Ateneo - UPO

The course aims to provide an in-depth study of the theoretical foundations of environmental policy and its instruments, together with their contextualisation by means of a series of concrete examples that make it possible to understand the reasons for the success and failure of the various initiatives. The course is divided into two main parts. During the first part, it will focus on defining the key concepts of the discipline (environment, territory, sustainable development). In the second part, lectures will present the main global environmental issues and related policies, with specific reference to certain topics (climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution, etc.) and sectors (economy, tourism, etc.). Some environmental policy instruments, the actors involved in the definition of environmental policies and the main issues related to their implementation will be presented. The course aims to combine theoretical analyses with examples and practical cases related to contemporary issues.

Bagliani, M., Dansero, E. (2011), Politiche per l'ambiente: dalla natura al territorio, UTET.
Giovannini E. (2018), L' utopia sostenibile, Laterza.
Bagliani M., Pietta A., Bonati S. (2019), Il cambiamento climatico in prospettiva geografica, Il Mulino, Bologna.

The course aims to offer knowledge and skills useful for understanding and evaluating contemporary environmental policy instruments, placing them in the national, European and global context and in the framework of geographical-territorial phenomena. The aim is to nurture in students the development of a critical capacity to analyse events and policies related to the environment and sustainability.

None.

The course includes lectures and in-depth thematic seminars. During the lectures, various tools will be used (classical presentations, satellite images, maps, short videos, etc.) to help understand the complexity of the phenomena presented and stimulate the active participation of students in the lectures to encourage the emergence of a critical approach to the subject matter.

For further information, please consult the GASS course page or the DIR platform page on teaching.

Oral exam. Opportunity to present a research project or to answer questions related to the course topics.

Geography and Economic Geography
Geography and Spatial Relations
Geographical paradigms and models
Representations of the environment and environmental issues
Environmental sustainability and degradation
Climate change, loss of biodiversity, forms of pollution
Environmental information
Environmental policy concepts and actors
Environmental policy tools (at global, European, and national scale)
Environment and participation
Environmental protection and conservation
Protected areas
From restrictions to projects: cases and good practices

1) Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of the theoretical concepts of economic and spatial geography in relation to environmental issues. Knowledge of the evolution of environmental policy instruments. Understanding of the connections between different phenomena of environmental degradation/recovery and the objectives of sustainable development and economic growth.
2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Autonomy of judgement: ability to analyse territorial and environmental contexts and to prefigure sustainable actions, analyse and evaluate policies and instruments, identify those considered most appropriate or effective.
Communication skills: critical skills to structure and present a project for environmental recovery and enhancement.
Learning/scholarship skills: ability to combine theoretical and methodological concepts with research through bibliographic sources and direct observation of data and territory.
3) Judgement skills
Ability to evaluate advantages and disadvantages of different environmental policy instruments in the context of sustainable development.