Environmental politics and policy across national boundaries and at different levels of governance. Comparisons of the U.S. and European Union environmental policies to build a foundation for comparisons across national boundaries and sub-national authorities. Students improve their understanding of how and why comparative methods are used to gain insight into politics and policymaking. Central concepts and debates addressed include the roles of expertise, sustainability, precautionary principle, the use of market mechanisms in policy, environmental justice, policy devolution and flexibility, environmental performance assessment, NGO roles, activism, and social movements. Using a range of theoretical approaches and historical and contemporary events and case studies, students will evaluate the claims and explanatory power of various concepts and theories. Includes ethical issues emerging from the theory and practice of environmental politics.