The Power Dynamics between Global North and Global South in addressing Climate Mobilities
This course explores the complexity of climate (im)mobilities from multiple angles and emphasizes the power dynamics between those most affected by climate change and those providing assistance.
5 ECTS Credits — Studies start 2 September 2026 — Tampere University
Register
Course dates
2 September 2026 – 28 October 2026
Registration period
3 August 2026 – 26 August 2026
Coordinating university
Tampere University
Instructors
Credits
5 ECTS
Course dates: 2.9. - 28.10.2026
Registration dates: 3.8. - 26.8.2026
Please note that the registration takes place through your own university SISU/Peppi system.
Coordinating university: Tampere University
Course code on Sisu: HAL.YPAT.341
Credits: 5 ECTS
Course summary:
Environmental factors have an increasing effect on migration. Since 2008, over 318 million persons have been displaced because of climate disasters, this is the equivalent of one person being displaced every second. In 2020 alone, almost 31 million people displaced because of environmental disasters linked to climate change. The countries most severely affected are in the Global South.
The link between environmental factors and migration was first acknowledged by the European institutions in 1999, when the European Parliament introduced the term ‘environmental refugees’. However, 25 years later, the EU’s discourse has shifted from promisingly associating climate and mobility to considering these issues separately in its newest migration (the New Pact on Migration and Asylum) and climate (the European Green Deal) policy packages.
Without connecting the two evidently interconnected problems, the EU, one of the leading political actors in the Global North, offers financial and other support to countries already affected by environmental crises (i.e. countries in the Global South). However, this also puts severe strain on these countries through expectations to act, build resilience and handle climate-induced displacement.
This course explores the complexity of climate (im)mobilities from multiple angles and emphasizes the power dynamics between those most affected by climate change and those providing assistance.
Learning outcomes:
The general aim of the course is to advance students’ critical thinking about different power dynamics between the Global North and the Global South in the context of climate mobilities.
At the end of the course, students will be:
- familiar with different theories and main concepts related to climate mobilities (climate adaptation, climate resilience, climate-induced displacement, etc.)
- able to make distinctions and connections between different perspectives on climate change and climate mobilities (i.e. the Global North and the Global South perspectives and the gender perspective)
- able to apply several methods to perform analytical tasks in climate mobilities research
- able to think in interdisciplinary and critical ways, defend their arguments and reflect on their positionality in research and society
- aware of the ways in which they can apply the learned concepts and practiced methods outside of this course (e.g. in their study programme more broadly)
Learning methods:
- Interactive sessions (lecture + active learning exercise or peer discussion) via Zoom (links provided in the course Moodle area)
- Group discussions and collaborative learning, sharing topical experiences and knowledge (peer-to-peer learning)
- Problem-solving and social learning: throughout several course tasks, students will explore contemporary issues connected to the course themes by drawing on familiar social (lived, experienced, learned) contexts
- Project-based learning (written small-scale assignment)
- Verbal and visual information presentation in a short and concise format (digital poster)
- Self-study of reading materials before each session
Completion methods:
- Presenting a digital poster (1-2 min, 1 slide or page): submitted by and presented in the last session
- Submitting the final assignment after the end of the course by mid-November (tba). The final assignment consists of 2 submitted documents: a short (7-9 pages) academic essay (delivered individually, in pairs or in groups) and an individual reflection (max. 1 page). The final essay reports students' small-scale project conducted during the course. The free-format individual reflection specifies students' take on the project and their personal learning outcomes
- Attending min. 6 online sessions (reasonable accommodations for additional absences may be arranged on a case-by-case basis, provided that the teacher is notified in advance)
Study materials:
Session slides and reading materials will be available in the course Moodle area. The sessions will not be recorded.
Assessment criteria:
The course follows the assessment criteria standards of Tampere University. The grading scale is 1-5.
Maximum number of students:
45
Course schedule 2026:
The course is divided into 8 online sessions taking place on Zoom every Wednesday, 13:00-15:00 (Helsinki time, EEST/EET):
| Session 1 (Introduction) | 02.09.2026 13:00-15:00 |
| Session 2 | 09.09.2026 13:00-15:00 |
| Session 3 | 16.09.2026 13:00-15:00 |
| Session 4 | 23.09.2026 13:00-15:00 |
| Session 5 | 30.09.2026 13:00-15:00 |
| Session 6 | 07.10.2026 13:00-15:00 |
| No teaching during the autumn break 12.10.2026 - 18.10.2026 (week 42) | |
| Session 7 | 21.10.2026 13:00-15:00 |
| Session 8 (Poster session) | 28.10.2026 13:00-15:00 |