Place, change, environmentLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

After completing the course the student Understands the preconditions for environmental policy changes in the relations of societies to their physical environment Is able to characterise the local factors that influence the success of environmental policy goals Is able to use examples to illustrate the theoretical debates on transformations that are meaningful from the environmental policy perspective Understands the meaning of multi-disciplinary conceptual and theoretical discussions relalated to enviornmental policies and politics This course develops the following generic skills: ethics, leadership and development, internationality, sustainability and responsibility, critical thinking, identification and development of expertise.

Content

Achievement of transformations that are under control societally is a vital challenge for environmental policy. The purpose of politics within policy making and in civil society is to seek to change a certain societal and environmental condition towards a desired direction. The focus on the course is on the ways in which societal change can be conceptualized in a way that is meaningful in an environmental policy sense. On the other hand, considering any local perspectives is a crucial step for the achievement of environmental policy goals. The course examines through a local perspective and across societal and cultural contexts various dimensions of environmental politics and explores challenges related to environmental policies as well as their possible solutions.

Materials

Lectures and materials delivered during the lectures. Literature for the essay. Two books are chosen: Wilson, Geoff (2012) Community resilience and environmental transitions; Hiedanpää, J. Suvantola, L. ja Naskali, A. (Toim.) (2010) Hyödyllinen luonto – Ekosysteemipalvelut hyvinvointimme perustana; Paulsson, A. Sørensen, C.-H. (2020) Shaping Smart Mobility Futures: Governance and Policy Instruments in Times of Sustainability Transitions; Jensen, J., Cashmore, M. Späth, P. (Toim.) (2018) The Politics of Urban Sustainability Transitions. Knowledge, Power and Governance. Berkes, F (2021) Advanced Introduction to Community-based Conservation.

Further information

The course is open to all students

Execution methods

Lectures and materials delivered during the lectures.

Accomplishment methods

Two options: lectures (20 h) + materials delivered during the lectures and exam or essay based on the literature listed below Contact the responsible teacher prior to starting the essay.