GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE

概要

What kind of international institutions exist to meet the challenges of global environmental problems facing the world today? How do they operate to take decisions on policies concerning the global environment? Bearing in mind those questions, a series of lectures will be provided to students in order to enhance their knowledge and understanding of how global environmental challenges have been addressed by the international community over the past half a century, through international organizations, international treaties and other institutional processes. In particular, a focus will be placed on the dynamic processes of international decision-making and institutional development within the United Nations system and multilateral environmental agreements. The lectures will be clustered into seven segments of themes, each consists of two classes held on the same day, as follows: (1) A brief background of global environmental problems and the existing institutions; (2) United Nations system and global environmental governance; (3) Development of international environmental law; (4) Intergovernmental negotiations to prepare multilateral environmental agreements; (5) Intergovernmental process to develop international environmental policies and means to implement those policies; (6) Global governance and the global environment: synergy, cooperation, coordination and interlinkages; (7) Reconsidering institutions for global environmental governance.

目標

Students will gain in-depth knowledge about international organizations, multilateral treaties and other international processes in the field of the environment, and enhance understanding of how they operate to address global environmental challenges facing the world today. It enables students to consider key points and analyze main issues concerning environmental governance at the global level, aiming at sustainable development.

授業外の学習

Before class: Before each cluster of two classes on the inter-related subjects to be held on a given day, students are encouraged to read relevant materials, such as documents, publications, or articles, as specified at a preceding class, and to submit a reading response to raise questions or provide comments. Before the first class, in order to facilitate the understanding of the state of the global environment, students are encouraged to read “UNEP Global Environmental Outlook 6: Summary for Policymakers”. https://www.unep.org/resources/assessment/global-environment-outlook-6-summary-policymakers Reading materials for the following classes will be advised at least one week before the class in which the pertinent subjects are discussed, and for which a reading response may be submitted. After class: After each cluster of two classes on the inter-related subjects, students should take a brief set of quizzes, in order to ascertain their understanding of the topics discussed during the classes. Preparation of a final report: The proposed theme of a final report is “A future shape of international institutions for the protection of our only planet”. The theme is identical to the topic of the last class. Each student is expected to make a brief presentation on the report at the class. The report should be built upon discussions held during the classes, and incorporate pertinent points. Students are encouraged to start preparing the final report early, in parallel to the ongoing classes.

所要時間: 190min.