LAWENVIR 729 : Special Topic: Comparative Environmental Law
Law
2020 Semester One (1203) (30 POINTS)
Course Overview
- Definition of environment
- State of environment
- Competence to set rules of environmental law
- Instruments of environmental law
- Direct effect of EU environmental law in member states
- Content and purpose of the sustainable development principle
- Risk evaluation scheme
- Environmental risk assessment
- Precautionary principle
- Participation and information of the public on environmental matters
- Incorporation of indigenous people’s interests
- Climate change and air pollution law
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 |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the basic elements of environmental law with reference to different jurisdictions (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2 and 5.1)
- Critically reflect upon the legal procedures, principles and instruments of environmental law and their benefit to secure nature. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1 and 5.1)
- Become familiar with the core structure of judicial review of environmental law cases. (Capability 2.2, 3.1 and 3.3)
- Effective written communication and legal research through the completion of a research essay. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
- Communicate effectively by providing insightful contributions as a part of seminar discussions in the course. (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Class participation | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Research outline | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Research essay | 80% | Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Class participation | ||||||||||
| Research outline | ||||||||||
| Research essay | ||||||||||
- Each student will “lead” a discussion on a particular seminar topic during the semester. Each seminar topic will have a series of readings allocated to it, along with some guided questions. The student(s) nominated to lead the discussion will be asked to be the main contributor and facilitator of class discussion on that particular topic.
- Each student is expected to make individual contributions to the seminar discussions throughout the course. Students will be individually assessed on the quality of their contributions as set out below.
- The extent of preparation for leading the discussions, 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
- Thoughtfulness of contributions
- Generally, engagement in class and respect for fellow students
- Each student must submit a research outline to Canvas by 12 noon on 18th June 2020. The research outline should commence with an abstract that outlines the proposed research question and main thesis of the student’s research essay. The research outline then should provide an outline of the structure of the proposed research essay. This structure should follow Appendix 7 of the New Zealand Style Guide (3rd edition). That is, it should contain Major headings, Minor Headings, Sub-Headings and Paragraph Headings.
- Each student must orally present their research question and main thesis to the rest of the class on the 13th June 2020. Each presentation will be no longer than 5 minutes (not including follow-up questions and answers).
- Each student must comment on another student’s research outline on Canvas by 12 noon on 18th June 2020.
Learning Resources
Workload Expectations
There will be 36 contact hours in this course. As a postgraduate course, there is an expectation that you prepare well for each class. The nature of the substantive assessment involving independent research also requires a significant amount of work outside of class. As a general guide, you should expect a workload of six hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 300 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.