Policymaking for Climate and Circular Economy: Project Course (2.5 ECTS credits)

About the course

In the wake of the accelerating pace of ongoing sustainability transitions, environmental policy is becoming increasingly extensive, complex and contested. The aim of this course is to give participants hands-on practice in analysing environmental policy instruments and tools, building a solid foundation for engaging with them skilfully in their own profession or in their future work and life. A secondary aim is to learn to navigate the paradoxical information environment we find ourselves in, with better tools (such as AI) for seeking out information but at the same time a growing spread of disinformation. The course is delivered in connection with the course FSC005 “Policymaking for Climate and Circular Economy” (the prerequisite is to be registered for or have passed FSC005).

Learning objectives

On completing the course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

1. describe, and give concrete examples of, how environmental policy instruments work and how they affect different stakeholders in society
2. analyse a question related to the climate challenge or the circular economy, and identify strategies for deepening their knowledge and skills in the area

Skills and abilities

3. plan and carry out a problem-based project related to the climate challenge or the circular economy
4. use AI tools* to improve learning processes (such as asking for tailored explanations), and apply text- and image-generating AI as a general working tool for simpler tasks
5. communicate project results orally, visually and in writing

Content

The course content aims to provide hands-on experience of analysing environmental policy instruments, or the views of different stakeholders on them.

The course offers the opportunity for deeper study and practical application within three areas:

Practical application of a selection of environmental policy instruments for challenges such as climate change, the energy crisis, pollution and the management of scarce resources. The instruments that may be relevant to examine include taxes, subsidies, direct regulation, emissions trading, congestion charges, information and more. Principles for a fair distribution of global responsibility, theories on the choice and design of policy instruments, climate negotiations and a description of the policymaking process are also typically touched on by the projects.

Analytical methods for evaluating the impact and effectiveness of different instruments on different actors in society.

The application of artificial intelligence to strengthen your own learning and its use in analysing environmental policy instruments, or in exploring different stakeholders’ perspectives on them.

Organisation

The course uses a combination of online sessions, digital learning materials, individual assignments and group work. It is built around four online sessions, which include an introductory kick-off, an introduction to AI and learning as well as project work, a peer-review session, and a presentation of the final project and results.

Participants will work individually and in groups to strengthen their own learning and to develop skills in working collaboratively on project work within the course’s focus area.

Participants will have access to the online resources for the course FSC005, which runs in parallel and is organised into structured modules on a learning platform. A guide to improved study technique, introducing how artificial intelligence tools can be used to enhance learning, will be provided. This course (2.5 ECTS credits) is intended as an in-depth complement for students who are taking, or have previously taken, the course FSC005, “Policymaking for Climate and Circular Economy”.