Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
This course explores contemporary challenges in environmental politics and policy, and pursues questions of how better relations with our natural surroundings may be organized and justified. The first part of the course concentrates on big picture questions: How did we get to such pervasive ecological problems? In what ways are contemporary ideas and ideals about development, growth, and advancement implicated in producing ecological crises? Is this connected with `knowledge-making' in the sciences and social sciences, and if so, how? And what are the main features of how ecological-social relations are politicized?
The second part is concerned with ways in which ecological issues become distinctive in political practice and political analysis. By looking at how agents position themselves for example for, or against environmental objectives, we question to what extent conventional assumptions about political orientations may be in the process of changing. As we will see, this also has implications for how we think about and design political analysis.
The third part of the course investigates political contestation around selected case examples. From CSG exploration, through agriculture's role in biodiversity maintenance, to climate change, we cover policy responses and political conflict in local, regional, and international settings.
Lectures will be open to dialogic engagement; tutorials will be dedicated to deepening lecture topics, and to developing analytical skills required for dealing with the biggest political question facing the world today.
Questions, issues and problems related to, or induced by ecological change have become increasingly pressing in recent decades, whether at global, regional, national, or local levels. However, while there have been some political successes (for instance, with regard to CFCs and ozone layer depletion), many of the most urgent contemporary concerns remain un- or under-addressed in the context of contestations over divergent interests, justice implications, or dispositions towards accepting social and political change and re-organization.
In this course, we work towards producing inclusive and conclusive analyses of political and policy problems engendered in confronting and working through ecological change and its implications. Theoretical, methodological and analytical tasks will be developed in tutorials focussed closely on concrete case examples and related source materials.
Course requirements
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
POLS2402
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
POLS2115
Course staff
Course coordinator
Lecturer
Tutor
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This course is run in the lecture-tutorial format (2 hour lecture, 1 hour tutorial).
Please note that lectures are conceptualised in an interactive style; therefore, while lecture-recordings will be made available as per UQ policy, you should expect parts of these recordings to be truncated, as contributions from the floor, and discussions during the lectures are unlikely to be picked up by the room microphone. In any case, recordings are an inferior substitute for attending the 'live event'. Further information on course modalities is available on the Blackboard Site for POLS3115.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to introduce participants to advanced levels of political and policy analysis in the field of environmental politics. Having successfully completed the course, participants will have learnt to negotiate the analysis of evidence, arguments, and prescriptions from inter- and trans-disciplinary sources for the purpose of producing convincing, integrated analyses of contemporary problems and issues in environmental politics.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
synthesize the analysis of evidence pertaining to environmental change, politics and policy as it originates from research in different disciplines
LO2.
synthesize practical knowledge and expertise about environmental change in order to assist better decision-making
LO3.
explain contemporary shortfalls in bringing together social and ecological objectives and to present and communicate plausible pathways for addressing these
LO4.
articulate and explain how different knowledge systems, including indigenous knowledge approaches, enable and shape different possibilities and pathways in environmental politics
LO5.
evaluate sustainable policy proposals in different economic sectors in terms of their short-, medium- and long-term capacity to address contemporary socio-ecological challenges
LO6.
critically analyse environmental policies and approaches to industry regulation with reference to their ecological and social outcomes and implications
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflection | Reflection | 20% |
10/03/2025 - 12/05/2025
Reflections are due in the weeks for which tutorial are scheduled (8 in total), and have to be uploaded by 5pm before the respective lecture. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Background Report (1000 words) | 30% |
2/05/2025 5:00 pm |
| Examination |
Exam
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
Assessment details
Reflection
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
10/03/2025 - 12/05/2025
Reflections are due in the weeks for which tutorial are scheduled (8 in total), and have to be uploaded by 5pm before the respective lecture.
Task description
This assessment task aligns with the tutorial program for POLS3115.
For each week in which we have tutorials (8 in total), you will be required to write a brief, reflective summary for at least 2 of the mandatory readings (unless there is only one reading scheduled). Each summary must be between 100-150 words (which means between 200-300 words in total in a 'normal' week :-) ). Your summaries are due by 5pm before the lecture on the topic.
This task starts from week 2 of the course, and repeats for each week in which we have tutorials. As an example, you will prepare your reflections on 'The Tragedy of the Commons', and on 'Templates' (the two mandatory readings for week 2), and upload the file via Turnitin on the day before the week 2 lecture.
In total, you are asked to prepare and submit 8 reflection files. Your first submission will attract 4 points in addition to your assessment score (0,1 or 2); each subsequent submission will be scored either 0,1 or 2, in line with the published criteria (see below); maximum score for this assessment task is 20.
You will find a more detailed task-description on the Blackboard-Site for the course.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. This policy also extends to, and covers write-assist software (such as 'Grammarly,' or similar tools), and translation-software; neither are permitted.
Submission guidelines
Please submit our Reflections using the designated folder under the "Assessment'-tab on you Blackboard-Site for POLS3115. The folder has 8 submission-slots; please make sure to upload your text to the correct one for every week. You will receive a reminder of which slot to use prior to the deadline for each of the relevant weeks via the Announcement function of Blackboard.
