Grounded in the discipline of public environmental policy, the course considers the complexities around public policy-making for the environment and sustainability. The course considers how policy is made and the institutional settings within which it is made, how problems and policies are framed, implemented and evaluated, and the inherent challenges in choosing appropriate policy instruments to meet an objective. The course focuses particularly on Australia’s public environmental policy and institutional settings. Comparisons with international case studies will be made. Interactive lectures and seminars provide students with opportunities to analyse specific environmental policy issues in theoretical frameworks and over different time scales. Once a general overview of how environmental policy is created we apply a structured analytical tool to assess whether existing environmental policies in Australia are adequate to meet the challenges of environmental management in a changing climate. Topics explored include water, forestry, biodiversity and climate policy, sustainability in business and industry, public and civil society participation in policy-making, and comparisons will be made with overseas environmental policy examples.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Identify and evaluate the development and implementation of environmental policy in Australia and in other relevant jurisdictions.
2. Recognise and articulate the role of politics and the media in environmental policy development and evaluation.
3. Describe and evaluate key environmental public policies, including information and supporting tools.
4. Evaluate alternative choices of policy design and policy instruments in the context of major environment and sustainability issues in Australian and international contexts.
5. Produce scholarly and industry works related in public and environment policy.

Research-Led Teaching

This course in Environmental Policy and how policy processes shape decision-making and action related to the environment draws on the convenor’s, tutor’s and guest presenters’ recent research and real-life practice in supporting, influencing and being a part of environmental policy processes in Australia and other parts of the world. Many of the issues covered in the course thus reflect current academic debates and the messiness often inherent in environmental policy processes that must be managed as effectively as possible. Throughout the course, students will be exposed to a variety of real policy processes and policy-support methods and tools (i.e. analytics), past and current case studies, hypothetical situations, literature, group work and facilitation experience to enable them to develop their own knowledge and skills relevant to environmental policy.

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional costs for this course.

Recommended Resources

Students will use a range of sources during the course, including the course text, weekly readings, and further materials in researching their assessment tasks. In all cases, students will need to be critical – there are multiple schools of thought in public policy and policy analysis, and a critical stance is needed to navigate through the multiple theoretical, normative and applied approaches you will encounter. Students should not assume that the content of lectures, policy statements of government, or readings supplied are necessarily the best way to think about something – the course is designed to encourage students to construct their own learning and critical attitudes over the material they consider.

Course text (copy in Hancock short loan, e-book available online, and available in the Co-Op bookshop): Dovers, S. and Hussey, K. 2013. Environment and sustainability: a policy handbook. 2^nd edition. Sydney: Federation Press.

Each week readings will be available on Wattle, and form the basis for workshop discussions: if students don’t read them it will show and they risk not gaining much from the workshops and under-performing in their assessments. All of the assessments build on the concepts in the readings.

Other potentially useful texts and sources, in no particular order (check ANU library as many are available for loan) include:

• Bridgman, P. and Davis. G. 2007. The Australian policy handbook. 4th ed. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. A short policy handbook, intended for practitioners.
• Howlett, M. and Ramesh, M. 2003. Studying public policy: policy cycles and policy subsystems. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. An excellent, standard policy text, with good coverage on different schools of thought and the policy and related literature.
• Clement, S., 2021. Governing the anthropocene: novel ecosystems, transformation and environmental policy. Springer Nature.
• Crowley, Walker, K. J., Crowley, K. (Kate), & Walker, K. J. (Ken J. . (2012). Environmental policy failure?: the Australian story. Tilde University Press.
• Hussey, K. and Dovers. S. (eds). 2007. Managing water for Australia: the social and institutional challenges. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing.
• Dovers, S. and Wild River, S. (eds). 2003. Managing Australia’s environment. Sydney: Federation Press.
• Mackie, K and Saunders, S. (2018) Succeeding and failing in Australian environment policy. Brou Lake Publishing
• Australian Policy Online: http://apo.org.au/
• Daniell, K. and Kay, A.. 2017. Multi-Level Governance: Conceptual Challenges and Case Studies from Australia. ANU Press, Canberra. 
• Steffen, W. 2014. ‘Managing Australia’s Environment in the Anthropocene’, in David Lindenmayer, Stephen Dovers, S. Morton (ed.) Ten Commitments Revisited: Securing Australia’s Future Environment, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Vic, pp. 227-235.
• Althaus C., Peter Bridgman and Glyn Davis. 2012. The Australian Policy Handbook. 5th edition. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Further texts and articles will also need to be found as part of the assessment tasks as this course has a strong research focus. We expect to see evidence of your engagement with the policy literature. Articles on policy will often be found in sector-specific journals (e.g. Energy Policy, Climate Policy, Food Policy, Water Resources Research), as well as in general policy or environmental policy journals such as those below. Most articles can be downloaded when connected through a university computer. If you are using your own computer they can be searched for through the library website (ANU password required) or using a university VPN access.

