Students

POIR3970 – Global Environmental Politics

2024 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor/Lecturer
Jonathan Symons
Contact via Email: jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au
B256, Level 2, 25B Wally's Walk
Email to make a time - generally Thursday afternoon.
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above OR (20cp in POL or POIR or POIX units at 2000 level).
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Environmental issues are gaining prominence in both national and international politics and it is increasingly apparent that human activities are driving significant changes in our planet's environment. This unit provides a critical introduction to the theory and practice of global environmental politics and its interaction with other areas of global governance. Students will be introduced to debates in green political theory, to developing world perspectives on the environmental movement and to the ways in which environmental issues are conceptualised by major theories of international relations. Cases covered will be drawn from both Australian and international contexts. They will include climate change, geoengineering, energy security, biodiversity, human-animal relationships, food security and management of common pool resources such as forests, airsheds and fisheries.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Explain and critically evaluate theoretical and practical debates related to global environmental politics.
  • ULO2: Identify and analyse interconnections between environmental issues and broader dynamics in international politics.
  • ULO3: Discuss international institutional responses to the claims of environmental movements.
  • ULO4: Communicate information accurately and clearly on global environmental issues in oral, written and graphic forms.
  • ULO5: Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on 'environmental citizenship' and individual responsibilities concerning global environmental challenges.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.    

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, class participation notes etc)Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation in online discussion forum 25% No i) 16/08/24 11.55pm. ii) weekly ilearn participation.
Research essay. 55% No 2024-10-30
Quizzes based on weekly readings 20% No Weekly, Wednesday 11.55pm before class.

Participation in online discussion forum

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: i) 16/08/24 11.55pm. ii) weekly ilearn participation.
Weighting: 25%

 

Students will be assessed a) on their participation in the weekly discussion forums on ilearn (10%) and b) on their leadership and accompanying written submission to ilearn re one week’s activity (15%).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain and critically evaluate theoretical and practical debates related to global environmental politics.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between environmental issues and broader dynamics in international politics.
  • Discuss international institutional responses to the claims of environmental movements.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly on global environmental issues in oral, written and graphic forms.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on 'environmental citizenship' and individual responsibilities concerning global environmental challenges.

Research essay.

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: 2024-10-30
Weighting: 55%

 

Research essay requiring independent research. Essay questions and marking criteria will be provided on iLearn. Completion of task will require presentation summarising essay’s argument.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain and critically evaluate theoretical and practical debates related to global environmental politics.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between environmental issues and broader dynamics in international politics.
  • Discuss international institutional responses to the claims of environmental movements.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly on global environmental issues in oral, written and graphic forms.

Quizzes based on weekly readings

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Weekly, Wednesday 11.55pm before class.
Weighting: 20%

 

Quizzes based on weekly readings – dates and details provided on ilearn.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain and critically evaluate theoretical and practical debates related to global environmental politics.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between environmental issues and broader dynamics in international politics.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly on global environmental issues in oral, written and graphic forms.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on 'environmental citizenship' and individual responsibilities concerning global environmental challenges.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Delivery

For lecture times and classrooms please use the Class Finder tool in eStudent to see when and where your classes are being held and if they have space.Class Finder web page link: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/enrolling/create-timetable eStudent web page link: https://student1.mq.edu.au

Internal students are expected to attend the following classes each week:

Lecture: Thursday 9-11am 17WW G02 Lecture Theatre (Kirby Building - Law School).

Tutorials: Thursday. See timetable for details.

NOTE: Tutorials will begin in Week 1. 

External & OUA students:

External & OUA students are required to participate actively in discussion on the iLearn discussion forum within 6 days of each lecture (by Thursday each week -further details are given in the section on Assessment.)

The lecture is digitally recorded and can be watched live or downloaded from echo360 on iLearn. Of course you are always welcome to attend weekly lectures in person too. Lecture slides will be uploaded to ilearn each week.

Required resources:

There is one required text for this unit:

O’Neill, Kate (2016 2nd Edition) The Environment and International Relations. Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press. If you have access to a copy of the first edition (2009) that will also be sufficient.

