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Environmental Policy in Times of Crisis

Module description

After a long period in the doldrums, environmental issues are now at the frontline of mainstream politics affecting various sectors of business, society, and citizens’ life. This module investigates the evolution and challenges of EU and British environmental policy in the wake of the recent economic crisis, Brexit, and COVID-19. In this course, you will have the opportunity to study and critique the latest developments of environmental policy from a European and British perspective. You will also explore topics such as the environment as a policy problem; the historical development of EU and British environmental policy; environmental leaders and laggards; and the impacts of the recent economic crisis, Brexit, and COVID-19.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to introduce you to the concept and development of environmental policy in light of the recent economic crisis, Brexit, and COVID-19. In so doing, it will encourage you to consider: the environment as a policy problem; the evolution of EU and British environmental policy, the ‘leaders’ and ‘laggards’ in environmental policy; the opportunities, challenges and impacts derived from the economic crisis, Brexit and Covid-19, and the investigation of some case studies. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. demonstrate an in-depth understanding of core concepts in environmental policy;
• 2. summarise and apply key empirical data relating to environmental policy;
• 3. describe and analyse in detail key issues in European and UK environmental policy.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. apply abstract theoretical ideas and concepts to actual events and outcomes;
• 5. construct well-structured rigorous arguments that are based on logical deduction;
• 6. evaluate the effectiveness of and barriers to policy interventions at a high level.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. communicate effectively in writing;
• 8. work effectively to a deadline;
• 9. reflect on your own process of learning.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• The environment as a policy problem;
• EU Environmental policy;
• British Environmental policy
• Environmental Leaders and Laggards;
• EU economic crisis and Environmental policy
• Policy windows of opportunities or policy dismantling;
• Brexit and Environmental policy;
• Case Study 1: Agriculture;
• Case Study 2: Climate Change;
• Covid-19 and the environment 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Bache, I., & Jordan, A. (2006). The Europeanization of British Politics. In The Europeanization of British Politics (pp. 265-279). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Bauer, M. W., & Knill, C. (2012). Understanding policy dismantling: an analytical framework. Dismantling public policies: Preferences, strategies, and effects, 30-51.

Carter, N. (2007). The politics of the environment: Ideas, activism, policy. Cambridge University Press.

Jordan, A. (2002). The Europeanization of British Environmental Policy: A Departmental Perspective. Springer.

Jordan, A. J., & Liefferink, D. (2004). Environmental policy in Europe: the Europeanization of national environmental policy. Routledge.

Jordan, A. (2012). Environmental policy in the European Union: actors, institutions, and processes. Earthscan.

Jordan, A., Bauer, M. W., & Green-Pedersen, C. (2013). Policy dismantling. Journal of European Public Policy, 20(5), 795-805.

Knill, C., Heichel, S., & Arndt, D. (2012). Really a front-runner, really a Straggler? Of environmental leaders and laggards in the European Union and beyond—A quantitative policy perspective. Energy Policy, 48, 36-45.

Liefferink, D., Arts, B., Kamstra, J., & Ooijevaar, J. (2009). Leaders and laggards in environmental policy: a quantitative analysis of domestic policy outputs. Journal of European public policy, 16(5), 677-700.

Key words search

EU and British environmental policy, economic crisis, Brexit