ENS3050 Environmental Politics

Advanced · 1 credit · NAT - Natural Resources

Description: Students will investigate the relationships and roles of the local, provincial and federal governments with respect to the environment. Students will also examine the global community’s role and the cooperation between international governments in working toward a sustainable world.
Prerequisite: None
Supporting courses: ENS2050: Environmental Ethics

Outcomes The student will:

1 identify a variety of current and potential environmental and political challenges, including: • biodiversity • shift from local to global concerns • climate change • pollution and poverty in developing nations • effects of industrial chemicals and food additives • globalized world and economy
2 analyze challenges in developing, influencing and implementing environmental policies
- 2.1 identify how government structure affects developing, influencing and implementing environmental policies
- 2.2 describe a variety of principles that guide the development and implementation of environmental policies; e.g., humility principle, precautionary principle, public participation principle, human- rights principles, environmental justice principle
- 2.3 assess the impact of individual actions on developing and implementing environmental policy
- 2.4 investigate trends in the structure of organizations (e.g., businesses, governments, NGOs) that positively affect the development and implementation of environmental policies
3 assess the impact of the legal system in developing, influencing and implementing environmental laws
- 3.1 define environmental law
- 3.2 identify a variety of environmental laws, considering:
  - 3.2.1 statutory laws
  - 3.2.2 administrative laws
  - 3.2.3 common law
- 3.3 assess the effectiveness of environmental lawsuits
4 analyze the roles of environmental groups and organizations in developing, influencing and implementing environmental policies
- 4.1 assess the roles of major environmental organizations; e.g., monitoring environmental activities, lobbying for environmental laws, regulations and policies, collaboration with industries
- 4.2 assess the roles of grassroots environmental groups; e.g., monitoring environmental activities, lobbying for environmental laws, regulations and policies, partnership with industries
- 4.3 investigate the success of environmental groups and organizations in developing, influencing and implementing environmental policies
- 4.4 identify the goals and roles of groups opposing the development and implementation of environmental policies
5 assess the possibility of global environmental policies
- 5.1 analyze the validity of “environmental security” in relation to national security and economic security
- 5.2 explore the roles of international environmental organizations in the development and implementation of global environmental policies; e.g., United Nations Environmental Programme, UN Development Programme, World Bank, World Conservation Union
- 5.3 investigate the ability of international trade agreements to encourage sustainable development
6 explore whether it is possible to transition Alberta to a more environmentally sustainable political system in the near future and defend a position
- 6.1 identify some of the main components of an environmentally literate political system; e.g., respect for all life, understanding and knowledge of Earth’s ecological services, evaluation of environmental consequences
- 6.2 identify methods for acquiring and developing environmental wisdom
- 6.3 investigate lifestyle changes and choices that can affect environmentally sustainable political systems
7 demonstrate basic competencies
- 7.1 demonstrate fundamental skills to:
  - 7.1.1 communicate
  - 7.1.2 manage information
  - 7.1.3 use numbers
  - 7.1.4 think and solve problems
- 7.2 demonstrate personal management skills to:
  - 7.2.1 demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviours
  - 7.2.2 be responsible
  - 7.2.3 be adaptable
  - 7.2.4 learn continuously
  - 7.2.5 work safely
- 7.3 demonstrate teamwork skills to:
  - 7.3.1 work with others
  - 7.3.2 participate in projects and tasks
8 create a transitional strategy to accommodate personal changes and build personal values
- 8.1 identify short-term and long-term goals
- 8.2 identify steps to achieve goals