Climate change in international perspective

Description

Intervenante : Melanie MEUNIER, Maître de Conférences, Sciences Po Strasbourg

Avec une intervention de Cécile HANOUNE, DG CLIM, Commission Européenne

This course will examine the state of the world in terms of climate change and focus on the response of three world leaders: the European Union, the United States and China.  First, we will survey the current context and trends: temperature rise, sea level rise, glacier melt, biodiversity, human population and consumption of natural resources. Secondly, we will turn our attention to what has been done at the international level to reduce emissions: the effectiveness of a selection of international agreements (UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement), as well as differing regional strategies North/South, and vulnerabilities (eg. Small Island Developing States). Then, we will explore and compare the records (greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, etc.), goals (reduce ecological footprint), and progress of the three leaders.

Interactive activities (debates, talk shows, mock trials & international conferences) will take place during most sessions. Students will be asked to do some research and explore solutions to specific cases, and encouraged to share their ideas and debate the merits of different approaches. 

Syllabus

I. Climate change: current context and trends (IPCC, EDGAR, NOAA)

1. Human activity: driver of global warming: Historical level of CO2

2. NASA Vital signs of the planet, IPCC’s 5 scenarios of future emissions

3. Climate action game, introduction of oral performances

II. International cooperation

1. Tragedy of the Commons: Garret Hardin, Elinor Ostrom: sustainable shared use of resources

2. International agreements: UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement

3. Regional strategies North/South and vulnerabilities (eg. Small Island Developing States)

4. Rethinking the framing of adaptation to climate change

III. European Union: climate change policies

1. Current climate situation, important dates in policy development

2. European Green deal, results, projections

3. Student oral performance (talk show, negotiation or trial)

IV. United States: climate change policies

1. Current climate situation, important dates in policy development

2. Trump administration’s dismantling of Inflation Reduction Act, results, projections

3. Student oral performance (talk show, negotiation or trial)

V. China: climate change policies

1. Current climate situation, important dates in policy development

2. Centralized decision-making: five-year plans, Road and Belt Initiative: results, projections

3. Student oral performance (talk show, negotiation or trial)

VI. Climate change solutions

1. Financial and technology transfers to developing countries

2. Ecocide: supra law to hold heads of state and CEOs accountable, climate activism

3. International response to the Trump administration

4. Student oral performance (talk show, negotiation or trial)