VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
International Environmental Politics
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:48:51
Abstract
This course focuses on the conditions under which problem solving efforts in international environmental politics emerge and the conditions under which such efforts and the respective public policies are effective.
Objective
The objectives of this course are to (1) gain an overview of relevant questions in the area of international environmental politics from a social sciences viewpoint; (2) learn how to identify interesting/innovative questions concerning this policy area and how to answer them in a methodologically sophisticated way; (3) gain an overview of important global and regional environmental problems and how they could be solved.
Content
This course deals with how and why international problem solving efforts (cooperation) in environmental politics emerge, and under what circumstances such efforts are effective. Based on theories of international political economy and theories of government regulation various examples of international environmental politics are discussed: the management of international water resources, political responses to global warming, the protection of the stratospheric ozone layer, the reduction of long-range transboundary air pollution, protection of biodiversity, how to deal with plastic waste, the prevention of pollution of the oceans, etc. The course is open to all ETH students. Participation does not require previous coursework in the social sciences. After passing an end-of-semester test (requirement: grade 4.0 or higher) students will receive 3 ECTS credit points. The workload is around 90 hours (meetings, reading assignments, preparation of test). Visiting students (e.g., from the University of Zurich) are subject to the same conditions. Registration of visiting students in the web-based system of ETH is compulsory. This course will take place fully online. Course units have three components: 1. A pre-recorded lecture by Prof. Bernauer, available via Moodle, for all course units 2. Reading assignments, available via Moodle, for a few selected course units 3. Online meetings (via Zoom) for all course units on Mondays at 16:30 – 18:00, where we discuss your questions concerning the lecture and reading assignments and focus in greater depth on a particular facet of the respective course unit, on occasion with a guest (to be announced a few weeks ahead of the respective course unit). You must watch the lecture and complete the reading assignment for the respective unit ahead of the online meeting. The online meeting will be recorded and made available via Moodle. To facilitate your planning, the course is organized in terms of weekly units.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Assigned reading materials and slides will be available via Moodle.
Literature
Assigned reading materials and slides will be available via Moodle.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , SHE , MSC , DS
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | International Environmental Politics |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
-
GESS Science in Perspective (Only the topics listed in this paragraph can be chosen as GESS Science in Perspective. Further below you will find the "type B courses Reflections about subject specific methods and content" as well as the language courses. 6 ECTS need to be acquired during the BA and 2 ECTS during the MA Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.)
-
Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (Suitable for all students. Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.)
-
Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses: Recommended for doctoral, master and bachelor students (after first-year examination only). Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again. These course units are also listed under "Type A", which basically means all students can enroll)
-
-
-
-
Additional Elective Courses (These Electives may be chosen from the start of the Bachelor Study Programme.)
-
-
-
Environmental Sciences Bachelor (Students can choose between one Bachelor thesis of 10KP or two Bachelor theses of 5KP each. In principle, all professors and lecturers involved in the teaching of the Environmental Sciences degree programme are entitled to supervise a Bachelor's thesis (BA). BA in the area of social sciences and humanities can only be supervised by lecturers who teach in this area. The same applies to BA in the field of natural sciences and technology. If the thesis is supervised by a person who does not teach in the Environmental Sciences degree programme or who does not have ETH lecturer status, then the student has to fill in the "Form for supervisors of a Bachelor thesis who do not teach in the Environmental Sciences degree programme" Link)
-
-
-
Electives (A list with possible electives will be published separately.)
-
-
-
-
Minor in Global Change and Sustainability (This minor will only be offered in the academic year 21/22. As of the academic year 22/23, the minor can no longer be chosen. The course units offered in the minor can still be taken as electives.)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Biology Teaching Diploma (Detailed information on the programme at: )
-
Compulsory Elective Courses (Further course offerings from the category Educational Science are listed under "Programme: Educational Science for Teaching Diploma and TC".)
-
-
Geography Teaching Diploma (More informations at : )
-
Compulsory Elective Courses (Further course offerings from the category Educational Science are listed under "Programme: Educational Science for Teaching Diploma and TC".)
-
-
-