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Late submissions for these items should only occur in exceptional circumstances. Please contact the course convenor via email at m.weber@uq.edu.au .
Background Report (1000 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
2/05/2025 5:00 pm
Task description
The task is to produce a brief background report (briefing) on a contentious environmental policy challenge, written for a constituency of your choice (e.g. Parliamentary Inquiry, NGO, Shadow Minister's Office, ....), identifying key political challenges, risks, and potential strategic prospects. A list of topics to choose from will be made available in Week 4, along with some examples of different formats of such briefing papers from different contexts.
The main aim is to present a circumspect, multifactor analysis for the purpose of providing political orientation on the issue in question to your constituency. You will have succeeded in this if you have, for instance:
- successfully identified different positions your chosen constituency may take with regard to the issue(s)
- provided a clear outline of major risks and opportunities entailed to these
- identified potential political backlash
- extrapolated implications over short, medium, and long term projections (insofar as possible)
- included a clear statement of the limitations of your analysis (lack of data or other input, significant uncertainties, reliance on specific scenarios, etc.)
- presented the information in an easily apprehensible and reader-friendly way
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via the designated portal under the 'Assessment'-tab on your Blackboard Site for POLS3115.
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Exam
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Task description
Answer 2 questions from a list of 10, writing discursive analytical essays. Make sure your response is well-structured, logical and argues the case progressively and in an integrated form.
Your exam and the questions you can choose from allow you to synthesize what you have learnt across the course. Please make sure you address the question(s) you choose explicitly, clearly and comprehensively. Because this is a 'closed book' exam, where you reference reading materials from memory we do not expect the information given to be comprehensive and fully accurate (i.e., for example, 'verbatim citations', or the correct year of publication).
Please aim to write legibly, and organize your arguments and text before you write, planning paragraphs and building logical progression.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
In accordance with UQ and HASS Faculty policies governing exams.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student does notﾠaddress the question, shows no evidence of reading and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠaddresses the question poorly and showsﾠvery little evidence of reading. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student makes an effort to establish a single major argument for the essay andﾠemploys some research which is correlated with the argument. Makes a visible effort to achieve adequate grammar, spelling and punctuation. Evidence of attempting to achieve a recognisable narrative flowﾠappears throughout the assignment. The studentﾠaddresses the question and shows evidence of required research and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. However,ﾠfalls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student makes an effort to establish a single major argument for the essay andﾠemploys some research which is correlated with the argument. Makes a visible effort to achieve adequate grammar, spelling and punctuation. Evidence of attempting to achieve a recognisable narrative flowﾠappears throughout the assignment. The studentﾠaddresses the question and shows evidence of required research and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. However,ﾠfalls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠprovides suitable evidence to support an argument andﾠemploys a comprehensive research base that directly relates to the topic, though it may not completely support the argument. Achieves decent levels of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The studentﾠanswers the question in a direct, well supported fashion and shows evidence of some wide reading and a reasonable understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠdemonstrates a very good grasp of the chosen topic andﾠprovides a considerable amount of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The studentﾠemploys a reasonably extensive and well-organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves a high level of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The studentﾠanswers the question in a direct, reasonably sophisticated fashion, employs wide research and shows a sound understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠdemonstrates a highly sophisticated grasp of the topic andﾠsucceeds in addressing the question by providing a high level of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The studentﾠemploys an extensive and well organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument andﾠachieves impeccable levels of grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The studentﾠanswers the question in a direct and elegant fashion, employs significant research and shows a deep understanding of the issues at hand. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be awarded on the following basis:
1. Fail 1 - 19%
2. Fail 20 - 44%
3. Fail 45 – 49%
4. Pass 50 - 64 %
5. Credit 65 - 74 %
6. Distinction 75 - 84 %
7. High Distinction 85 - 100 %
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Unless otherwise indicated, in the case of written submissions with a specified word count, you are given a +10% leeway on the upper word limit. If your written submission is over this leeway limit, it will attract a 10 percentage point penalty. For example, if your essay is 1,500 words, you may write up to 1,650 before attracting a word count penalty. If your essay exceeds the upper word limit, it will attract a 10% word count penalty. Therefore, if your essay is worth 40 marks, you will lose 4 marks from your allotted grade. Unless specified, penalties only apply to exceeding the word length, not for failure to write a sufficient amount.
Students should note:
• The Author-date in-text referencing system will count toward the word length;
• References in the Footnote referencing system will not count toward the word length. If you are using footnotes, any content included in footnotes beyond the specific text reference will count towards the word length.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Essay Guide
The School of Political Science and International Studies Essay Guide can be downloaded from the School’s Student Support webpage.
The Guide sets out guidelines you should follow in preparing written assignments.
Essay Writing Assistance
The School of Political Science and International Studies schedules regular “drop-in” sessions designed to provide one-on-one advice and assistance in essay planning and writing.
There is no need to make an appointment and you are encouraged to bring your essay with you.
