LAWENVIR 420 : Global Environmental Law

Law

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Concepts, principles, customs, and treaties of international law as related to the protection of the global environment including: prevention of pollution, protection of the marine environment, ozone layer protection, climate change, biodiversity, the UNCED process and the legal framework for sustainable development.

Course Overview

Global Environmental Law (GEL) examines treaties, institutions and principles of international environmental law and national environmental laws (incl. NZ, UK, Germany) from the perspective of the global environment - or Earth. GEL transcends conventional distinctions between national and international, private and public, formal and informal and aims for law-making beyond the nation state. GEL asks why states are failing, promotes a shift from state-centered to earth-centered perspectives of law-making and develops new concepts such as rights of nature, trusteeship responsibilities and Earth governance. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Global Environment and Sustainable Development or LAW 211 Restriction: LAW 433

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and critically evaluate the origins, subject and key features of international environmental law (Capability 1.1, 1.3. 2.1.) (Capability 1.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.3)
  2. Develop an understanding of key concepts of the global environment/Earth, state sovereignty, sustainable development, rights of nature and Earth trusteeship (Capabilities 1.3, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 6.3.)
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical concepts and practical importance of an array of international environmental agreements, “soft law” documents and emerging principles (Capabilities 1.3, 2.1, 2.2.,3.3,4.1,6.2)
  4. Evaluate the ethical, interdisciplinary, legal and institutional foundations of Earth-centered law and governance (capabilities 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3,3.3,4.1,6.3)
  5. Communicate the importance of global dimensions at all levels of law-making, whether local, regional, national or international (Capabilities 1.1,1.3,2.1,2.3,3.1,3.2,3.3,4.3,5.1,6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reflection piece 5% Individual Coursework
Essay 45% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Reflection piece
Essay
Final Exam

Learning Resources

Course book:

It is strongly recommended that you purchase a physical copy of the course book, particularly as the exam is open book.

Recommended text:

There is no prescribed text, but the following text is recommended: Klaus Bosselmann, David Grinlinton and Prue Taylor (eds.) (2013), Environmental Law for a Sustainable Society, 2nd ed., NZCEL Monograph Series. You can buy a copy at the discounted price of $ 20.00 from the Law Students Centre; please present your student ID.

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15-point course. There will be around 36 hours of lectures in this course. As a general guide, you should expect a workload of three hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 150 hours.


Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 20/12/2019 09:57 a.m.