Course Overview

Course Title: Addressing the Global Climate Crisis: Challenges for Both Developed and Developing Economies

Relevant SDGs: SDG 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17

Credit(s): 32 credits

Course Description:

Climate change is one of the most urgent global challenges, requiring immediate and collaborative action from both developed and developing countries. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the multifaceted nature of climate change and explores related climate and energy policies and solutions worldwide. By integrating economic, geographic, political, and technical perspectives, students will gain a holistic understanding of the complexities involved in addressing this critical issue.

The course begins with a thorough review of the fundamental science behind climate change and the principles of sustainable development, establishing a solid foundation for informed policy analysis. We then delve into three key climate and energy policy tools for governing energy and climate-related issues: command-and-control regulations, incentive-based mechanisms, and innovative approaches like solar geoengineering. Alternative policy instruments at global, national, and sub-national levels are critically examined, including performance and technology standards, subsidies, climate finance, carbon markets, and voluntary carbon offsetting.

A significant portion of the course is dedicated to China’s role in global climate practices and its interaction with international regimes. Through an in-depth analysis of international climate regime developments, global climate negotiations, and China’s strategic positioning, students will gain insights into the dynamics of international cooperation and competition in climate governance.

By the end of this course, students can expect to have a solid grasp of the major challenges posed by global climate change, the advantages and disadvantages of various climate policy tools, the evolution of international climate rules, and the complexities of great-power climate diplomacy and cooperation. This knowledge will equip them to critically assess the opportunities and challenges within the current global climate governance system and contribute meaningfully to this vital field.

Academic Team

PI:

• Chen Xiang, Assistant Professor, School of International and Public Affairs 

Collaborators:

• Alex Lo, Professor, York St John University, a.lo@yorksj.ac.uk
• Zhiran Huang, Research Assistant Professor, Education University of Hong Kong, huangzr@eduhk.hk 
• Xian Hu, Economist, Environmental Defense Fund, x-hu19@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn 

What skills will students get?

1. Comprehensive Understanding of Climate Science: Students will gain a solid foundation in the fundamental science of climate change and the principles of sustainable development.
2. Critical Policy Analysis Skills: Develop the ability to critically analyze and evaluate various climate and energy policy tools, including command-and-control regulations, incentive-based mechanisms, and innovative approaches like solar geoengineering.
3. Insights into International Climate Governance: Acquire in-depth knowledge of international climate negotiations, climate finance, carbon markets, and understand China’s strategic role in global climate practices.
4. Research and Analytical Skills: Enhance research capabilities and critical thinking skills to assess opportunities and challenges within the current global climate governance system.
5. Communication and Collaboration Abilities: Improve communication skills through group discussions and presentations, and strengthen collaboration skills by working on group projects and the final program report.

Mode of Teaching

Lecture, Group discussion, Presentation, Group task

Grading

1. Attendance + on-class discussion: 20%;
2. Group presentation: 40%;
3. Final report: 40%

Course-specific Restrictions

None.

Class Schedule

Instructors

Chen Xiang

Dr. Chen Xiang is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, a non-resident fellow at Harvard-China Project on Energy, Economy and Environment at Harvard University, and a resident fellow at St Antony’s College at Oxford University. She specializes in the politics of climate change. Her research aims to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and effective policymaking. Dr. Xiang’s scholarly work has been published in prestigious journals such as International Affairs, The China Quarterly, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Environmental Science & Policy, and Ecological Economics. She has held notable fellowships, including a Fulbright Fellowship at the Harvard-China Project on Energy, Economy, and Environment at Harvard University (2021-2022), and she is currently a Swire Fellow at the University of Oxford (2024-2025). Dr. Xiang teaches courses on climate change politics, Chinese politics, and quantitative methods. Students enrolling in this course can look forward to engaging with her extensive expertise and gaining valuable insights into the complex interplay between climate science and policy on both domestic and international stages.

Alex Lo

Dr. Alex Lo is an esteemed interdisciplinary professor from York St John University, specializing in the social sciences of climate change, with a keen focus on political, policy, and social dimensions. Holding a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in environmental management and human geography, he brings a holistic perspective to the complex challenges of climate change. With a PhD from the Australian National University, Dr. Alex has held academic positions across the globe - including Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the UK - enriching his international outlook. Notably, he served as Senior Lecturer in Climate Change and Programme Director of Climate Change Science and Policy at Victoria University of Wellington. An active contributor to global climate discourse, he has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles in renowned journals and authored pioneering works on China’s emission trading schemes. His insights are frequently sought by major media outlets like CNN, Voice of America, and international conferences.

Zhiran Huang

Dr Zhiran Huang is a research assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies at the Education University of Hong Kong. He received his PhD from the Department of Geography at the University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining EdUHK, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University with the support from the Postdoc Matching Fund Scheme. As a transport geographer, Dr Huang’s research interests focus on sustainable (transportation) development, travel behaviors, urban form, work-from-home, and transport equity. His work has been published in prestigious journals such as Sustainable Cities and Society, Cities, Journal of Transport Geography, etc. Dr Huang’s academic contributions have been well-recognized. His paper titled ‘Travel behavior changes under Work-from-home (WFH) arrangements during COVID-19’ was identified as an ESI Highly Cited Paper in 2023. Additionally, he has been invited to review articles from more than 10 academic journals.

Xian Hu

Dr. Xian Hu is a young economist at the Environmental Defense Fund. She earned her PhD from the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University and holds a bachelor’s degree from Renmin University of China. Before joining EDF, she was a visiting scholar at Harvard University, collaborating with the Harvard China Project on Energy, Economy, and Environment. Dr. Hu specializes in carbon pricing and border adjustments, international trade and the environment, green finance, carbon footprints across supply chains, artificial intelligence and the digital economy, and global dynamic general equilibrium modeling. She has provided economic consultancy for key Chinese governmental agencies, including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Commerce, supporting China's CBAM negotiation efforts. Her contributions extend to international projects, such as the United Nations AI for SDG initiative. She has published several high-quality papers, presented at the 2023 Annual Conference of Environmental and Resource Economists, and her work has been cited by emerging economies, including the South African Reserve Bank.

Course Contact

Dr. Chen Xiang, chen.xiang@sjtu.edu.cn

Dr. Alex Lo, a.lo@yorksj.ac.uk

Dr. Zhiran Huang, huangzr@eduhk.hk

Dr. Xian Hu, x-hu19@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn