13706 - Justice and Diversity in Environmental Change Modulübersicht

Module Number: 13706
Module Title:Justice and Diversity in Environmental Change
  Gerechtigkeit und Diversität im Kontext von Umweltveränderungen
Department: Faculty 5 - Business, Law and Social Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. phil. Jaeger-Erben, Melanie
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every winter semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:
  •  Acquiring a profound understanding of different concepts on social justice and diversity in the context of environmental change, climate change and sustainable development.
  •  Discussing and critically reflecting upon current issues related to environmental justice, such as resource conflicts, land-use change or environmental movements.
  •  Methodological skills in reading and discussing academic texts, preparing Pecha Kucha presentations, and recording scientific podcasts.
Contents:Environmental problems have the capacity to affect all of us. However, certain communities are disproportionally exposed to environmental hazards, such as air pollution. Also, some regions of the world (will) suffer much more from the implications of climate change. Environmental problems thus do not affect us all equally, or in the same way. Nor do we have equal power to decide solutions to these problems, or to take the necessary action to solve them. This unequal positioning, which often impose the greatest burdens upon marginalised, disadvantaged and less powerful populations, forms the central premise of environmental justice research and activism. The goal of this module is to gain a comprehensive understanding of social justice, environmental justice and diversity in environmentalism. The course introduces concepts such as environmental racism, climate justice, ecofeminism, and indigenous perspectives on environmental change. The theoretical perspectives introduced are applied to various environmental movements and resource conflicts all over the world.
Recommended Prerequisites:none
Mandatory Prerequisites:none
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Exercise / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Seminar / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:
  • Bell, K. (Ed.) (2021). Diversity and Inclusion in Environmentalism, Routledge.
  • Holifield, R., Chakraborty, J., Walker, G. (Eds.) (2018). The Routledge Handbook of Environmental Justice, Routledge.
  • Lele, S. et al. (Eds.) (2019). Rethinking environmentalism: Linking justice, sustainability, and diversity (Vol. 23). MIT Press.
  • Williams, J. (2021). Climate change is racist. Race, privilege and struggle for climate justice. Icon Books.

Further literature will be announced during class.
Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:
  • Reading assignments, 1.500-2.000 words (20%)
  • Reflections on sessions, 1.500-2.000 words (20%)
  • Pecha Kucha presentation, 6:40 Min (30%)
  • written test (multiple choice) (30%)
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Abschluss im Ausland / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / keine PO
  • Master (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2011
  • Master (research-oriented) - Double Degree / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Kultur und Technik / PO 2017
  • Master (research-oriented) / Stadt- und Regionalplanung / PO 2023
  • Master (research-oriented) / Transformation Studies / PO 2024
Remarks:None
Module Components:
  • Exercise Theoretical approaches to Justice and Diversity in Environmental Change 
  • Seminar Justice and Diversity research and methods in the context of Environmental Change
Components to be offered in the Current Semester:
  • no assignment