PO1PCC: Politics of Climate Change

Module code: PO1PCC

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr David Marshall, email: d.j.marshall@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 7 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Climate change is the defining issue of this century with a range of severe consequences predicted. This module introduces students to important political challenges and debates on climate change, analysing how and why decisions are made as well as the consequences and underlying ethical issues. The module is designed and taught in such a way as to reflect the importance and relevance of climate change across the wider discipline of political science, which includes comparative politics, international relations and political theory. This will be achieved through analysing climate change across a number of interconnected settings, including conflict, international negotiations, climate justice, public opinion, party politics, and the making of government policy. At the end of the course students will have developed a clear understanding of the politics and contested nature of sustainable climate solutions. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of how political processes, both international and grassroots, shape our responses to climate change;
2. Define the normative implications of potential solutions to climate change;
3. Work in a team setting to critically evaluate data related to the module;
4. Present arguments and ideas clearly and persuasively to academic and policy orientated audiences;
5. Apply the logic and theoretical understanding developed in this module to a range of environmental issues and contemporary public debates.

Module content

The module introduces students to a range of contemporary political issues related to climate change. These will be critically evaluated from perspectives across the broad discipline of political science, including comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Through this approach students will be able to make connections between the international and domestic spheres. Students will also develop skills at writing for a non-academic professional audience, presenting complex ideas, and analysing reported data. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is delivered through weekly lectures and seminars. While the lectures are designed to give the broad overview of an aspect of climate politics, the student-centred seminars focus on a sub-set of problems linked to the lecture topic and informed by weekly compulsory reading. In addition, this module will include some practical skills-based teaching (for example, how to work effectively in groups) and an introduction to sustainability at the University of Reading. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs