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Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title Climate Change Policy & Governance
Module Code POL1060 (ITS: LG5034)
Faculty Law & Government School Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 10
Description

This module offers students an advanced introduction to the governance of climate change. Part I sets the scene by elucidating the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation, introducing competing theoretical perspectives on sustainability transitions, and analysing the diversity of policy responses, actors, and levels of governance. Part II focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptation across a number of key sectors. Case studies are drawn from a range of national contexts, and the module takes an explicitly comparative perspective. Overall, the module offers students a broad survey of the evolving academic field of climate change policy and governance, and provides a basis for pursuing further research in these areas.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically interrogate competing theoretical perspectives on governance of climate change mitigation and adaptation
2. Identify key actors and their roles at different governance scales in responding to climate change
3. Analyse and appraise different policy instrument choices with respect to climate governance
4. Understand the challenges posed by climate change in key sectors and possible response to these challenges
5. Apply the theoretical and empirical insights learned to sectoral climate policy problems, and use this knowledge to undertake a policy analysis of a relevant policy


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture22No Description
Assignment Completion48No Description
Independent Study180No Description
Total Workload: 250
Section Breakdown
CRN11419Part of TermSemester 1
Coursework0%Examination Weight0%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsY
Resit CategoryRC1Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorLouise FitzgeraldModule TeacherDiarmuid Torney
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Research Paper3,000 word research paper60%n/a
Report(s)2,000 word sectoral policy analysis exercise40%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.

* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Topic 1
Introduction and overview

Topic 2
Comparative politics approaches to climate governance

Topic 3
Sociotechnical and techno-economic perspectives

Topic 4
National government in a multilevel context

Topic 5
Business, civil society and governance beyond the state

Topic 6
Policy instrument choice: emissions trading versus carbon tax

Topic 7
Electricity generation

Topic 8
Heat and transport

Topic 9
Agriculture and land use

Topic 10
Adaptation and resilience

Topic 11
Looking forward: Climate governance in turbulent times

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Paul F. Steinberg and Stacy D. VanDeveer (eds.): 2012, Comparative Environmental Politics: Theory, Practice, and Prospects, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA,
  • Kathryn Harrison and Lisa McIntosh Sundstrom (eds.): 2010, Global Commons, Domestic Decisions: The Comparative Politics of Climate Change, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA,
  • David Held, Angus Hervey and Marika Theros (eds.): 2011, The Governance of Climate Change: Science, Economics, Politics & Ethics, Polity Press, Cambridge,
  • Harriet A. Bulkeley and Peter Newell: 2015, Governing Climate Change, 2nd edition, Routledge, Abingdon,
  • Guri Bang, Arild Underdal and Steinar Andresen (eds.): 2015, The Domestic Politics of Global Climate Change: Key Actors in International Climate Cooperation, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham,
  • Rüdiger K. W. Wurzel, James Connelly and Duncan Liefferink (eds.): 2017, The European Union in International Climate Change Politics: Still Taking a Lead?, Routledge, Abingdon,
  • Karin Bäckstrand and Eva Lövbrand (eds.): 2015, Research Handbook on Climate Governance, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham,
  • Max T. Boykoff (ed.): 2010, The Politics of Climate Change: A Survey, Routledge, Abingdon,
  • Anthony Giddens: 2011, The Politics of Climate Change, 2nd edition, Polity Press, Cambridge,


Articles:
None
Other Resources

None

<< Back to Module List View 2024/25 Module Record for LG5034