The Politics of Sustainability: Policies and Governance โ€” Florence, Italy Florence, Italy ยท Governance for a Sustainable Future
Political Science Florence Elective

The Politics of Sustainability: Policies and Governance

โฑ Total Hours 45
๐ŸŽ“ Credits 3
๐Ÿ“ Location Florence, Italy
โœ“ Prerequisites None
๐Ÿ›
Primary Discipline
Political Science
Suggested Cross Listings Environmental Studies, International Relations, European Studies
Total Hours 45
Credits 3
Prerequisites / Requirements None

Italy presents a fascinating case study in the politics of sustainability, positioned at the

intersection of national traditions, Mediterranean environmental challenges, and European

Union directives. This course delves into the political aspects of sustainability in Italy, examining

how local, regional, and national governments are creating policies to address climate change,

environmental protection, and sustainable development. How does Italy's complex governance

system shape environmental policy implementation? What role does Italy play in advancing the

European Union's sustainability agenda? How do political, cultural, and economic factors

influence Italy's approach to environmental challenges?

Using Italy as both case study and classroom, students will study Italy's role in the European

Union's Green Deal and its influence on global environmental policies. Through lectures, field

visits to governmental bodies and environmental organizations, and project work, students

engage with both theoretical frameworks and practical applications of sustainable politics in

Italy, developing their analytical, research, and critical thinking skills while preparing themselves

to engage with complex environmental governance issues.

UN Sustainable Development Goals Wheel
Politics, policy, and the road to 2030

Strong institutions are the engine of sustainable change. This course centres on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), while examining the political economy behind SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) at EU, national, and local levels.

5 Key SDGs Addressed
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 13: Climate Action SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
European Unionโ€™s sustainability agenda Government policies on climate change, renewable energy, and carbon emissions Approaches to environmental justice and social equity Green public procurement and government-led sustainability projects The intersection of politics and sustainability in local regions

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1
Identify and explain key sustainability governance frameworks, their historical context in Italy, and the evolution of environmental policy at local, regional, national, and EU levels.
Assessment: Class Discussions and Debates.
2
Evaluate the interconnectedness of political, economic, social, and environmental factors in Italian sustainability governance, analyzing how policy interventions in one sector impact others.
Assessment: Class Discussions and Debates.
3
Assess the effectiveness of current sustainability policies and initiatives at different governance levels in Italy, identifying strengths, shortcomings, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Assessment: Class Discussions and Debates and Research Paper.
4
Design innovative policy approaches that address sustainability challenges, considering political, institutional, social, and environmental factors within the Italian context.
Assessment: Class Discussions and Debates.
5
Formulate a compelling advocacy strategy for advancing sustainability policy, utilizing stakeholder engagement, coalition building, and policy frameworks relevant to the Italian political context.
Assessment: Class Discussions and Debates.
20%
Class Discussions and Debates
Demonstrated engagement with assigned readings. Thoughtful contributions to class and Canvas discussions.
All LOs
10%
Quiz
Demonstrated understanding of sustainability governance frameworks and
All LOs
20%
Research Paper
A 10โ€“12-page critical analysis of a sustainability policy or initiative in Italy. Though not required, comparison with non-Italian approaches is welcome.
LO 3
10%
Case Study
A 3-page analysis of interdependencies of governance systems in the
All LOs
20%
Field Studies
Using class field visits to Italian government institutions, NGOs, and
All LOs
20%
Group Project and Presentation
Collaborative research on a sustainability policy
All LOs

The course investigates how environmental policy is made, contested, and implemented โ€” moving from theoretical frameworks through EU and national governance to the politics of climate, inequality, and stakeholder coalitions.

