POLS/ENVIR 384: Global Environmental Politics
Summer 2026
Format: Asynchronous
Instructor: Kayla Morton (kem95@uw.edu)
How do governments respond to environmental issues? This course explores the politics of environmental problems that cross national borders, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. We will examine how states, NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations address environmental challenges through cooperation and negotiation.
This class will use basic international relations (IR) and political economy concepts and frameworks to think about environmental problems. Students with interests in international relations, environmental studies, or global justice will find opportunities to deepen their understanding of how power and policy intersect in shaping the future of the planet.
Students will learn about different types of environmental challenges, global governance structures, and policy tools, including international treaties, market-based solutions, and grassroots activism. The course also examines how history, economics, and global inequalities shape environmental politics, with attention to power imbalances between the Global North and South. Case studies and real-world examples will help students connect theory to practice and develop justice-centered perspectives on current and future environmental governance.
Assignments
Your grade in this course is based on diverse, low-stakes assignments and a final research paper. This provides me with an opportunity to assess your progress, participation, and learning in a holistic manner. There will be weekly discussion posts, reading memos, and a final essay.
You'll receive feedback on assignments throughout the quarter and feedback on the final research paper topic before the full draft is due. The assignments are intended to help you stay engaged with the course content and build skills to succeed on the final essay.