Earth at a Crossroads: Negotiating the Politics of Global Environmental Governance
Course Description
How do nations come together to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges? Why do some international environmental agreements succeed while others falter? How do businesses, NGOs, and scientists shape global environmental policy? In this seminar, students will step into the roles of policymakers, negotiators, and advocates to explore the complex politics of global environmental governance.
We will examine how international institutions and treaties attempt to regulate environmental issues such as climate change, ozone depletion, marine resource management, and Arctic conservation—often under conditions of scientific uncertainty and competing economic interests. Students will engage with case studies that highlight the tensions between environmental regulation, trade, investment, and development. Through a combination of simulations, debates, and policy analysis, we will investigate questions such as: How do governments balance economic growth with environmental protection? What mechanisms exist to provide scientific guidance to policymakers? What role do corporations and advocacy groups play in shaping environmental policy?
Drawing on political science and environmental sciences, this course will introduce students to key theories and real-world challenges in international environmental governance. By actively participating in role-playing exercises, students will negotiate treaties, argue policy positions, and grapple with the difficulties of reaching global consensus. This hands-on approach will provide a deeper understanding of both the constraints and opportunities in tackling global environmental issues.
Meet the Instructor: Hélène Benveniste
“I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Social Sciences at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, where I study the politics and governance of global environmental challenges. My research explores how international institutions and policies shape responses to climate change, with a particular focus on climate-related human migration, global environmental governance, and the politics of decarbonization. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods drawn from political and other social sciences, I investigate questions such as how border policies influence vulnerability to climate change, how aspirational climate targets affect national policy decisions, and what drives public support for energy transitions.
"My academic path has also been shaped by direct engagement with climate policy. During the Paris Agreement negotiations, I worked as a research scientist and project manager for a scientific advisory group supporting the French climate negotiation team. Earlier in my career, I served as deputy attaché for energy at the French Embassy in Germany.”
Of related interest
INTNLREL 15N