International Environmental Governance

What kinds of rules, agreements, organizations, and processes underpin the global community's efforts to address environmental challenges? How do these institutions arise and interconnect, and how can we design them more effectively? We will explore these questions through foundational theory, attention to current policy dilemmas, and engagement with guest speakers on the front lines of environmental policymaking and implementation. Drawing on the instructors' active research areas, we will emphasize forest and river basin management challenges in Latin America, though students are encouraged to contribute experiences from a range of geographies and policy arenas. Having gained an understanding of the environmental institutional landscape and its current challenges, students will be better-equipped for careers and/or further study related to international environmental governance and policy.