Climate Change Leadership: Power, Politics and Culture

About the course

Climate change leadership is often mentioned in both news media and by politicians themselves, but what does it really entail? What kind of knowledge and skills define a climate change leader and how can they be learned? What kind of political, cultural and psychological resources is lacking in present initiatives?

This course discusses the fundamentals of effective and functioning climate change leadership from a global perspective. Starting from an analysis of how the climate has changed during the planet's long geological history and how it plays a central role in the life of the biosphere, the course looks at why there are comparatively few effective responses to the issues we are facing.

Then the societal and cultural effects of climate change are discussed, looking at how the use of fossil fuel has transformed modern societies and cultures and taking into account broader perspectives such as ethics, justice or gender. With the knowledge gained during the first part of the course, a framework for a working climate change leadership is critically looked at from a political, power and societal perspective.

The final part of the course is devoted to applying this framework in case studies, with a focus on both a global and local level, trying to identify different strategies for mitigation and adaptation in terms of functioning climate change leadership.

The course is offered at CEMUS, Centre for Environment and Development Studies, in a student-led educational model where students actively contribute to shaping the courses and their content, creating a student-centred learning environment.