S. Negotiating International Agreements: The Case of Climate Change

This seminar is a practical introduction to the negotiation of international agreements, with a focus on climate change. Through the climate lens, students will explore cross-cutting features of international agreements, the process of international negotiations, the development of national positions, advocacy of national positions internationally, and the many ways in which differences among negotiating countries are resolved. The seminar will also examine the history and substance of the climate change regime, including, inter alia, the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, the 2015 Paris Agreement, and developments since Paris. The practice-oriented class will end with a mock international negotiation.

The readings will include some scholarly commentary but will mostly comprise primary documents, in line with the seminar’s emphasis on the negotiation, development, and analysis of international agreements.

To receive credit, students will be required to complete some short (non-research) written assignments and to participate in class exercises.