Media Sources:

To assist with your Policy in the News assignment, you may wish to consult a variety of media sources. Some include:

The Guardian Environment: https://www.theguardian.com/au/environment

ABC New, Environment: https://www.abc.net.au/news/environment/

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists https://www.icij.org/investigations/

Environmental Defenders Office: https://www.edo.org.au

Australian Conservation Foundation, news: https://www.acf.org.au/news

News.com.au: Environment: https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment

Sydney Morning Herald: Environment: https://www.smh.com.au/environment

Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment: News: https://environment.gov.au/news and on FB: https://www.facebook.com/awegov>

NSW Environment: Twitter: https://twitter.com/nswenviromedia

Land Care: Twitter: https://twitter.com/LandcareAust

Recommended student system requirements 

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in this course in the following forms:

·        marks and written comments to individuals and/or groups on assessment items

·        discussion with individual students and small groups in workshops and drop-in sessions

·        discussion with the whole class in lecture times on general issues and assessment items

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

General:

An internet connected device (laptop, smartphone, tablet) is suggested for the lectures as online polling may be integrated into them at some stages. Further information will be provided to students on Wattle if this is to occur.

Delivery Mode

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures and workshops covering key theoretical and applied aspects. Each workshop brings together previous weeks readings and lecture content, to apply lessons learned to contemporary policy issues and build critical thinking skills. They are designed to help you complete the assessments as well as learn more deeply about the course content. On most weeks where there is not a workshop, there are either drop in sessions or additional content (e.g. podcasts, Q&As) that will need to be reviewed. All workshops and additional activities build on each other to help prepare students for the assessments.

Much of this course relies on learning-by-doing and reflecting critically on how theory can be applied in policy practice and policy-focused research. Thus, student participation at all sessions is important, and it is highly recommended that students attend lectures and workshops gain the most from the course and to support each other’s learning. Students are expected to come to workshops prepared for discussions and activities with sufficient pre-reading or real-life experiences, to allow effective exchange and development of ideas to occur. Because these are workshops, they will require more preparation for the students than traditional tutorials.

