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851-0594-00L 2 Credits
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International Environmental Politics

Internationale Umwelt- und Ressourcenpolitik

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Thomas Bernauer
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:09:28

Abstract

This course deals with the conditions under which cooperation in international environmental politics emerges and the conditions under which such cooperation is effective and/or efficient.

Objective

The objective of this course is (1) to gain an overview of relevant questions in the area of international environmental politics from a social sciences point of view; (2) to learn how to identify interesting/innovative questions on this topic and how to answer them in a methodologically sophisticated way; (3) to gain an overview of important global and regional environmental problems.

Content

This course deals with how and why international cooperation in environmental politics emerges, and under which circumstances such cooperation is effective and efficient. 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, the problem of unsafe nuclear power plants in eastern Europe, political responses to global warming, the protection of the stratospheric ozone layer, the reduction of long-range transboundary air pollution in Europe, the regulation of international trade in toxic waste, the international protection of species. Some reading material for the course is available from March 2006 at www.bernauer.ethz.ch , other material will be available in the form of a reader, to be distributed at the beginning of the course. The online documents are password protected. The username and password will be communicated in the first meeting of the course. After passing a final test (grade 4.0 or higher) students will receive 2 ECTS credit points. The workload is around 60 hours (meetings, reading assignments, preparation of final test).

Resources

Lecture Notes

Slides and reading material are made available atwww.bernauer.ethz.ch. They are password protected. The username and password will be communicated in the first meeting of the course. In addition, a hard-copy reader will be made available.

Literature

See www.bernauer.ethz.ch

General Information

Language
German
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Internationale Umwelt- und Ressourcenpolitik
  • Mon 17:15-19:00 (HG E 5)
2 h weekly

Offered In