This course examines contemporary debates and challenges in climate policy. It begins with an overview of the historical development of environmental and climate policy, followed by an introduction to major policy instruments, including regulations, taxes, subsidies, and emissions trading systems. These tools will be considered from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Students will explore successful examples of past environmental regulation, including policies addressing acid rain and ozone depletion, and assess what these cases can teach us about climate policy. The course then turns to current policy issues, including fossil fuel subsidies, co-benefits of climate policy, climate justice and the just transition, climate finance and loss and damage, carbon border adjustments and international trade, and clean-energy industrial policy. Students will also examine public attitudes toward climate policy and analyze the political, economic, and social factors that shape whether policies succeed or fail.

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

• Explain key concepts and contemporary debates in environmental economics and climate policy.
• Compare major environmental and climate policy instruments and evaluate their strengths, limitations, and distributional effects.
• Apply economic theory to assess how environmental and climate policies operate in practice.
• Analyze case studies of climate mitigation and adaptation policies across different sectors and jurisdictions.
• Identify the political, economic, and institutional factors that contribute to the success or failure of climate policies.
• Read and critically interpret accessible scientific articles, policy reports, and empirical evidence related to environmental and climate issues.
• Develop and communicate evidence-based arguments about current climate policy challenges.

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

The course uses a blended learning format that combines in-person instruction with asynchronous online learning. In-class sessions will include lectures, discussions, group activities, and the application of course concepts to policy examples and case studies.

The asynchronous online component will allow students to engage with additional materials at their own pace. Activities may include watching recorded lectures, contributing to online discussions, completing assigned readings, and submitting short exercises or assignments.

Throughout the term, students will develop an individual or group project related to a contemporary environmental or climate policy issue. The project will be presented at the end of the course. Students will receive individualized feedback at key stages of the project’s development.

Participation in class 15%

Participation online 15%

Quizzes 40%

Own project 30%

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