LAWENVIR 726 : Special Topic: Nature Law

Law

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

No prescription

Course Overview

We live in a hyperconnected world – ecosystems and societies are linked like never before. This occurs through the movement of people, goods and products and the transfer of capital and information. At the same time, there is mounting appreciation of the need to address issues of equity and sustainability concurrently.
To adequately understand, and ultimately to govern and regulate, for equitable-sustainability there is the need to identify and appreciate the complex feedbacks across activities of multiple individual, government and corporate actors across scales from the global to the local.
This interdisciplinary course equips students with a grounding in concepts from the biophysical sciences, social sciences, law and governance. By introducing students to systems and futures approaches, and using this to examine legal frameworks, this course aims to equip students with the tools for futures-focused sustainable and equitable governance.
Syllabus
Topics may include:
♦ The characteristics, challenges and opportunities of the Anthropocene and adequacy of existing legal and governance structures;
♦ Complex adaptive systems and the design of governance systems in the Anthropocene that are just and sustainable;
♦ Telecoupling and transnational regulation;
♦ Desirable Futures
♦ Corporate Actors
♦ Indigenous worldviews and Earth jurisprudence
♦ Cross-scale biodiversity and climate law regimes

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

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
Graduate Profile: Master of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and analyse the major global, regional and domestic sustainability challenges (Capability 1.2, 2.1 and 3.1)
  2. Identify and critique key ethical and interdisciplinary perspectives on equity and sustainability in a hyperconnected world (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1)
  3. Appreciate plural worldviews in conceptualising equitable-sustainability (Capability 1.2 and 2.1)
  4. Critically analyse evaluate the interaction of different forms of governance and regulation and their suitability to regulate current and future sustainability and equity challenges (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1)
  5. Apply systems and futures approaches (Capability 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Class participation 10% Individual Coursework
Online quiz 30% Individual Coursework
Research outline 10% Individual Coursework
Research essay 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Class participation
Online quiz
Research outline
Research essay
Class Participation
Criteria and marking for class participation (10%) (Detailed Rubric to be provided on Canvas)
♦ The extent of preparation for leading the discussions, in particular the analysis of the reading materials and guided questions
♦ The depth and thoroughness of understanding of the reading materials and guided questions
♦ The ability to draw worthwhile conclusions in the class discussion
♦ Regular, thoughtful and constructive participation in class discussions
♦ Generally, engagement in class and respect for fellow students
♦ Full and punctual attendance (with exceptions made for extenuating circumstances with appropriate documentation)
Online Quiz
Multiple choice. All topics covered throughout the course.
Essay (Detailed instructions and rubric will be provided on Canvas)
Each student is required to submit a research essay.
The essay is to be original work, relying on secondary and primary sources, on a futures focused sustainability topic defined by the course director. 

Workload Expectations

This is a 15-point postgraduate course. The intensive, seminar portion will be for 24 hours. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 150 hours. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required over the three day intensive because the course is designed to be participatory, and it depends upon students being personally present and contributing in order to complete and receive credit for components of the course. Sessions will not be available as recordings.

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.

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.

This course is being taught for the first time this semester.

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.

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 06:17 p.m.