To enable this to occur, a workshop agenda is provided to students in the week prior to the workshop (via Wattle). Although there may be some unexpected or negotiated last-minute changes (yes, this is real life!), these agendas and the material on Wattle will enable you to prepare for each workshop.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	In person Lecture:Introduction to course; introduction to environmental policy – what, why, who and how Workshop: None - prep for next week's workshop	Readings:always check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings
2	In person Lecture:Policy problems and problem framing Workshop 1: Workshop on environmental issues in the media	Readings:always check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings
3	Subject to confirmationIn-Person Lecture & Discussions:Policy Instruments and current biodiversity policy reforms3 short lectures and discussion from E/Prof Steve Dovers, Honorary A/P Peter Burnett, and A/P Sarah ClementPolicy instrument choice  Workshop 2 prep: None - prep for next week's workshop	Readings:always check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings
4	Online Lecture (public holiday):Values and public participation Workshop 2: Information and misinformation in environmental policy	Readings:always check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings
5	In-person Lecture and discussions:Climate change politics and policy Drop-in sessions	Readings:Check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings Assessment:Policy in the News Assessment due (21 Mar)
6	In Person Lecture:Implementation, evaluation, and learning for more effective policy Workshop 3 prep: Watch video on Wattle and prep for next workshop	Readings: Check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings
7	Teaching Break (1-7 April)
8	Teaching Break (8-14 April)
9	In-Person LectureNature-based solutions, transformation, and democracy in cities Workshop 3: Workshop on policy evaluation and learning	Readings:Chapter 8, Dovers & HusseyStrategic NRM policy evaluation framework Assessment associated with the workshop
10	Online Lecture (Public Holiday)Science-based policy and wildfires Workshop 4 prep: Watch Q&As on Wattle Drop-in sessions	Readings: Check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings Assessment:Policy Brief due (24 April)
11	In Person Guest Lecture:Success and failures in environmental policy, and Landcare as an exemplar of subsidiary governance Workshop 4: Workshop on Science, politics, and wildfires	Readings: Check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings Assessment associated with the workshop
12	Topic subject to confirmationIn person lecture: sustainable energy policy and renewable energy transitions. Workshop 5 prep: Work on Policy Review Paper and review prep materials for next workshop	Readings: Check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings
13	Topic subject to confirmationIndigenous protected area and traditional ecological knowledge in environmental governance Workshop 5: Workshop on policy review and applying lessons learned	Readings: Check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings
14	No lecture Refer to wattle for information about activities	Readings: Check reading list or Wattle for required and recommended readings Assessment: Policy Review Paper due (23 May)

Tutorial Registration

Register via MyTimetable

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Formative assessments associated with workshops	20 %	1,2,3,4
Policy in the News Assessment	25 %	2,3,5
Policy Brief	20 %	3,5
Policy Review Paper	35 %	1,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Formative assessments associated with workshops

Value: 20%

Each workshop has an associated worksheet and tasks completed during the workshop. Instructions for each of these worksheets and workshop activities are provided on Wattle and in the workshops, and students will hand these in at the end of the workshop (or no later than the end of the week in which the workshop is done).

Assessment Criteria

Please refer to the course WATTLE site. Attendance at the workshops is mandatory. If you submit a workshop assessment but do not attend, you will be penalised. Further details will be provided to you on Wattle and in the lecture in Week 1.

Assessment Task 2

Policy in the News Assessment

Value: 25%

Environmental Policy in the News: Podcast Analysis Assignment

Overview

In this assignment, you will create a 10-minute podcast episode that critically analyses how a current environmental policy issue is being presented and discussed in the media. This assignment helps bridge the gap between academic concepts and real-world policy discussions by having you engage deeply with current environmental debates through audio storytelling.

Objectives

• Demonstrate understanding of course concepts by applying them to current environmental policy issues
• Critically analyse how environmental policies and solutions are framed in public discourse
• Develop skills in communication of complex policy issues

More information and resources

• Workshop #1 will include activities to help you complete this assessment
• A detailed assignment brief will be provided on Wattle, along with resources to help you complete your assignment
• As this is a new assignment, no model will be available from previous semesters; however, you will be provided with examples of audio content that does a similar thing.
• You will be provided with a rubric that will be used to mark your assignment in the materials posted to Wattle

Assessment Task 3

Policy Brief

Value: 20%

This assessment task is designed to get you to better understand and thinking critically about a current and timely policy issue, and reflect on how the utility and accuracy of generative AI as a tool in understanding and communicating about environmental policy.

What is a policy brief?

A Policy Brief is a report that succinctly summarises an issue, its associated policy problem, and identifies possible options for future action. It is generally asked for and delivered to a senior government official, politician (state, territory or local), corporate executive, or senior person in a non-government organisation. It may also be addressed to a committee or a board of directors. However, policy and issue briefs are also used by organisations and public figures to communicate with the public to persuade them that particular policy choices are good, bad, ineffective, etc....

Typically, a Policy Brief describes an emerging, re-emerging or topical issue that falls in the senior person’s area of responsibility, and is asked for when they need an accessible description of the problem and some ideas for what might next be done to address it. This is usually needed to (i) answer questions from the media or their own superiors, or (ii) take appropriate steps to address the issue. For example, often a Policy Brief is requested when an issue or problem suddenly becomes prominent in the media, or when a natural event/disaster has occurred, an interest group makes a submission to a Minister, questions are asked in Parliament and need to be answered, or when a review of a relevant policy program has been completed and senior staff need to be brought updated on it’s findings.

Why reflect on a Policy Brief written by generative AI?

It is becoming more common for people to use generative AI, such as ChatGPT, in their work and studies. These tools can be useful, but they are also prone to inaccuracies and can fail to capture the nuance of public policy issues. They are even known to fabricate data and references, and often get basic facts wrong. Many of these tools also draw directly from websites written by proponents (or opponents) of particular policies, creating bias. Knowing how to evaluate the information these tools provide, as well as the way they provide it, is an important skill, and can help you become a better communicator and critical thinker.

Policy briefs and issue briefs are used all the time in many different professions, and they also affect how decisions are made by people in power and the general public. This means that even if you don't end up writing a policy brief in your job, you will still be impacted by them. Having the capacity to critically reflect on the information provided in a policy brief can help you make informed decisions about public policy issues that affect you.

Task Summary

A more detailed description of the assignment task and tips for writing it will be provided on Wattle. Write a 750-word critique of a Policy Brief written by a generative AI tool.

The Policy Brief will be provided to you. This brief will describe a contemporary or emerging policy problem related to ‘environment’ and/or ‘sustainability’, those with responsibility for it, and an initial scoping of policy instruments or organisational options available to address the problem. Your readership for this are imaginary colleagues and superiors in an agency (who you define). You must also define who you are as the author of the Policy Brief (e.g. a government policy officer or researcher/scientist in the same or different agency as your addressee, etc.) Your objective is to convince the reader, with a succinct argument, that the issue represents a policy problem, why, and what initial responses might be made.

 

Your task is to review this policy brief and provide a succinct critique of the strengths and weaknesses of the brief based on:

1) how clearly and effectively communicates the environmental policy issue and options for resolving it

2) how accurate the brief is

3) the quality of its sources

Your critique needs to include recommendations for how the brief could be improved.

More information and resources

• Workshop #2 will include activities to help you complete this assessment
• A detailed assignment brief will be provided on Wattle, along with resources to help you complete your assignment
• You will be provided with examples from previous years to help you see what is expected
• You will be provided with a rubric that will be used to mark your assignment in the materials posted to Wattle

Assessment Task 4

Policy Review Paper

Value: 35%

Overview

For this assignment you will review an existing policy relating to an environmental or sustainability challenges.  

You are to select one policy from the list provided on Wattle. Your task is to systematically evaluate your chosen policy using an evaluation framework provided to you. 

Objectives

Policy review is critical for learning - reflecting on the design, implementation, and impact of a policy is a transferable skill that can be applied well beyond the policy realm. This assignment is designed to help you learn the following skills:

a)   How to search for, and critically evaluate, information relevant to a current environmental policy (National, state, regional, international)

b)   Undertake a literature review and explore examples of similar policy documents from other regions and consider preferable policy options

c)   Use the policy evaluation framework (provided during the course) to assess whether the existing policy provides a sound basis for the management of an existing sustainable development issue.

d)   Use critical analysis methods to review a policy, define deficiencies and successes

e)   Make sound recommendations for policy enhancement that a policy maker would find informative

More information and resources

• Workshops 3-5 will include activities to help you complete this assessment
• A detailed assignment brief will be provided on Wattle, along with resources to help you complete your assignment
• You will be provided with examples from previous years to help you see what is expected
• You will be provided with a rubric that will be used to mark your assignment in the materials posted to Wattle

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request it in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specied in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be returned via Wattle in normal circumstances. The return date will be indicated on Turnitin, and any changes to this will be communicated to the students.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assignments will only be considered in exceptional circumstances dues to causes beyond the student’s control.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students