Green politics: theory and practice

On Monday 10 March, Dr Antje Brown and the Green Politics honours students hosted two events with policy practitioners: Professor Stephen Gethins MP and Professor Kevin Dunion. The main purpose of these Green Politics events is to bring together (and celebrate) environmental policy theory and practice and offer students an opportunity to engage with experts who can share their first-hand experience with policy practice and reality. Not only do students gain a better understanding of some of the practical processes, conundrums, and policy outcomes, they also gain an appreciation of the policy practitioners involved and their day-to-day work in decision-making and policy implementation. Both speakers offered invaluable insider knowledge on policy practice and highlighted that academic solutions to environmental problems do not always translate into political and feasible solutions. In conversation with the speakers, students also learned that favourable conditions for meaningful progress also require individuals in key places who share green ambitions such as environmental justice as well as positive inter-relationships between these players as favourable conditions are essential for positive and sustainable environmental policy change. 

Left image: Professor Kevin Dunion presenting to students and guests of SD4225: Green Politics. Right image: Professor Stephen Gethins MP meeting with Honours students from SD4225.