Бакалавриат
2026/2027
Экологическая политика и устойчивое развитие
Статус:
Курс по выбору (Международная программа «Международные отношения и глобальные исследования»)
Кто читает:
Факультет мировой экономики и мировой политики
Где читается:
Факультет мировой экономики и мировой политики
Когда читается:
4-й курс, 1, 2 модуль
Охват аудитории:
для своего кампуса
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
3
Контактные часы:
40
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This course provides an interdisciplinary examination of the principles, policies, and practices shaping sustainable development and environmental governance. Over 10 weeks, students will explore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities presented by climate change, biodiversity loss, human rights, and economic transformation. The course delves into the evolution and implementation of international and national climate policies, examines corporate strategies in addressing environmental concerns, and highlights the role of sustainable financing in achieving global development goals.
Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and practical exercises, students will gain a robust understanding of the interconnectedness of environmental and social factors. Topics include international climate frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, the role of biodiversity and water security in sustainability, the integration of human rights into environmental policy, and the functioning of international carbon markets. The course also addresses the increasing importance of corporate climate and social responsibility as well as the methodologies behind corporate sustainability ratings.
By the end of this course, students will have developed the analytical tools to evaluate environmental policies, understand the dynamics of sustainable financing, and engage with contemporary debates on sustainable development. This course is essential for students aspiring to careers in environmental consultancy, policy-making, corporate sustainability, or international development.
Learning Objectives
- 1. Give an overview of the current environmental policies at international, national, and corporate levels, using case studies and real-world examples. 2. Provide insights into international frameworks, carbon markets, and corporate strategies for fostering sustainability and reducing environmental impact. 3. Highlight the importance of human rights and a special role of indigenous peoples in preserving the environment. 4. Build skills in sustainability reporting, policy design, and the evaluation of corporate ESG performance metrics.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Be able to give an overview of the current environmental policies at international, national, and corporate levels, using case studies and real-world examples. To provide insights into international frameworks, carbon markets, and corporate strategies for fostering sustainability and reducing environmental impact. To highlight the importance of human rights and a special role of indigenous peoples in preserving the environment.
Course Contents
- Lecture 1 and Lecture 2. Introduction to Sustainable Development
- Lecture 3. International Climate Policy
- Seminar 1. Introduction to Sustainable Development
- Lecture 4. Climate Policy at the Country Level
- Seminar 2. International Climate Change Policy
- Lecture 5. Climate Agenda in Corporations
- Seminar 3. Climate policy on Country Level
- Carbon Markets
- Seminar 4. Climate Policy on Corporate Level
- Lecture 7. Biodiversity and Water Issues
- Seminar 5. Carbon Markets
- Lecture 8. Sustainable cities and Circular Economy
- Seminar 6. Biodiversity and Water Issues
- Lecture 9. Human Rights and Environmental Sustainability
- Seminar 7. Sustainable cities and Circular Economy
- Lecture 10. ESG Ratings and Corporate Sustainability Reporting
- Seminar 8. Human Rights and Environmental Sustainability
- Seminar 9. ESG Ratings and Corporate Sustainability Reporting
- Seminar 10. Final presentations
Assessment Elements
- Seminar participationActive participation in class is essential as the learning process will be richest as more people become involved in the conversation and debate. By the end of every seminar the point will be given to each student who attended and contributed to the discussion in the following format: 1– if a student attended the class without active participation (passive learning); 2 – if a student attended a class and answered only once or twice, but with minor mistakes; 3 – if a student attended a class, answered on several occasions (structurally, with arguments) without mistakes based on materials provided for the seminar; 4 – if a student attended a class, answered on several occasions (structurally, with arguments) without mistakes and added extra information from the sources not listed in seminar's reading list. By the end of the course the instructor will provide a final mark for the seminar's participation calculated as an average mark for all the seminars.
- Final presentation. At the end of the course, students will complete a group project and present it during the final class. Each group will select a country and examine a major environmental or sustainable development challenge relevant to that country. The presentation should define the problem, explain its main causes and environmental, social and economic consequences, and assess the policies and institutions established to address it. Students should analyse the interests and roles of the main stakeholders, evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of existing policy measures, and formulate evidence-based recommendations. The analysis should draw on the concepts and policy frameworks discussed during the course and be supported by graphs, indicators and data from reliable international and national sources. The projects will be prepared in mini-groups and presented in a 10–12-minute PowerPoint presentation during the final class. Following the presentation, students will answer questions about their analysis, evidence and conclusions. Each group will receive a single grade for the presentation and the Q&A.
- Lecture quizzesSeveral lectures will also include obligatory electronic quizzes based on the course materials. All quizzes may only be completed during class time and cannot be retaken.
- Final examThere will be an obligatory oral exam taken on the exam week in December. One month before the final exam date, the instructor will provide a list of 20 questions covering the course content. During the exam, each student will be assigned two questions and will have 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to respond. The instructor may ask additional follow-up questions related to other course topics if necessary. The exam can be retaken if a student fails to pass it for the first time of due to the valid cause of absence on the Final exam date. The procedure stays the same as for the Final exam.
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 2nd module0.1 * Lecture quizzes + 0.25 * Final presentation + 0.25 * Seminar participation + 0.4 * Final exam
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- A short introduction to climate change, Eggleton, T., 2013
- Carbon finance : the financial implications of climate change, Labatt, S., 2007
- Cities and climate change, Bulkeley, H., 2013
- Climate change : a guide for corporates, Stoffberg, H., 2009
- Climate change : causes, effects, and solutions, Hardy, J. T., 2003
- Climate change economics : why international accords fail, Kooten van, G. C., 2004
- Filho, Walter & Adamson, K.R. & Dunk, Rachel & Azeiteiro, Ulisses & Illingworth, Samuel & Alves, Fátima. (2016). Implementing Climate Change Adaptation in Cities and Communities: Integrating Strategies and Educational Approaches. 10.1007/978-3-319-28591-7.
- Stocker, T. F., Qin, D., Plattner, G.-K., Tignor, M. M. B., Allen, S. K., Boschung, J., Nauels, A., Xia, Y., Bex, V., & Midgley, P. M. (2013). Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis ; Summary for Policymakers, Technical Summary and Frequently Asked Questions ; Summary for Policymakers: A report of Working Group I of the IPCC ; Technical Summary: A report accepted by Working Group I of the IPCC but not approved in detail ; The Physical Science Basis.
- Walter Leal Filho, Jelena Barbir, & Richard Preziosi. (2019). Handbook of Climate Change and Biodiversity. Springer.
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Climate change and human mobility : global challenges to the social sciences, , 2012
- Climate change and human security : the challenge to local governance under rapid coastal urbanization, Redclift, M. R., 2011