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This course examines environmental problems that transcend national and regional boundaries, such as climate change, deforestation, and the decline of ocean fisheries pose complex sustainable development challenges. Nation-states that pursue selfish interests at the expense of the global environment are attracting increased criticism. But effective international management tools have not evolved as rapidly as has the need for them. This deficiency is well illustrated by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, where effective concerted action is frustrated by key nations that cannot reach consensus. Students examine selected national economic, social, political and environmental policies from an international perspective to better understand the complexity of international sustainable development. The course addresses concrete examples of national activities in apparent conflict with international sustainable development goals, such as US energy consumption, Brazilian destruction of rainforest, and overfishing by various nations. China's growing demand for raw materials, especially petroleum, and rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions, also is given special attention. The course also considers innovative international management techniques now being suggested, such as an international carbon tax.