In this course, we analyze the impact of climate change on developing countries. We look at the role of developing countries as contributors to climate change and the requests of international climate policy agreements on developing countries. Specifically, we then treat the economic and social effets of climate change in the field of agriculture and fisheries in developing countries, the effect in tourism dependent countries, the effects of CO2 policies in advanced countries on developing ountries, the nutrition and health effects of climate change in developing countries, the effects of climate change on international migration, and the conversion to renewable energy sources in developing countries.

Students will learn to link major topics in development economics (socio-economic characteristics of development countries, trade patterns, debt issues) to issue of climate change. They will learn about the requirements of international climate policies on developing countries and to assess the effect of climate change in specific economic sectors. Students will learn to screen empirical studies and data and will be better able to use information from the academic literature, international development organizations and NGOs to address the issue of climate change in developing countries. In addition, the students will permit students to develop their writing skills in academic writing through detailed guidelines and feedback. 

Students are requested to attend the course regularly. You can miss the course twice (no need to apologize). Further absence only in case of serious, documented reasons.

The main objective of the course is that students prepare in a team a small research paper. Students work in a group of 2 during the whole semester.

According to the topic of each week:

     i) all students have to prepare with the material from the reading list 

     ii) each week, one group will present a seminar paper on that topic in class

     iii) 2-3 groups prepare comments on the seminar paper of the week and present them to the class

For the last unit, all students have to prepare a short essay with proposals for climate policy strategies of developing countries.

Presentation and paper on a specific topic (groupwork) (45%)

3 Comments on other students' papers (groupwork) (25%)

Active participation in discussion in class (15%)

Short writing on recommendations for climate policy strategies of developing countries (groupwork) (15%)

Seminar papers should be elaborated in a group of 2 students. The allocation of the topics will be allocated on October 11 on Learn (Poll). More on that in the first lecture. 

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Students should ideally have passed a course on international trade before. The course is complementary to the "Specialization: Economic Development" of Joachim Becker winter term 23/24.

by mail at gabriele.tondl@wu.ac.at or after each course

It is possible to write a master thesis in the field of this course