Climate change is one of the most defining - and contested - issues of the 21st century. While catastrophic weather events such as fires, cyclones, and droughts increasingly tax state capacity, the political, economic and social consequences pose potentially grave risks for state stability and global order. This course examines climate change and environmental security from a national security lens, examining the potential for conflict, confrontation and cooperation. Students will closely examine the securitisation and politicisation of climate change issues, the flow on effects for national security, and policy options for adaptation. Scholars and policy practitioners from NSC, the Crawford School and the wider policy community will provide deep insights into the science, economics and policy of climate change and environmental security. Throughout, this course examines the challenges faced by scientists, security scholars, and practitioners to influence policy in the post-truth age.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific basis of climate change and its main drivers including anthropogenic factors
- Analyse the potential impacts of climate change for national security along a range of political, economic, social and ecological lines
- Explain the transformation in energy systems that will be required to mitigate climate change.
- Compare national security strategies, governance mechanisms and policy options in relation to climate change and environmental security
- Develop and communicate ideas, analysis and argument related to climate and environmental security for scholarly and professional audiences.
Indicative Assessment
- Critical Analysis (35) [LO 1,3]
- Presentation (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Essay (35) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Weekly lectures over a 12 week semester. In addition the expectation of a further independent study to combining to total approx 130 over the duration of the semester.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
A list of readings will be provided in lieu of a prescribed text
Preliminary Reading
La Shier, Brian and James Stanish, “The National Security Impacts of Climate Change” Journal of National Security Law and Policy 10, (2019): 27-43.
Hill, Alice and Leonardo Martinez-Diaz, “Adapt or Perish: Preparing for the Inescapable Effects of Climate Change’ Foreign Affairs, (Jan/Feb 2020).
Allan, Bentley B. “Second Only to Nuclear War: Science and the Making of Existential Threat to Global Climate Governance” International Studies Quarterly, Volume 61, Issue 4 (December 2017), p. 809–820.
McDonald, Matt. “Discourses of Climate Security” Political Geography 33, 1 (2013): 42-51.
Thompson, Andrea. “Yes, Climate Change did influence Australia’s Unprecedented Bushfires” Scientific American, 4 March 2020.
Iyengar, Shanto and Douglas S. Massey, “Scientific Communication in a Post-truth society” PNAS 116, 16 (2019): 7556-7661.
Colgan, Jeff D. “Climate Change and the Politics of Military Bases” Global Environmental Politics 18, 1 (2018): 33-51.
Aaron Ray, Llewelyn Hughes, Charles Kaylor, David Konisky, “Extreme Weather Events and Public Opinion Towards Climate Adaptation,” Global Environmental Change Vol. 46 (2017), 104–113.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $4200 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
