Urban Environmental Politics

As the planet’s land use and human population become increasingly urban, environmental problems and politics of cities are evermore critical for improving socio-environmental relationships and outcomes. Thus, this module will explore the urban political conflicts of environmental issues like climate change, air pollution, water quality/quantity, resource and energy use, waste disposal, and more. Using a range of case studies from around the world and beginning with some of the contested material flows of resources that both transform and comprise cities, the module then will move to address politicized ideas of nature, conservation, and habitats in the city while concluding with discussions of human agency and responses to the uneven social impacts of urban environmental problems.

Course leader

Dr Seth Gustafson

Target group

This is a level one module (equivalent to first year undergraduate). No prior subject knowledge is required to study this module but students are expected to have a keen interest in the subject area. Students must have completed at least one year of undergraduate study by the start of the module in order to enroll.

Course aim

Upon successful completion of this module, students will:

understand the diverse environmental challenges cities face around the globe
be able to analyse the range of political responses to these challenges
think clearly about similarities and differences between and within cities in the Global North and Global South
begin to use learned research methods to investigate the complexity urban environmental issues
understand and explain in a presentation and written report some of the urban environmental problems they see in their own cities using academic concepts learned from the module

Credits info

7.5 EC
7.5 ECTS / 4 US / 15 UCL

Fee info

GBP 2350: There is a built-in tuition fee discount for students who study for 6 weeks (both sessions).
GBP : Students are welcome to apply for accommodation at a UCL summer residence.

Scholarships

Students who enroll on both Sessions of the UCL Summer School will benefit from a built-in tuition fee discount.