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Making Democracy Fit for Climate

Lars Tønder

Climate change has been high on the political agenda for years, yet greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. Globally, communities are already experiencing the consequences of the crisis in various ways: from increases in extreme weather and changes to ecosystems to rising sea levels and depleting natural resources.

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Climate change has been high on the political agenda for years, yet greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. Globally, communities are already experiencing the consequences of the crisis in various ways: from increases in extreme weather and changes to ecosystems to rising sea levels and depleting natural resources.

Despite the clear consequences of climate change, political action has so far proven inadequate at addressing the crisis. Democratic countries are no exception in this regard, which raises questions about the democratic system's ability to deliver the policies and actions needed to address climate change.

The goal of this course is to zoom in on the relationship between democracy and climate change action. Do democratic systems have the capacity to deal with a threat like the climate crisis? If so, what will this require in terms of innovating democracy as a political system?

During the course, you will meet researchers and experts from the University of Copenhagen who specialise in various areas relevant to this course. This includes scholars working on political and democratic theory, climate and environmental science, authoritarianism, international politics, and non-state actors. Furthermore, you will be presented with interviews from real-world actors who have engaged in the climate debate in various ways.

We hope you will join this course to equip yourself with the knowledge needed to take part in the ongoing discussions related to climate change and the role of democracies in addressing its many challenges.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Climate Change and Democracy - A Perfect Storm?
The purpose of this module is to introduce the fundamentals of democracy and climate change. The module provides an overview of the main justifications for why democracy is the most preferred mode of government, and juxtaposes these justifications with the challenges that climate change poses to democracy. The module concludes by outlining how and why democratic innovations might be needed.
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When, How and Why is Democracy Failing Us?
The purpose of this module is to analyse when, how, and why democracies are failing to address climate change with sufficient action. The module provides an overview of the main causes of inaction, with a focus on lobbyism, policy-inertia, and lack of attention to nonhuman forces. The module concludes by outlining how and why democracy, regardless of the current stalemate, has the potential for reform.
The Allure of Authoritarianism - A Credible Alternative?
The purpose of this module is to explore how and why some actors see climate change as a reason to replace democracy with eco-authoritarianism. The module provides an overview of the history of authoritarianism and offers an in-depth account of how this history informs contemporary eco-authoritarianism in Europe and elsewhere. The module concludes with a discussion of why eco-authoritarianism, regardless of its intuitive appeal, fails to address the challenges of climate change.
Democracy and the International Political System - Where Is the Innovation?
The purpose of this module is to examine the actions that the international political system has taken to address climate change. The module focuses on institutional reforms by the United Nations and the European Union, and discusses how these reforms affect relations between the global north and the global south. The module concludes with a discussion of how and why institutional reforms from above require democratic innovations from below.
Democracy, Non-State Actors and Civil Society - Where is the Innovation?
The purpose of this module is to analyse how democratic innovations from below enhance the fight against climate change at both local and global scales. The module focuses on climate citizens' assemblies, climate activism, civil disobedience, green neighborhoods, and other non-state actors, and introduces the politics of swarming as an umbrella-term for these innovations. The module concludes with a discussion of how and why a renewal of democracy must take many forms to address climate change.
Democracy and the Non-Human – An Impossible Idea?
The purpose of this module is to introduce the concept of a "more-than-human democracy" as a way to overcome the limits of contemporary climate politics. The module focuses on the entanglements of human and non-human forces and shows how these entanglements inspire new forms of democratic innovations ranging from artistic performances to the extension of rights to rivers and other ecosystems. The module also includes a discussion of why purely technological solutions are insufficient and why this should lead us to an ecological perspective on democracy. Finally, the module provides a brief overview of the previous five modules and concludes by emphasising that making democracy fit for climate will require new understandings of participation, representation, the relationship between humans and non-humans, and the distribution of authority across both local, national and transnational borders.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores the relationship between democracy and climate change action, which is a highly relevant topic for anyone interested in democracy and climate change
Offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges to democracy posed by climate change, as well as the potential for democratic innovation to address these challenges
Taught by recognized experts in the field and features interviews with real-world actors engaged in the climate debate, which adds credibility and relevance to the course
Covers a wide range of topics related to democracy and climate change, including the causes of inaction, the role of non-state actors, and the potential for new forms of democratic innovation
Provides opportunities for students to engage with the course material through videos, readings, discussions, and other interactive materials, which enhances the learning experience
Helps students develop a critical understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing democracy in the face of climate change, which is essential for anyone interested in shaping the future of democracy and climate action

