GV4L2 Half Unit
The Politics and Policy of Climate Change and Sustainability
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Michael Lerner
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Political Science (Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics), MSc in Political Science (Global Politics), MSc in Political Science (Political Science and Political Economy), MSc in Public Policy and Administration and MSc in Regulation. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: this course is available on the MSc in Political Science (Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics), MSc in Political Science (Global Politics), MSc Political Science (Political Science and Political Economy), MSc in Public Policy and Administration and MSc in Regulation. This course is not available as an outside option. To apply for a place on this course, please write a short statement of 200 words (max) outlining the specific reasons for applying and how the course will benefit your academic/career goals. You should check that you meet any pre-requisites in the course guide before applying (where applicable). Places on capped courses cannot be guaranteed.
Deadline for application: The deadline for applications is 12:00 noon on Friday 26 September 2025. You can expect to be informed of the outcome of your application by 12:00 noon on Monday 29 September 2025. Any places remaining after this date will be allocated based on priority and written statement - up until course selection closes.
For queries contact: gov.msc@lse.ac.uk
This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access) and demand is typically very high. This course is capped at 2 groups.
Requisites
Additional requisites:
A basic understanding of the physical science of climate change would be advantageous.
Course content
This course introduces students to the policy interventions and underlying political dynamics that shape the pace and direction of efforts to mitigate climate change and improve sustainability. Students will unpack the conceptual foundations of climate politics, assess climate and sustainability problems across a variety of practical cases, and learn to prescribe and justify policy interventions to accelerate sustainability transitions.
A unifying theme of the course will be its frequent attention to the political economy of climate (in)action. Specific topics include carbon lock-in; climate activism and obstruction; environmental authoritarianism; national climate institutions; corporate climate governance; just transition agreements; energy subsidies and carbon pricing; and geoengineering. The case studies in this course focus primarily, but not exclusively, on domestic environmental politics in advanced industrialized democracies.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the Winter Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
Formative assessment
Video
Essay plan
Students will be expected to submit formative assessment in the WT.
Indicative reading
- Carter, Neil. The Politics of the Environment: Ideas, Activism, Policy. Cambridge University Press (2018).
- Seto, Karen C., et al. “Carbon lock-in: Types, causes, and policy implications.” Annual Review of Environment and Resources 41 (2016): 425-452.
- Colgan, Jeff D., Jessica F. Green, and Thomas N Hale. “Asset revaluation and the existential politics of climate change.” International Organization 75.2 (2021): 586–610.
- Vormedal, Irja and Jonas Meckling. “How foes become allies: The shifting role of business in climate politics.” Policy Sciences 57 (2024): 101–124.
- Finnegan, Jared J. “Institutions, climate change, and the foundations of long-term policymaking.” Comparative Political Studies (2022).
- Breetz, Hanna, Matto Mildenberger, and Leah Stokes. “The political logics of clean energy transitions.” Business and Politics 20.4 (2018): 492-522.
- Fankhauser, Sam, et al. “The meaning of net zero and how to get it right.” Nature Climate Change 12.1 (2022): 15–21.
- Hochstetler, Kathryn (2021). Political Economies of Energy Transition: Wind and Solar Power in Brazil and South Africa. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 1.
Assessment
Video (20%) in Spring Term Week 2
Policy paper / report (80%, 3000 words) in Spring Term Week 2
Students will create up to two 4–6 minute video blog posts interpreting a recent event through the lens of course material (one must be uploaded in the first half of term, and one in the second half of term), of which one will be submitted for assessment.
The assessed policy report will have a word limit of 3,000 words.
Key facts
Department: Government
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Keywords: climate change, public policy, sustainability
Total students 2024/25: 32
Average class size 2024/25: 16
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills