Climate policy is rapidly reshaping economies, industries, and international cooperation. This course examines how climate policies are designed, implemented, and evaluated, beginning with the historical development of climate policy and the evolution of international climate agreements, including the institutional framework of global climate governance.

A central focus of the course is the analysis of major climate policy instruments, including regulations, carbon taxes, subsidies, emissions trading systems, and complementary policy measures. Particular attention is given to climate policy in the European Union, including the European Green Deal, the EU Emissions Trading System for energy and industry (ETS1), the new emissions trading system for buildings and road transport (ETS2), and the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

Students will assess how these instruments function in theory and practice, compare their effectiveness, efficiency, distributional consequences, and political feasibility, and examine how different measures interact within broader policy packages. Historical examples of environmental regulation, including policies addressing acid rain and ozone depletion, will be used to identify lessons for contemporary climate policy.

The course also addresses current climate policy issues, including fossil fuel subsidies, the co-benefits of climate action, climate finance and loss and damage, clean-energy industrial policy, and innovation. Students will examine public attitudes toward climate policy and analyze the political, economic, social, and institutional factors that shape policy success or failure.

The final part of the course focuses on case studies of climate change mitigation and adaptation, allowing students to apply theoretical concepts and policy evaluation criteria to real-world challenges.

After completing this course, students will be able to

• explain the historical development of climate policy and the role of international climate agreements
• compare major climate policy instruments, including regulations, carbon pricing, subsidies, and emissions trading
• analyze key elements of EU climate policy, including the European Green Deal, ETS1, ETS2, and the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
• evaluate climate policy instruments in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, distributional effects, and political feasibility
• assess how different policy measures interact within broader climate policy packages
• identify the political, economic, social, and institutional factors that shape policy success or failure
• apply policy evaluation criteria to case studies of climate change mitigation and adaptation
• critically interpret policy reports, empirical evidence, and accessible scientific literature on climate policy

Please note that attendance of at least 80% is mandatory for courses of the type “PI” at WU.

• Inputs by the lecturers
• Group discussions
• Presentations
• Video lectures

• Active participation in class (20%)
• Own project (20%)
• Quizzes (30%)
• Final exam (30%)

If you have a valid registration for the lecture, but will not participate, please deregister during the registration period of LPIS. Your place will be available for other students.
During the registration period, free places are filled according to the “first-come, first-served” principle.
After the end of the registration period, the number of places is increased and students on the waiting list will be registered for the lecture. Students in the Specialization-program will be added first, should places remain, they will be filled by BaWiSo-students based on their progress in their studies.

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