This course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between climate change and politics, both globally and within India. By exploring the political dimensions of climate change, the course seeks to equip learners with knowledge about the key drivers and impacts of climate change, the global and national political responses, and the strategies for adaptation and mitigation.
Students will gain insights into the theoretical frameworks, policy debates, and practical challenges in addressing climate change through a political lens. Further, the sensitization regarding climate change and policy action will enable the learners to deliver their future roles in public policy making and finding innovative ways to address climate change.
Course Content
Unit I: Understanding the Politics of Climate Change
a) Climate Change:
- Meaning
- Relevance
- Factors Influencing Climate Change: Natural and Anthropogenic
b) Impacts of Climate Change:
- Environmental
- Socio-economic
c) Ecologism vs. Environmentalism
- Forms of Ecologism and Its Critics
- From “Climate Change and Politics” to “Politics of Climate Change”
Unit II: Climate Change and Global Politics
a) Climate Diplomacy and Climate Justice
- Global Commons and Differentiated Responsibilities
- Geopolitics of Climate Change
b) Climate Change Negotiation at Global Forums
- IPCC
- Earth Summit
- North–South Divide
- Climate Change and Sustainable Development
- Issues of Scarcity and Carrying Capacity
- Intragenerational and Intergenerational Equity and Justice
c) Climate Capitalism
- Rise of Carbon Markets
- Carbon Footprints
- Carbon Trading
Unit III: Climate Change – Issues and Adaptation Strategies
a) Climate-Induced Disasters
- Forced Migration
- Food Security
- Poverty and Inequality
- Relational Vulnerability of Women, Children, the Poor, and Indigenous Communities
b) Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies
- Green Economy
- Energy Efficiency
- Indigenous Knowledge System
- Sustainable Consumption Practices
- Climate-Resilient Agriculture
- Technology and Innovation for Climate Change
c) Stakeholder Engagement for Climate Action
- Community
- Political Parties
- Private Sector
- Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Unit IV: Climate Change and Politics in India
a) Politics of Climate Change in India
- Climate Change and Environmental Movements in India
- Climate-Induced Poverty and Inequality in India
- Difficulties in Combating Climate Change
b) India and Global Politics of Climate Change
- India’s Stance and Leadership in International Climate Change Negotiations
- India’s Climate Change Targets
c) Institutional Framework and Policy Initiatives
- Formulation of Climate Policy
- National Environmental Policy, 2006
- Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change
- National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
- National Missions on Climate Change
- Indian Knowledge System
Essential Readings
- Barnett, J. (2007). The Geopolitics of Climate Change. Geography Compass, 1(6), 1361–1375.
- Dietz, M., & Garrelts, H. (2014). Routledge Handbook of the Climate Change Movement. Routledge.
- Dubash, N. K. (Ed.). (2012). Handbook of Climate Change and India: Development, Politics and Governance. Earthscan.
- Giddens, A. (2009). Politics of Climate Change. Polity.
- Gupta, J. (2000). North–South Aspects of the Climate Change Issue: Towards a Negotiating Theory and Strategy for Developing Countries. International Journal of Sustainable Development, 3(2), 115–135.
- Heywood, A. (2022). Political Ideologies (7th ed.). Bloomsbury Publication.
- Keohane, R. O. (2015). The Global Politics of Climate Change: Challenge for Political Science. PS: Political Science & Politics, 48(1), 19–26.
- Lever-Tracy, C. (2010). Routledge Handbook of Climate Change and Society. Routledge.
- Lovins, L. H., & Cohen, B. (2011). Climate Capitalism: Capitalism in the Age of Climate Change. Hill and Wang.
- Makondo, C. C., & Thomas, D. S. (2018). Climate Change Adaptation: Linking Indigenous Knowledge with Western Science for Effective Adaptation. Environmental Science & Policy, 83, 91–99.
- Michaelowa, K., & Michaelowa, A. (2012). India as an Emerging Power in International Climate Negotiations. Climate Policy, 12(5), 575–590.
- Roberts, J. T., & Parks, B. (2006). A Climate of Injustice: Global Inequality, North–South Politics, and Climate Policy. MIT Press.
- Schlosberg, D., & Collins, L. B. (2014). From Environmental to Climate Justice: Climate Change and the Discourse of Environmental Justice. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 5(3), 359–374.
- Terry, G. (2009). No Climate Justice Without Gender Justice: An Overview of the Issues. Gender & Development, 17(1), 5–18.
Source: Undergraduate (UG) Political Science Syllabus – Core XXI (Semester VIII): Climate Change and Politics.