International Environmental Policy

Hosted by the Australian National University
5 – 22 July, 2011
Students must arrive by 12.00pm, Monday 4 July. Students will be able to check into their accommodation from Saturday 2 July.

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• Course Description
• Field Trip
  
• Target Audience
  
• Delivery Method, Exams & Learning Outcomes
  
• Where You Will Stay
  
• Costs
• Further Information

Course Description

International Environmental Policy focuses on the dynamic and rapidly expanding field of international environmental policy. International environmental policy has grown dramatically over the last three decades, driven by concerns over unprecedented and large-scale global environmental change, including climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, marine degradation, and expanding trade and consumption. International environmental policy now directly and indirectly affects the behaviors and decisions of governments, corporations, NGOs, local communities and individuals.

This course will incorporate lectures, including external speakers from contexts such as NGOs, corporations and government, and a range of learning approaches such as peer learning, small group seminars, panel discussions, workshops, and a simulated “Conference of the Parties”. The emphasis is on understanding the real-world dynamics of policy formation and debate. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from areas including ecology, law, economics, international relations and politics.

Fenner School, ANU: 5 – 15 July

The first 10 days will begin with orientation to the Fenner School, the ANU and Canberra, assisted by Fenner School students who have participated in the IARU GSP program overseas. Against the background of building networks among IARU students, this part of the course focuses on the intellectual foundations of the topics that are the focus of learning in the course and of the issues to be considered, including:

• global dimensions of environmental degradation;
• international cooperation: why do we need it, and why is it difficult?
• what is IEP? who are the main actors, and how does it work?
• where did it come from? its growth and development over recent decades;
• the policy-making process: how does an issue move from a local concern to international agreement?

Kioloa Coastal Campus: 16 – 19 July

The next four days will be spent at the ANU Kioloa Coastal Campus, where we will continue to explore the major themes of the course, including:
• what do we protect? tensions between conservation and human/economic development;
• who decides? equity and power in international decision-making;
• when do we act? conflicts around knowledge, science, and uncertainty;
• what strategies will work? "command and control" vs. market-based approaches.

Fenner School, ANU: 20 – 22 July

We then return to the ANU where we integrate, both in the classroom and through individual/group work, the principal issues, directions and debates within IEP. We examine:

• dynamics between “North” and “South” – developed and developing countries;
• trade, globalization and the environment;
• the role of corporations;
• the rise of new governance approaches: “governance without governments”.

These debates and issues will be explored through analysis of specific international environmental policy regimes, such as those on ozone, climate change, or biodiversity; and of topical case studies, such as biofuels and deforestation; biopiracy and indigenous knowledge; and genetically modified organisms and international trade. The program also draws on contributions from leading ANU researchers in policy and international relations, and leading public sector practitioners.

This course will be conducted by Mr Ian Fry.

Field Trip

The course will include a field trip to the ANU Kioloa Campus. The trip is an opportunity to engage in interactive activities in a relaxed environment, as well as to explore local indigenous culture and environmental management and the beautiful beaches and wildlife of the south coast.

Field trip days involve approximately 3 contact hours and 3 hours of study per day. Casual clothing suitable for outdoor wear for the Kioloa Coastal Campus period is advisable.

Target Audience

Students of this course are expected to be studying at senior undergraduate (third) or Honors (fourth) year, or postgraduate (Master) level.

All students must be genuinely interested in engaging with international policy and governance perspectives on a range of environmental issues.

The course is suitable for students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including the sciences (pure and applied), social sciences and the arts, law, economics, and Asian or African studies; and particularly the disciplinary areas of geography, biology, sustainability science, international relations and political science.

No particular academic background is assumed; indeed the diversity of backgrounds is part of the rich learning environment of the course. Activities and assessment are structured to encourage students to draw on their particular skills and experience.

All classes, activities and assessment are conducted in English; students require excellent English language skills in reading, writing and speaking, as the course deals with a range of high-level material and a diversity of assessment tasks that draw on the range of communication skills.

Delivery Method, Exams & Learning Outcomes

This course runs over 18 days, four days of which are a field trip to the ANU Kioloa Coastal Campus. Weekdays at the ANU involve 4-5 contact hours, with an additional 3-4 hours work required per day. Three days (including a weekend) involve no teaching, but students will carry out a research assignment during this period, involving about 25 hours of work. Field-trip days involve approximately 3 contact hours and 3 hours of study per day.

Assessment will include a wide range of activities including peer learning, student-facilitated tutorials, small group work, individual research and a mini “Conference of the Parties”. Planned assessment includes:

• Class poster and presentations (10%),
• Written case study (30%),
• Peer-assessed tutorial facilitation (5%),
• Participation (10%)
• Learning portfolio*( 45%).

* This includes a mini “Conference of the Parties” (10%) and tutorial facilitation (10%), which contribute to the overall 45%.

Accommodation

4 – 15 July, Bruce Hall, ANU
Students will stay in single rooms that include a single bed, wardrobe, desk, chair and washbasin. The rooms are centrally heated and carpeted and are amongst the largest rooms available on the ANU campus. Toilet and shower facilities are located on each floor.

15 – 19 July, Kioloa Coastal Campus
The ANU Kioloa Campus is located near Bawley Point on the New South Wales south coast. This historic rural property extends from the beach through coastal dunes to farmland and forests on the inland range of hills. The Kioloa property was given in perpetuity to The Australian National University in 1975 for the express purpose of conducting field teaching and research. Accommodation at Kioloa is in multi-room cabins with shared facilities.

19 – 23 July, University House, ANU
Students will stay in hotel-style accommodation at University House for the last three nights of the course. Accommodation is in single room, which includes private bathroom facilities. A buffet breakfast is included in the cost of accommodation, however students will need to source their own lunch and dinner. A wide range of modestly priced eating establishments are available on-campus and around the university.

Costs

*Note: All figures are estimates only.

Tuition fee: The tuition fee for IARU partner students will be sponsored by ANU.

Accommodation: AUD 1250 (Includes all meals, except for lunch and dinner at University House. A number of cafes and restaurants are available both on-campus and close by that students may wish to utilize during this period, including a cafeteria style bistro cafe at University House.)

Field trip: AUD 500 (Includes all transport, meals and accommodation at Kioloa Coastal Campus)

Living expenses: AUD 450 (This includes an estimate of AUD 150 for meals - lunch and dinner on 20, 21 and 22 July plus AUD 100 per week as spending money.)

Further Information

For further information about this course, contact iaru.gsp@anu.edu.au.