Environmental Policy and Sustainability

Political Science — International Relations 6.0 ECTS 2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Year
1

Academic year
2026-2027

Code
02058414

Subject Area
Political Science — International Relations

Language of Instruction
English

Other Languages of Instruction
Portuguese

Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face

Duration
SEMESTRIAL

ECTS Credits
6.0

Type
Compulsory

Level
2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Recommended Prerequisites

Knowledge of academic writing. Fluency in English and Portuguese.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical-practical classes, based on the exposure of content and discussion with students around texts considered essential to the themes under analysis.

This interaction is complemented by the tutorial guidance available to students, enabling them to clarify doubts, receive guidance on preparing assignments and discuss issues raised during the course of the semester.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students are expected to understand the role of the oceans in the global environment, as well as the main environmental challenges faced by the oceans in different regions of the globe. Students are also expected to understand the main environmental policies developed in different regions of the globe to deal with these challenges, as well as their main effects and complexities. Students should also understand the challenges of ocean sustainability and their connection to different forms of ocean governance

Work Placement(s)

Syllabus

1. Oceans in the global environmental policies

2. Oceans and Earth System Governance

3. Climate change at sea: from science to governance

4. Coastal communities and biodiversity protection

5. Sea-level rising and Small Island States’sovereignty

6. Food security and sustainability

7. Coastal risks and extreme weather events

8. Global enviromental governance of the oceans: Perspectives and challenges

Head Lecturer(s)

Professor a Definir - Faculdade de Economia

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Mini Tests: 30.0%
Research work: 70.0%

Bibliography

James Fargo Balliett (2010) Oceans: Environmental Issues, Global Perspectives. Routledge.

Paul G. Harris (2022) Routledge Handbook on Marine Governance and Global Environmental Change. Routledge.

Justin Alger (2021) Conserving the Oceans: The Politics of Large Marine Protected Areas. Oxford University Press.

Paul G. Harris (2019) Climate Change and Ocean Governance: Politics and Policy for Threatened Areas. Cambridge University Press.

John Hannigan (2016) The Geopolitics of Deep Oceans. Polity.

Davor Vidas and Peter Johan Schei (2011) The World Ocean in Globalisation: Climate Change, Sustainabile Fisheries, Biodiversity, Shipping, Regional Issues. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.

Biermann, Frank. (2022) “Earth System Governance: World Politics in the Post-Environmental Age.” In Routledge Handbook of Global Environmental Politics, 2nd ed. Routledge.