Access to this text will be necessary in order to complete the reading quizzes. The library does have an electronic copy of this text. However, access through the library cannot be guaranteed at all times - so if you plan to rely on the library copy make sure you complete readings well ahead of quizzes being due. The textbook should also be available for purchase through Booktopia or via a variety of other online bookstores. All other unit readings will all be available on ilearn or e-reserve.

Unit Schedule

Week 1 - Class Thursday 25 July

Introduction: The Politics of the 'Anthropocene'.

*Tutorials commence in week 1 in this unit.

Week 2 - Thursday 1 August (Week 2 reading quiz to be completed on ilearn prior to class at 11.55pm on Wednesday 31 July)

International Relations Theory and Global Environmental Problems

Key case study: the Week 3-4 class activity on solar geoengineering is introduced in the lecture and tutorial this week.

Week 3 - Thursday 8 Aug (Week 3 reading quiz due 11.55pm on Wednesday 7 Aug) 

Actors: States, Professional Communities, NGOs, Multinational Corporations & the public. 

Key case study: The Montreal Protocol/ Ozone Layer Depletion.

NB: Please nominate which essay question you will address this week via the iLearn discussion forum this week.

Week 4 -  Thursday 15 Aug (Reading quiz due 11.55pm on Wednesday 14 Aug) 

International Environmental Regimes   Key case study: Whaling

**Graded class participation activity due in this week's tutorial.  Class participation notes to be submitted to ilearn by 11.55pm Friday 16 August.**

Week 5 - Thursday 22 Aug (Reading quiz due 11.55pm on Wednesday 21 Aug)

Intersecting Regimes: Environment, Trade and Security

Key case study: The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and US tariffs on Chinese solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles.

Week 6 -  Thursday 29 Aug (Reading quiz due 11.55pm on 28 Aug)

Common Pool Resources: Forests, Airsheds and Fisheries

Week 7 - Thursday 5 Sept (Reading quiz due 11.55pm on 4th Sept)

Global Public Goods: Climate change 

Week 8 -  12 September (Reading quiz due 11.55pm on 11th September).

Energy Security & Electricity Policy

_______________________________

MID SEMESTER BREAK16 to 27 September 

Week 9 - Thursday 10 October (Reading quiz due 11.55pm on Wednesday 9th Oct).

Food Security & Agriculture

Week 10 - 17 Oct (Reading quiz due 11.55pm on 16th Oct)

Biodiversity and Animal rights.

Week 11 - 24 Oct (Reading quiz due 11.55pm on 23 Oct)

Capitalism, Degrowth & Socialist Modernism 

Week 12 - 31 October - Reading week. No classes - but see ilearn for details of pre-submission essay workshops)

**Essay Due Thursday 31st October 11.55pm**

Week 13 - 7 November (reading quiz due 11.55pm on Wed 6 November)

Citizenship and political change in the Anthropocene. 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graded class participation.

Due: Weekly (Weeks 1-11 & Wk 13) Weighting: 10%

Class participation in this unit involves two components. i) Participation in role play/ negotiation activity (week 4) and submission of notes. ii) Weekly assessment of your participation in the external students' discussion board.

This assessment allows students to demonstrate that they are working continuously throughout the session to achieve the unit learning outcomes. This assessment is based on: 1) students completing their required readings prior to tutorials; 2) engaging in discussions; 3) reflective activities and application of knowledge to practical scenarios.

Estimated Student Workload

12 hours (1 hour weekly) spread from Weeks 1 to 13. 

Grading

Individual class participation will be calculated from Week 1 -13 (excluding week 12). Students will be marked based on a grading rubric, that will be explained in Week 1 and posted on iLearn. 

Feedback

Participation grades will be provided in the mid-semester break and at the end of the semester.

Extension

This assessment relies on students participating in discussion board discussion in most weeks of the semester, thus extension cannot be granted for this assessment. Students can miss two weeks of class participation or online discussion without any impact on their grade. Students who, due to unavoidable disruption, are unable to participate in the weekly discussion for 3 weeks or more can complete written make-up work via ilearn. Please only apply for special consideration in regard to class participation if an extended interruption/illness means that you must miss 3 weeks of discussion and you do not have the capacity to complete alternative written work.

 


Unit information based on version 2024.01 of the Handbook