IR476 Global Environmental Issues
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Apr 04, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Aliaksandr Novikau
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course provides a critical examination of the intersection between natural systems and global political dynamics. Students will investigate the scientific foundations and theoretical dimensions of major environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. The curriculum analyzes the evolution of global environmental governance, evaluating the structure and efficacy of international regimes and the roles of state and non-state actors in shaping policy responses. Furthermore, the course explores the complex social, economic, and ethical debates surrounding sustainable development, environmental justice, and the North-South divide, equipping students to assess the impact of environmental degradation on human security and international stability.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
1. Robbins, P., Hintz, J., & Moore, S. A. (2022). Environment and society: A critical introduction (3rd edition). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2. O’Neill, K. (2009). The environment and international relations. Cambridge University Press. 3. DeSombre, E. R. (2024). Global environmental institutions (3rd edition). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. 4. Chasek P. L., et al (2016) Global Environmental Politics (Dilemmas in World Politics). 7th Edition. 5. Spellman, F. R. (2021). The science of environmental pollution (Fourth edition). CRC Press.
Additional Literature
N/ATeaching Methods
Lectures
Class discussions
Term project.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | None |
| 2 | Environmental issues | Robbins: Part 1 |
| 3 | Ecosystems. Pollution | Spellman: 1–2 , 4– 5 |
| 4 | Air pollution | Spellman: 6–8 |
| 5 | Quiz 1. Water pollution | Spellman: 9–11 |
| 6 | Land pollution and nuclear waste | Spellman: 12–14 |
| 7 | Global climate change | Robins: 11 |
| 8 | Midterm exam | All above |
| 9 | Global environemntal issues. | Chasek 1, DeSombre 1, O'Neill 2, Robins 4 |
| 10 | Global environmental politics. | Chasek 2, DeSombre 2, O'Neill 3 |
| 11 | International environmental regimes | Chasek 3–5, DeSombre 3–6, O'Neill 4–6 |
| 12 | Sustainable development | Chasek 6 |
| 13 | Quiz 2. Non-state actors and future of global environmental politics | Chasek 7, DeSombre 7, O'Neill 7–8 |
| 14 | No class (Eid al-Adha holiday) | N/A |
| 15 | Student presentations. Conclusion | None |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR476.1 | Course | Thursday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F1.1 FBA Graduate Seminar Room | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 14:00 - 15:00 | B F1.5 | |
| Wednesday | 11:00 - 14:00 | B F1.5 | |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 12:00 | B F1.5 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Term project
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home study
56 hours ⏳ (14 week × 4 h)
Term project
22 hours ⏳ (2 week × 11 h)
Preparation for final exam
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Preparation for midterm exam
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR476] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Apr 04, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR476 | Global Environmental Issues | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Aliaksandr Novikau | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 14:00-15:00 Wednesday: 11:00-14:00 Thursday: 11:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| anovikau@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course provides a critical examination of the intersection between natural systems and global political dynamics. Students will investigate the scientific foundations and theoretical dimensions of major environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. The curriculum analyzes the evolution of global environmental governance, evaluating the structure and efficacy of international regimes and the roles of state and non-state actors in shaping policy responses. Furthermore, the course explores the complex social, economic, and ethical debates surrounding sustainable development, environmental justice, and the North-South divide, equipping students to assess the impact of environmental degradation on human security and international stability. | |||||||||
| Textbook | 1. Robbins, P., Hintz, J., & Moore, S. A. (2022). Environment and society: A critical introduction (3rd edition). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2. O’Neill, K. (2009). The environment and international relations. Cambridge University Press. 3. DeSombre, E. R. (2024). Global environmental institutions (3rd edition). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. 4. Chasek P. L., et al (2016) Global Environmental Politics (Dilemmas in World Politics). 7th Edition. 5. Spellman, F. R. (2021). The science of environmental pollution (Fourth edition). CRC Press. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
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| Teaching Methods | Lectures, class discussions, term project. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | None | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Environmental issues | Robbins: Part 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Ecosystems. Pollution | Spellman: 1–2 , 4– 5 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Air pollution | Spellman: 6–8 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Quiz 1. Water pollution | Spellman: 9–11 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Land pollution and nuclear waste | Spellman: 12–14 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Global climate change | Robins: 11 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | All above | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Global environemntal issues. | Chasek 1, DeSombre 1, O'Neill 2, Robins 4 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Global environmental politics. | Chasek 2, DeSombre 2, O'Neill 3 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | International environmental regimes | Chasek 3–5, DeSombre 3–6, O'Neill 4–6 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Sustainable development | Chasek 6 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Quiz 2. Non-state actors and future of global environmental politics | Chasek 7, DeSombre 7, O'Neill 7–8 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | No class (Eid al-Adha holiday) | N/A | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Student presentations. Conclusion | None | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 35 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Quizzes | 2 | 20 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm exam | 1 | 20 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Term project | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3 | Consult Instructor | |
| Participation | 1 | 5 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home study | 4 | 14 | 56 | |||
| Term project | 11 | 2 | 22 | Preparation for final exam | 10 | 2 | 20 | |||
| Preparation for midterm exam | 10 | 1 | 10 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 17/04/2026 | |||||||||