LAWENVIR 420 : Global Environmental Law

Law

2025 Semester Two (1255) (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

The Global Environmental Law course this year will begin with an overview of key concepts and developments in international environmental law before moving on to study the law in specialised areas, which are likely to include protection of biodiversity, climate change and the law on environmental protection in Antarctica.  We  will then study selected topics which may include business and sustainability, trade and sustainability,  and the environment in international courts and tribunals.  Previous study in international law is recommended.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Global Environment and Sustainable Development or LAW 201, 211, 231, 241 Restriction: LAW 433

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Draw out and critically engage the legal principles and ideas underlying environmental law (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
  2. Identify analyse and evaluate legal rules and principles of international environmental law (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  3. Identify and analyse complex scientific, ethical and legal problems and solutions related to international environmental law (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
  4. Demonstrate academic integrity and engage in ethical and legal reasoning (Capability 8.1)
  5. Demonstrate a critical appreciation of social, cultural and environmental effects of law and governance (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignment 50% Individual Coursework
Assignment 50% Individual Coursework
Quiz Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignment
Assignment
Quiz

Zero-point, discussion-based self-assessment also features on this course. 

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15-point course. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 150 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

This is an in-person, on campus course.  Collaborative work in the lecture theatre will develop your understanding of global environmental law and feed into your readiness for the course assessments.

Learning 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.

You will be provided with a reading list of online resources, including a variety of materials, both primary and secondary, and during classes websites may be suggested to consult for further information and perspectives.

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.

In 2025 course contact time was reduced to 2 hours. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

All content not written by a candidate must be put in quotation marks.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

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 01/11/2024 06:13 p.m.