EU CLIMATE POLICY & GOVERNANCE

18-31 May

Joint course between Georgetown’s Earth Commons Institute and

the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Deadline for applications: 29 March 2026

Are you a Political Science, Media & Communication, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Geology student at the National and Kapodistrian University in Athens interested in:

• Learning about EU climate policy and environmental governance?

• Participating in a competitive summer program  taught in English alongside international students from Georgetown University?

Georgetown University's Earth Commons Institute for Environment and Sustainability and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens are offering the opportunity for up to 7 students from the University of Athens to audit an intensive course on "EU Climate Policy and Governance" in May 2026.

The course will provide an introduction to the EU's climate policy and governance focusing on the European Green Deal, climate mitigation and adaptation, and key developments in climate and biodiversity. You will gain a critical understanding of how the EU institutions interact in policy and law-making and highlight the strengths, weaknesses and challenges of the EU's climate policy. 

The class will be taught by Professors Emmanuella Doussis and George Dikaios and will also be attended by students from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and Doha, Qatar. Students will be competitively selected and you will be evaluated for your participation and performance in the course, including through a final presentation and paper. 

In addition, students are expected to produce at least one communication output reflecting on the course. Acceptable outputs may include a reflective blog post, a short video or social media reel, a visual storytelling project, a policy explainer or brief written for a general audience.

Details:

• Location: Athens
• Program Dates: May 17th-31st
• Funding: All costs associated with the course including class programming, group meals and immersion activities will be supported by Georgetown University's Earth Commons Institute. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens will host the course at their premises.
• Eligibility: Students majoring in Political Science (International and European Studies), Media & Communication, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Geology at the National and Kapodistrian University in Athens. You will need to provide a certificate of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL).

Competitive applicants will demonstrate some of the following:

• Strong interest in environmental issues evidenced through extracurricular commitments, academic projects, research or pre-professional activities
• Familiarity with policy analysis or governance concepts
• Excellent English-language communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Curiosity and respect in cross-cultural environments

Apply here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHjACPrz3--pLxj3OpPRAEP5tx9I5lEW8bWoHT5o3h-p7jZw/viewform?pli=1