Course format, objectives & outline 

Course Structure

The course approaches EU climate and energy policy from different angles to provide you with a deep understanding of it.

We kick off the course by delving into the historical evolution of EU climate policy, tracing its development since the 1990s. Subsequently, module 2 zeroes in on the European Green Deal and explores the intricacies of recent climate legislation. Moving forward, module 3 immerses you in detailed case studies, offering an in-depth analysis of how the European Green Deal is being operationalised through sectoral legislation. Module 4 dives into the paradigms that underpin climate legislation and discusses key concepts such as green growth, climate neutrality, technology neutrality, ecological modernisation, and just transition. As the course progresses, modules 5 and 6 shed light on internal challenges encountered by the EU in the formulation of climate legislation. These modules critically examine the hurdles faced and explore innovative democratic solutions aimed at overcoming these challenges. Broadening the scope, modules 7 and 8 zoom out to explore the significance of climate adaptation within the EU framework and the external dimension of its climate efforts. The course finishes with a creative scenario writing assignment, where students write or record their future dream scenario for European climate and energy policy, building on their knowledge and instruments developed through the course.

Practical information 

This course is a self-paced online course. Following the full course is recommended, but it is possible to undertake the modules separately. You can start with the module that interests you the most and, based on that, choose if you want to continue with other modules. The course takes approximately 23-28 hours to complete. The course starts off with a light video-based module 1, and it gradually becomes heavier with more challenging academic texts. The course is considered text-heavy, and it also assumes a basic knowledge of EU institutions and policymaking.

Methods of instruction

This is a self-paced course. There will be no final grade or study credits provided. You can still measure your understanding as there will be a quiz at the end of each module. Moreover, the modules will guide you through the study material by suggesting thinking points where students are encouraged to pay particular attention to certain issues and motivate discussions. Finally, open questions and scenario assignments will be offered.

Instructors and experts

	GreenDeal-NET is a Jean Monnet Network that aims to dissect the European Green Deal, and the complex set of governance challenges related to sustainability and climate neutrality it poses. Additionally, it is a platform for collaboration and debate on teaching and research. The network consists of 12 European universities: VUB, University of Trento, Maastricht University, University of Oslo, University of Heidelberg, University of Eastern Finland, University of East Anglia, Masaryk University, ISCTE, Ghent University, DCU, and BOKU.
	Dr. Jana Gheuens is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Political Science, Stockholm University, where she works on the EU Climatic project. Her research focus is on EU climate governance, decision-making in the European Parliament, and policymaking in times of turbulence. Jana also has her own podcast 'How Green is Your Deal?' in which she talks with climate experts about hot topics in EU climate governance.
	Simon Otto is a Researcher at the Centre for Environment, Economy and Energy at the Brussels School of Governance. His current research focuses on the role of industrial policy in the European and global transition towards climate neutrality. Simon previously worked for the Council of the EU and the German development agency GIZ in the field of European and International climate policy.
	Oda Flekkøy is a PhD student at the European University Institute in Florence, working on a project about Islamophobia and resistance among Muslim women in Norway and Denmark. Prior to this she did her masters at the Bsog, focusing on external perceptions of the EU’s climate policies, while working as an intern at the Centre for Environment, Economy and Energy where she assisted in the making of GOVTRAN’s MOOC.
	Dr. Laura Iozzelli is a Research Fellow at the School of Transnational Governance of the European University Institute, where she focuses primarily on sustainable finance and EU regulation on sustainability reporting. She is also a Senior Associate Researcher at the Brussels School of Governance Centre for Environment, Economy and Energy. Prior to joining the EUI, she was a lecturer in EU politics and international relations at the UCLovain Saint-Louis Brussels. She holds a joint PhD in political science from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Université Saint-Louis Bruxelles.
	Ólöf Söebech is the Head of department for city development projects at the Department of Environment and Planning (USK) of the City of Reykjavik. Previously, she was a Project Researcher at the Centre for Environment, Economy and Energy at the Brussels School of Governance, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. She coordinated and collaborated in several European and national funded projects during her time at the BSoG, including the GOVTRAN project.