Climate Solutions: A 360° View
Mark Baildon
School of Education
By most accounts, societies, their institutions, and citizens are not doing enough, and with the necessary urgency, to address climate crisis. This course examines the critical intersections between environmental studies, politics, and public communication strategies. The course will utilize an inquiry-based approach to explore climate change and climate action as issues of public policy, climate science communication, and civic engagement. During the course, students will:
- Analyze the economic, political, and public communication factors influencing climate policy and decision-making;
- Examine the role of media in shaping public opinion and promoting climate-friendly behaviors;
- Consider the ethical and civic dimensions of climate action, including the role stories, values, beliefs, and identity play in meaning-making around climate change and action;
- Investigate a range of policy initiatives, communication strategies, and environmental justice movements that offer potentially transformative forms of climate action.
- Students will formulate research questions, gather and analyze information sources, and propose evidence-based solutions to address the climate crisis in different sectors of society (e.g., public sector, education, technology, energy and other business sectors). Guest lectures from experts in various fields will provide diverse perspectives and current insights into climate change research and policy.
Catalog Information: HON-H 238 POLITICS AND COMMUNICATION