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Making Democracy Fit for Climate with these activities:
Review Course Materials
Strengthen your understanding by comprehensively reviewing course materials.
Show steps
  • Gather all course readings, assignments, and notes.
  • Summarize and synthesize key concepts.
  • Create a study guide or concept map for easy recall.
Explore Climate Change Data and Resources
Develop your research skills by exploring climate change data and resources.
Show steps
  • Identify relevant climate change databases and repositories.
  • Follow tutorials and documentation on data access and analysis.
  • Practice visualizing and interpreting climate data.
Volunteer with a Climate Change Organization
Gain practical experience and engage with a community working on climate change.
Browse courses on Community Engagement
Show steps
  • Research and identify climate change organizations in your area.
  • Contact the organizations to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
  • Attend volunteer training and events.
  • Participate in community outreach and advocacy initiatives.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Form a Study Group
Enhance your learning by collaborating with peers and discussing course concepts.
Show steps
  • Find classmates who share your interests.
  • Schedule regular study sessions.
  • Work together to review materials, solve problems, and clarify concepts.
Analyze Political Systems
Strengthen your understanding of different political systems and their relationship with climate change.
Browse courses on Political Systems
Show steps
  • Research and compare different political systems.
  • Identify key features of each system.
  • Analyze how these features influence climate change policies and actions.
Read 'On Democracy' By Robert A. Dahl
Explore the concept of democracy and its challenges.
View A Preface to Economic Democracy on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain and read the book
  • Make notes while reading, and pay special attention to Dahl's arguments about the characteristics and challenges of democracy.
  • Summarize the main insights and arguments of the book
Develop a Climate Policy Proposal
Apply your knowledge to develop a comprehensive climate policy proposal.
Browse courses on Climate Policy
Show steps
  • Research best practices and current climate policies.
  • Identify key stakeholders and their interests.
  • Develop a policy proposal that addresses both short- and long-term climate challenges.
  • Write a policy brief summarizing the proposal and its key recommendations.
Develop a Climate Adaptation Plan
Apply your knowledge by developing a comprehensive climate adaptation plan for a specific region or community.
Browse courses on Climate Adaptation
Show steps
  • Assess climate risks and vulnerabilities.
  • Identify adaptation strategies and measures.
  • Develop an implementation plan with a clear timeline and budget.
  • Present the plan to stakeholders and seek feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Making Democracy Fit for Climate will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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Course image
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Copenhagen
Instructor
Lars Tønder
Session
August 12, 2024 - September 30, 2024
Language
English
Good to know
Explores the relationship between democracy and climate change action, which is a highly relevant topic for anyone interested in democracy and climate change
Offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges to democracy posed by climate change, as well as the potential for democratic innovation to address these challenges
Taught by recognized experts in the field and features interviews with real-world actors engaged in the climate debate, which adds credibility and relevance to the course
Covers a wide range of topics related to democracy and climate change, including the causes of inaction, the role of non-state actors, and the potential for new forms of democratic innovation
Provides opportunities for students to engage with the course material through videos, readings, discussions, and other interactive materials, which enhances the learning experience
Helps students develop a critical understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing democracy in the face of climate change, which is essential for anyone interested in shaping the future of democracy and climate action
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