What are the origins, nature, and impact of contemporary international law concerning the environment, often referred to as international environmental law (IEL)? What are its core principles (such as the prevention, precautionary, sustainable development and common but differentiated responsibility principles)? What is the relationship between human rights and IEL? Is there a case for reform of IEL? You will be able to examine and appraise these questions and other core foundational legal aspects, issues and regulatory structures underpinning the emergence of IEL. In particular, you will consider the various core sources of international law directed at enhancing protection of the environment, principal international institutions involved in its development as well as legal issues involved concerning implementation and enforcement of IEL
Lectures -10
Seminars and workshops -14
Option 1:
Practical- Individual Presentation- 10- minute presentation- 30%
Written- Extended writing- Essay- 3000 words- 70%- This Assessment is Pass Compulsory.
Option 2:
Written- Extended writing- Essay- 1000 words- 30%
Written- Extended writing- Essay- 3000 words- 70%- This Assessment is Pass Compulsory.
Reassessment methods:
Single assessment 100% written assessment (maximum 4,000 words)
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1) Comprehensively identify and engage with concepts, principles, and rules relating to the legal foundations of international environmental law (IEL), including those relating to legal sources, institutional arrangements, implementation and enforcement of IEL.
2) Critically appraise underlying political/policy contexts and dynamics that underpin the evolution of the legal foundations of IEL.
3) Systematically analyse complex material from various sources including international treaties, protocols, declarations, judgments of international courts and tribunals in the field of IEL.
4) Systematically evaluate the main sources of literature and legal texts relating to the legal foundations of IEL.
5) Initiate self-direction and originality in defining further research and/or training in relation to IEL.
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