F1ES 4340 - Tackling Climate Negotiations

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course provides a comprehensive and practical‑oriented understanding of the global politics, economics, and diplomacy of climate change. It blends lectures, interactive discussions, workshops, and simulation-based learning to help students understand both the theory and practice of climate policy. Building on the historical evolution of global climate governance, the course equips students with the tools to analyze negotiation frameworks, evaluate climate policies, and understand the interests and strategies of key actors, from major emitters to vulnerable countries in the Global South.

The course provides a critical overview on the role of multilateralism to tackle the climate issue. It equips students with a concrete understanding of the pros and cons of multilateralism, the position of different parties on international climate issues, unveiling industrial and economic motivations underpinning negotiation positions on the topic and the broad evolution of the climate narrative.

The course places strong emphasis on:

● Understanding the scientific, environmental, and economic foundations of the climate crisis.

● Analyzing the evolving COP process starting from the Paris Agreement and ending up in Belem.

● Practicing negotiation skills through guided simulations.

● Examining the central role of climate finance in COP negotiations.

● Providing students with an understanding of the evolution of carbon markets and Article 6 mechanisms

● Exploring the role of public–private partnerships and sustainable finance.

● Understanding the diplomatic perspectives and priorities of the Global South and climate change in sustainable development

● Engaging with external experts through high-level guest lectures embedded in several modules.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

Class participation (60%): active engagement in workshops and simulation

Final essay (2,000 words) (40%): topic chosen by student and approved by lecturer