The day and time of these sessions will be finalized at the beginning of each semester and published on the Student Support webpage.
Student Services
Student services offer a variety of short courses during the semester which will help you improve your study, research and writing skills and thus your academic performance in this course.
Library Resources
UQ Library offers training in software, assignment writing, research skills, and publishing and research management.
The University’s library holdings for Political Science and International Studies are primarily located in the Central Library.
There is a help desk in the Library. Students are also welcome to contact the BEL/HASS Librarians for assistance.
Email: librarians@library.uq.edu.au
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Introduction to Course In our first session, we start with an overview of the course, discuss course-modalities, and then focus on framing key challenges in Environmental Politics and Policy. |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Reading Week No lecture / tutorials this week |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Tutorial |
The Rise of the Ecological Question 1 (Tutorial 1) We will discuss Hardin's "tragedy of the commons", and juxtapose the parable with the account of Aboriginal Australian land management in Chapter 8 of Gammage's "The Biggest Estate on Earth". |
Lecture |
The Rise of the Ecological Question 1 Today is the first of three lectures focused on providing both, conceptual and historical background to contemporary challenges in environmental politics. We do this by considering, and critically unpacking one of the key founding myths of modern environmental politics: "The Tragedy of the Commons". |
|
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Tutorial |
The Rise of the Ecological Question 2 (Tutorial 2) We will look at programmatic texts from a spectrum of opinions on the prospects of science as a 'liberator' of human societies and existence. Contemporary disagreements on the role(s) of science are explored from the perspective of some of their deep historical roots. |
Lecture |
The Rise of the Ecological Question 2 Knowing the World: Science and the epistemic premises of modern ecological change. |
|
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Tutorial |
The Rise of the Ecological Question 3 (Tutorial 3) Today, we discuss the account of anthropogenic invasive change provided in Osterhammel's chapter "The Conquest of Nature". The text allows us to draw together, and reflect on, some of the key lessons learnt so far. |
Lecture |
The Rise of the Ecological Question 3 Industrialisation, the Social Question, and Institutional Change from 1750-1900. |
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Political Economy and Political Ecology (Tutorial 4) In today's tutorial, we will focus on excerpts from the 1987 Brundtland Report "Our Common Future", and discuss these in context with Bernstein's account of the 'compromise of liberal environmentalism'. How did economic growth become a precondition for maintaining environmental integrity? |
Lecture |
Political Economy and Political Ecology Many environmental challenges are framed in terms of questions over scarcity and efficiency. Today's lecture untangles some questions over the centrality of modern market relations in social and political affairs vis a vis issues with ecological scale and integrity. |
|
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Political Agents and Environmental Policy (Tutorial 5) Three texts will guide us in discussing the complicated relationship between formal and informal political processes over environmental issues. |
Lecture |
Political Agents and Environmental Policy Who acts, and with what kind of influence, in environmental policy making? Today, we work our way closer to questions of political power, who holds it, and how it is exercised and contested. |
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Case Study 1: Discussing CSG (Tutorial 6) In this tutorial, we will pull together different aspects of the first case study to explore the linkages between the crafting of policies, and political controversies. As always, the guiding question of maintaining ecological integrity, remains the backdrop to our discussions. |
Lecture |
Case Study 1- CSG- Regulation, Markets: Today's lecture introduces the first of three case study examples. We take a closer look at the politics around regulating the Coal Seam Gas Industry. Our aim is to get a handle on both, the complexities of the regulatory environment in which the industry operates, and the political agents and interests affecting and shaping it. |
|
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
Lecture |
Mid-Semester Break No lecture / tutorials this week |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Lecture |
Case Study 1: CSG - Political Communication The second lecture on the case of Coal Seam Gas focuses on claims and contestations around its environmental impact and/or benefits. We conduct a close analysis of claims and counter-claims, and study the different ways in which evidence and political rhetoric are used, melded, and presented. |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Tutorial |
Case Study 2: Agriculture and Ecology (Tutorial 7) In this tutorial, we explore the linkages between poverty, claims about poverty alleviation, new agricultural technologies, and ecology. |
Lecture |
Case Study 2: Agriculture and Ecology We will consider the challenges around sustainable food production for rising populations. Along the way, we will critically investigate widely held assumptions about efficiency and productivity. |
|
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Tutorial |
Global Climate Politics (Tutorial 8) For the final tutorial, we will discuss the implications of debates over climate science, and how arguments based on it are used in political debate and decision-making. |
Lecture |
Case Study 3: Climate Change Today's case study has two parts: in the first part we will prepare and 'play' through a scenario about climate negotiations in the plenary. The final 30 minutes of the session will be devoted to a debrief, and some contextualisation. |
|
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Special Lecture The penultimate lecture is put together from your questions and suggestions over the time of the course, and will address things that you wanted to find out more about... |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Wrap-up and debriefing The final lecture will be thoroughly interactive; we will consider aspects of environmental and ecological politics not covered, or only discussed tangentially in the course, and also pull out some key lessons on where the most important 'knowledge-building sites' are in Social Science with regard to the Ecological Question. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.