Short description

What is the role of the European Union (EU) in global climate governance? EU displays itself as a global leader with its ambition to 'lead other countries by example' via its regional effort to combat climate change as well as climate diplomacy. Having its own experience in developing climate policies at regional level, could EU play a role of climate leader in global climate governance as well? Starting with providing background of the development of international climate policy development from Kyoto- to Paris regime, this course aims to provide an introduction of EU’s climate politics development and relevant actors in its climate governance system. By doing so, the course tries to understand the EU’s role and its climate action both at international- and regional level. Ultimately, it will discuss possibilities and challenges for EU to position itself as global climate leader in the current global climate regime and other actors.

- Çelik, F. (2022): The EU’s different faces in climate diplomacy: leadership, interests, and responsibilities, Journal of European Integration, DOI:10.1080/07036337.2022.2068538

- Parker, C. & Karlsson, C. (2017): The European Union as a global climate leader: Confronting aspiration with evidence, International Environmental Agreements, DOI 10.1007/s10784-016-9327-8

Tentative course themes (*A finalized syllabus, reading materials and a Zoom link for online sessions will be shared on Moodle.)

- Part 1: EU and the international climate regime -

20. Oct: 1) Orientation (online)

27. Oct: 2) The development of international climate regimes

 3. Nov: 3) EU's climate diplomacy at UNFCCC: Development and challenges

- Part 2: The development of EU environmental policy-making and institutions - 

10. Nov: 4) Governance approach to EU environmental policy-making

17. Nov: 5) New institutional approaches to EU governance

24. Nov: 6) History of EU climate policy and tools

- Part 3: Actors in EU's multi-level climate governance - 

 1. Dec: 7) Climate-energy security issue and EU Member States' dynamic

 8. Dec: 8) European Commission 

15. Dec: 9) European Parliament

22. Dec: 10) Local governments and cities in EU climate governance

- Part 4: EU's climate action in the world - 

12. Jan: 11) A case study: South Korea as East Asian pioneer learning from the EU? (online)

19. Jan: 12) EU Delegation in EU climate diplomacy

- Conclusion - 

 2. Feb: 13) Course wrap-up

Self-reading and active participation during the course required;

Presentation (Referat;15 minutes) + term paper (Hausarbeit; 9-10 pages);

Presentation performance and paper submission are possible both in English and German.