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International Environmental Politics
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:00:34
Abstract
This course focuses on the conditions under which problem solving efforts in international environmental politics emerge and evolve, 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 are or could be solved.
Content
This course deals with how and why international problem solving efforts (cooperation) in environmental politics emerge and evolve, and under what circumstances such efforts are effective. Based on concepts and theories of political economy, political science, and public policy, various examples of international environmental politics are discussed, for example 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, and the prevention of pollution of the oceans. The course is open to all ETH students and visiting students from other universities. 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, exchange students) are subject to the same conditions. Registration of visiting students in the web-based system of ETH is compulsory. This course will take place on campus (ETH Main Building, HF F.3). There will be no live-streaming, and the course is NOT in hybrid (on-campus plus online) format. However, the lecture will be recorded and the recordings will be made available via the Moodle platform for this course 1-2 days after the respective lecture for students who are unable to attend in person.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Reading materials and slides will be available via Moodle.
Literature
Reading materials and slides will be available via Moodle.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , SHE , DS , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | International Environmental Politics |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses. Particularly relevant for students interested in those subjects. All these courses are also listed under the category “Typ A”, and every student can enroll in these courses.)
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Electives (This structure can be chossen during the study year 2022/23 for the last time.)
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Electives - new selsction (These elctives can be chosen in autumn semester 2022 alreday.This structure will be the only one starting autumn semester 2023.)
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Biology Teaching Diploma (Detailed information on the programme at: )
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Geography Teaching Diploma (More informations at : )
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Compulsory Elective Courses (Further course offerings from the category Educational Science are listed under "Programme: Educational Science for Teaching Diploma and TC".)
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