Purpose
This course is designed for students to learn the policy and governance dimensions of sustainability. We will explore different theoretical framings and frameworks such as the Anthropocene, earth system governance, resilience, and environmental justice and apply these frameworks to how agencies (city, state, federal) and community groups design and implement sustainability agendas.
Course Description
Sustainability and governance are two core elements that shape interaction and connection between society and environment shaping policy arrangements from local to global scales. The Anthropocene marks an epoch dominated by human activities driving earth system transformations including, but not limited to, climate change and its impacts. Concerns about these changes are driving policy and governance responses beyond the classical structures (e.g., nation-states, institutions) with voices from civil society progressively occupying decision-making spaces and influencing political agendas. Simultaneously, traditional administrative structures and statutory frameworks are not designed to deal with the range of climate impacts experienced by the public. This course aims to investigate alternative sustainability governance paradigms and how they will shape sustainability futures.