Unit information: The Policy and Politics of Urban Sustainability in 2014/15

Unit name	The Policy and Politics of Urban Sustainability
Unit code	SPOLM5109
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Sweeting
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit examines the pressing and interconnected issues of climate change, resource use, and sustainability through a focus on cities and public policy. The unit will consider how cities drive and respond to climate change, and will examine the policy making processes associated with sustainability at the urban level. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how cities are embedded within the context of a multi-level and multi-actor system of governance, including international, national and regional interests, and how this impacts on the ability of, and the manner in which, cites respond to the sustainability agenda. In understanding these issues the unit will draw on a number of different theoretical sources including those related to risk, to collective action problems, and to governance.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:

• Apply literature related to governance and risk to issues concerning cities and sustainability
• Evaluate and apply rational choice models of collective action to environmental issues
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the policy and politics environmental issues at the urban level

Teaching Information

Lectures and group discussions.

Assessment Information

Summative: 3,500 word essay at the end of the unit.

All assessments will be assessed against the criteria in the MSc Public Policy handbook.

Reading and References

• Bulkeley, H. and Betsill, M (2005) 'Rethinking Sustainable Cities: Multilevel Governance and the 'Urban' Politics of Climate Change', Environmental Politics, 14 (1) 42-63

• Bulkeley, H. and Betsill, M. (2005) Cities and Climate Change: Urban Sustainability and Global Environmental Governance (Routledge: Abingdon)

• Giddens, A. (2009) The Politics of Climate Change. (The Polity Press: Cambridge)

• Jordan, A. (2008) ‘The governance of sustainable development: taking stock and looking forwards’. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 26 (8) 17-33

• Cahill, M. (2002) The Environment and Social Policy (Routledge, London)

• Huq, S., Kovats, S., Reid, H., and Satterthwaite, D., (2007) ‘Editorial: Reducing risks to cities from disasters and climate change’. Environment and Urbanization 19 (3)