1
Foundations of Sustainability Politics and GovernanceCore principles, history, and frameworks of sustainability governance, with specific focus on Italy's evolution from early environmental movements to modern sustainability politics.
2
Italy's Governance Structure and Environmental PolicyOverview of Italy's multi-level governance system, including national, regional, and local institutions, and how this structure shapes environmental policy development and implementation.
3
The European Union Context: Italy and the European Green DealExamination of Italy's role in EU environmental policymaking, with particular attention to the European Green Deal, implementation challenges, and Italy's contributions to EU sustainability initiatives.
4
Climate Change Policy in ItalyAnalysis of Italy's climate policy framework, including national climate plans, emissions reduction strategies, carbon pricing mechanisms, and climate adaptation initiatives at various governance levels.
5
Energy Transition Politics: From Fossil Fuels to RenewablesExploration of Italy's energy transition politics, examining the conflicts, coalitions, and policy tools shaping the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in the Italian context.
6
Environmental Justice and Social Equity in Italian Environmental PolicyCritical analysis of how environmental justice and social equity considerations are addressed in Italian environmental policy, examining regional disparities, inclusion mechanisms, and distributional impacts.
7
Green Economic Policies and Sustainable DevelopmentExamination of Italy's approach to green economic development, including green fiscal policies, sustainable investment strategies, circular economy initiatives, and green job creation programs.
8
Regional Environmental Governance in ItalyComparative analysis of environmental governance across Italian regions, with case studies of innovative regional sustainability initiatives in areas such as Lombardy, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna.
9
Local Sustainability Politics: Municipalities as LaboratoriesExploration of municipal-level sustainability initiatives in Italy, examining how Italian cities are serving as policy laboratories for innovative environmental governance approaches.
10
Green Public Procurement and Sustainable Public AdministrationAnalysis of Italy's approach to green public procurement and sustainable public administration practices, examining how government operations are being transformed to reduce environmental impacts.
11
Multi-stakeholder Governance: The Role of Civil Society and BusinessExamination of how civil society organizations, businesses, and citizen movements are shaping sustainability politics in Italy through advocacy, partnerships, and market transformations.
12
Italy's Agricultural and Food Sustainability PoliticsAnalysis of the political dimensions of sustainable agriculture and food systems in Italy, examining the tensions between traditional practices, economic interests, and environmental considerations.
13
Sustainability Politics in Coastal and Marine EnvironmentsExploration of governance approaches to sustainability in Italy's extensive coastal and marine environments, including coastal management, marine protected areas, and Blue Economy initiatives.
14
Future Directions: Innovation and Challenges in Italian Sustainability PoliticsSynthesis of key themes and exploration of emerging trends in Italian sustainability politics, examining persistent challenges and promising innovations in environmental governance.
Field visits and guest speakers for this course are confirmed at the start of each term and integrated throughout the syllabus.
Films and Recordings Reports and Documents Books Journal Articles
Bartelloni, Marco. 2021. Transizione Ecologica: Il Caso Italiano [Ecological Transition: The Italian Case]. Documentary.
European Commission. 2023. The European Green Deal: Italy's Journey. Video. https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-230495.
Iacona, Riccardo. 2022. Report: Clima e Politica [Report: Climate and Politics]. RAI Television Documentary.
Rovelli, Carlo, and Telmo Pievani. 2023. Scienza e Politica per la Sostenibilitร  in Italia [Science and Politics for Sustainability in Italy]. Conference Recording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF2c9xP5pjM.
Sachs, Jeffrey. 2021. SDG Implementation: The Politics of Change. TEDx Talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvkKFbSUHbk.
European Commission. 2019. The European Green Deal. Brussels: European Commission. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:b828d165-1c22-11ea-8c1f01aa75ed71a1.0002.02/DOC_1&format=PDF.
ISPRA (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale). 2023. Rapporto Ambiente SNPA: Stato dell'Ambiente in Italia [SNPA Environment Report: State of the Environment in Italy]. Rome: ISPRA.
Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica. 2022. Piano Nazionale Integrato per l'Energia e il Clima [National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan]. Rome: Government of Italy.
Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica. 2023. Strategia Nazionale per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile [National Strategy for Sustainable Development]. Rome: Government of Italy.
Regione Toscana. 2023. Piano Ambientale ed Energetico Regionale [Regional Environmental and Energy Plan]. Florence: Regione Toscana.
United Nations. 2015. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations.
Vignaroli, Stefano, ed. 2023. Ecomafia 2023: Le Storie e i Numeri della Criminalitร  Ambientale in Italia [Ecomafia 2023: Stories and Numbers of Environmental Crime in Italy]. Milan: Edizioni Ambiente.
Armiero, Marco, and Wilko Graf von Hardenberg. 2021. The Routledge Handbook of Environmental History. London: Routledge.
Bianchi, Patrizio, and Sandrine Labory. 2019. Industrial Policy for the Manufacturing Revolution: Perspectives on Digital Globalisation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Bolognini, Matteo, and Federico Demaria. 2022. Ecologia Politica in Italia [Political Ecology in Italy]. Rome: DeriveApprodi.
Cayli, Baris, Cesare Di Feliciantonio, and Isabella Clough Marinaro, eds. 2019. The Italian Left and the Environment: Not a Love Story. London: Routledge.
Giovannini, Enrico. 2018. L'Utopia Sostenibile [The Sustainable Utopia]. Bari: Laterza.
Lanzalaco, Luca, and Simona Piattoni. 2020. Le Trasformazioni della Rappresentanza Politica: Attori, Processi, e Risultati [The Transformations of Political Representation: Actors, Processes, and Results]. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Meadowcroft, James, David Banister, Erling Holden, Kristin Linnerud, Geoffrey Gilpin, and Oluf Langhelle, eds. 2019. What Next for Sustainable Development? Our Common Future at Thirty. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Pellizzoni, Luigi. 2020. Ontological Politics in a Disposable World: The New Mastery of Nature. London: Routledge.
Sachs, Jeffrey D. 2015. The Age of Sustainable Development. New York: Columbia University Press.
Adami, Lorenzo, Fabrizio Tubino, Ilaria Ragazzi, and Marco Tubino. 2021. "Local Agenda 21 Implementation in Italian Municipalities: Environmental Justice and Social Equity Dimensions." Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning 23 (5): 613-629.
Borghesi, Simone, and Massimiliano Montini. 2022. "Climate Governance in Italy: Institutional Arrangements, Policy Implementation and Stakeholder Perspectives." Environmental Politics 31 (3): 428-450.
Carrosio, Giovanni, and Natalia Magnani. 2022. "Energy Governance in Italy: A Tale of Two Energy Transitions." Energy Research & Social Science 88: 102501.
De Blasio, Emiliana, and Donatella Selva. 2021. "Implementing Open Government Data Policy: From Collaborative Governance to Governmentโ€“Led Initiatives." Information Polity 26 (1): 49-69.
Di Giulio, Marco, and Sara Vaglietti. 2020. "Italy's National and Regional Response to Climate Change: Institutional Arrangements and Multi-level Governance Challenges." Regional Studies 54 (1): 24-34.
Lewanski, Rodolfo, and Luigi Bobbio. 2019. "Deliberative Democracy and Environmental Decision-Making in Italy: Successes and Critical Challenges." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 62 (6): 981-1003.
Pellizzoni, Luigi, and Marja Ylรถnen. 2021. "Environmental Politics between Autonomy and Heteronomy: The Italian Case." Environmental Politics 30 (1-2): 193-213.
Sica, Edgardo, Gianluca Sisto, Giulio Mario Cappelletti, and Carlo Russo. 2022. "Engaging Civil Society for Effective Climate Policy in Italy: Barriers and Opportunities." Frontiers in Climate 4: