UBC Forestry Summer Institute

Global Climate Governance, Leadership, and Management

Tentative Schedule: 3 weeks (July 20 – August 09, 2025)
Course Duration:  60 hours
Leading Instructor: Prof. Juliet Lu

Climate change is an urgent global crisis that is already causing extreme weather events, rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity, and other catastrophic impacts. Immediate action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy sources, and adapt to a changing climate to avoid further devastation. Global climate governance is crucial in addressing the urgent collective action needed to combat the increasing threats of climate change. It provides a framework for countries to cooperate, set ambitious emissions reduction targets, and hold each other accountable for meeting these commitments. Without effective global climate governance, countries may prioritize short-term economic interests over long-term sustainability, leading to continued environmental degradation and catastrophic consequences for people and the planet. By working together through global climate governance mechanisms such as the Paris Agreement, countries can advance towards a more sustainable and resilient future for all.

This course will explore the intersection of global climate-based governance and the skillsets needed to effectively lead in the field of climate change and environmental management. Students will study the science of climate change, the history of international climate, negotiations, and various international agreements and frameworks aimed at addressing climate change, as well as the role of leadership in implementing and enforcing these policies. The course will also focus on developing the critical skills necessary for effective climate-change leadership, including communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement in organizations and communities.

This course is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in environmental management, climate-change policy, sustainability, and related fields. It will provide a comprehensive understanding of global climate-based governance and equip students with the necessary skill sets to become effective climate-change and environmental leaders.

Course Objectives

• Understand the science of climate change and its impacts on the environment and society
• Understand the key principles and frameworks of global climate governance
• Analyze the role of leadership in addressing climate change and environmental challenges
• Develop essential leadership skills for effective climate-change management
• Explore case studies of successful climate-change leadership initiatives
• Apply knowledge and skills to real-world climate change and environmental management scenarios

Course Topics

Part I: Basic Science of Global Climate Change

• Definition, causes, and trends of climate change
• The impact of climate change on human society

Part II: Introduction to Global Climate Governance

• Definition of global climate governance
• Governance structures and mechanisms at the global, national, and local levels
• Key international agreements and frameworks for climate change mitigation and adaptation

Part III: Scientific Writing in the Context of Climate Change

• Scientific writing and publication in English
• Academic integrity and plagiarism

Part IV: Leadership in Climate Change Management

• The role of leadership in climate-change management
• Developing leadership skills for climate change and environmental leadership

Part V: Case Studies of Successful Climate Change Leadership Initiatives (field trips)

Part VI: Practices and Application of Leadership Skills to Climate Change Management

• Best practices in climate governance, leadership, and management from case studies and real-world examples

Learning Activities and Assessment

• Classroom participation and discussion quality
• Homework and group projects
• Field tour and practice
• Field trips
• Cultural and academic sharing with UBC students
• Final presentation  

Choices for Field Practice

Stanley Park or other city parks, NGO, City planning team

How to Apply

Please read the instructions on the UBC Forestry Summer Institute page to submit your application.

Tentative Program Schedule

	Sunday, July 20	Monday, July 21	Tuesday, July 22	Wednesday, July 23	Thursday, July 24	Friday, July 25	Saturday, July 26
9-12 AM	Arrive and settle in at UBC	Welcome remarks, UBC and forestry introduction, course orientation	Lecture	Lecture	Lecture	Lecture	Day Visiting trip (optional)
1:30-4:30 PM		UBC Campus Tour
	Sunday, July 27	Monday, July 28	Tuesday, July 29	Wednesday, July 30	Thursday, July 31	Friday, August 01	Saturday, August 02
9-12 AM	Day Visiting trip (optional)	Lecture/Guest lecture	Field Practice 1:Case Studies of Successful Climate Change Leadership Initiatives (9:00-17:00)	Lecture/Guest lecture	Lecture/Guest lecture	Lecture/Guest lecture	Day Visiting trip (optional)
1:30-4:30 PM
	Sunday, August 03	Monday, August 04	Tuesday, August 05	Wednesday, August 06	Thursday, August 07	Friday, August 08	Saturday, August 09
9-12 AM	Day Visiting trip (optional)	Lecture/Guest lecture	Field Practice 2: Case Studies of Successful Climate Change Leadership Initiatives(9:00-17:00)	Lecture/Guest lecture	Lecture/Guest lecture	Presentation of group projects and Graduation Ceremony group projects	Leaving