Environmental Management: A Bottom-Up Approach to Policy Implementation
Discover how a bottom-up approach to environmental issues can have a huge impact on environmental policy delivery.
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
Environmental Management: A Bottom-Up Approach to Policy Implementation
Other courses you might like
This course isn't running right now. We can email you when it starts again, or check out these other courses you might like.
Browse more in Nature & Environment and Politics & Society
Understand how the bottom-up approach functions
The bottom-up approach to environmental policy consists of individuals such as activists and entrepreneurs influencing policy through action on the ground level. This approach has shown to be extremely effective in motivating change.
On this four-week course from the Adam Smith Centre, you’ll delve deep into the concept of the bottom-up approach to environmentalism. Through this, you’ll gain knowledge of the process, its implementations, as well as its advantages over the top-down approach.
Explore case studies to see real-world applications of the bottom-up method
While inspiring, the bottom-up approach can be hard to implement in a real-world context.
On this course, you’ll have access to dynamic and interesting case studies that showcase examples of individuals who have successfully used the bottom-up method to make a difference. From this, you’ll gain insight into the impact of local self-governance and understand how to apply these principles in your own environment.
Discover the impact of Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom on resource management
Elinor Ostrom was a political economist and Nobel Prize winner, renowned for her work in economic governance and resource management policy.
You’ll learn about Ostrom’s work to understand how her methodology influenced environmental policy-making and governance. You’ll then be equipped to use her Ostromian principles in your own environmental work.
Use your knowledge to implement public policy and inspire change
Affecting change as an individual actor can seem daunting. There are a number of obstacles that can obstruct your path.
With guidance from the experts at the Adam Smith Centre, you’ll discover how to use experimentation and out-of-the-box thinking to overcome these challenges and influence real change from the bottom-up.
Syllabus
Week 1
Who is Elinor Ostrom?
Course introduction
How do we manage scarce resources? Who is Elinor Ostrom and how can her insights be applied to real-life case studies?
Early life
Elinor Ostrom had humble beginnings and she later broke the glass ceiling in the male-dominated field of economics.
Overcoming obstacles
What were some milestones in Ostrom's intellectual journey?
End of Week 1
Let's discuss what we've covered this week.
Week 2
Bloomington School of Political Economy
Polycentricity
Elinor Ostrom proposed polycentricity as a viable alternative to top-down, bureaucratic forms of management.
Self-governance
Institutions and systems of trust are inherent in most communities, leading to varying degrees of effective self-governance.
End of Week 2
Let's discuss what we've covered this week.
Week 3
Bottom-up approaches to resource conservation
Changing our perspective
Why is a bottom-up approach to environmentalism worth consideration?
Tragedy of the commons
The tragedy of the commons refers to the unsustainable exploitation of resources. Is this situation always inevitable?
End of Week 3
Let's discuss what we've covered this week.
Week 4
Bottom-up approaches to climate change
Polycentric climate governance
Ostrom’s contribution to climate governance prompted a distinct departure from the usual top-down, central management prescription.
Climate action by communities and companies
How are communities and companies leading the clean energy transition?
End of Week 4
Let's discuss what we've covered in this final week.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Investigate the intellectual paradigm pioneered by Elinor Ostrom
- Summarise the importance of public policy principles such as polycentricity, local self-governance and experimentation
- Explain how bottom-up solutions were used to improve environmental outcomes
- Explore creative ideas from the Ostromian toolkit to tackle climate change
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for students pursuing studies in environmentalism, economics, business, public policy, and other socio-economic fields.
It will also be beneficial for professionals in the sustainability, public policy, public or private sectors.
Who will you learn with?
Dr. Erik Nordman is Professor of Natural Resources Management at Grand Valley State University, Michigan, and is an expert in environmental economics.
Dr. Bryan Cheang is an academic political economist from King's College London. His research is on economic development and public policy. He also is the Founder of the Adam Smith Center, Singapore.
Who developed the course?
Adam Smith Center
The Adam Smith Center is an independent, non-profit organisation in Singapore dedicated to economics and public policy education.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn