level

A1N

Course offered for

  • Master's Programme in Science for Sustainable Development

Entry requirements

  • Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in one of the following areas: 
    - natural sciences, 
    - social sciences, 
    - humanities or
    - engineering
  • 15 ECTS credits passed in environmental sciences, sustainable development, or equivalent.
  • English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6)
    Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

  • Critically analyse environmental politics and governance as concepts and practice
  • Compare forms of governance and politics instruments in environmental politics and their application
  • Map actors and arenas of environmental politics
  • Account for processes of environmental politics on international, transnational, and national levels, and interactions between them
  • Apply theoretical perspectives on environmental politics and governance

Course content

The course addresses central perspectives on environmental politics and governance. The course maps actors in environmental politics, such as the state, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector and analyses their roles, interplay, and political priorities. The course takes its starting point in interstate agreements that have been negotiated to solve transboundary environmental and sustainability issues, e.g., climate change. Furthermore, the course analyses the development of new forms of governance on the borderline between private and public actors, such as public-private partnerships, emissions trading, and certification schemes, and their significance for the content and direction of environmental and sustainability politics. The course also addresses the emergence of new environmental and climate movements and their potential to spur political change. 

Teaching and working methods

The course comprises lectures, seminars, group work, and an individual writing assignment. In addition to this, the student is expected to carry out self-studies.

Language of examination: English

Examination

The course is examined through:

  • individual written assignment, grade: ECTS
  • group writing assignment and oral group presentation grade: pass/fail
  • active participation in seminars, grade: pass/fail
  • oral critical review of another student’s individual assignment, grade: pass/fail

For a final grade of Pass (E), the student must have passed all examination activities. Higher grades are based on the individual written assignment. 

 Detailed information is found in the course guide.   
 

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

ECTS, EC

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department

Institutionen för Tema
Code Name Scope Grading scale
UPG1 Individual writing assignment 3 credits EC
GRP1 Group writing assignment and oral group presentation 1.5 credits EC
DEL1 Active participation in seminars 2.5 credits EC
RED1 Oral critical examination of fellow student’s individual writing assignment 0.5 credits EC

Other

A preliminary list of literature will be available eight weeks before the course starts under the tag Additional Documents.

This tab contains public material from the course room in Lisam. The information published here is not legally binding, such material can be found under the other tabs on this page.

There are no files available for this course.