LAW4679 - The law of climate change - 2018

Climate change is among the most daunting problems the world faces in the 21st century. This unit deals with the legal dimension of climate change, paying due regard to its social, political and economic context. The unit will examine the development of national, supranational and international regulation, and explore how public and private actors mobilise instruments from different fields of law (such as private law, international trade law, investment law and human rights law) to facilitate or to undermine climate change mitigation and adaptation. For that purpose, examples of strategic litigation from the US, the EU and Australia will be analysed.

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

• Apply knowledge and understanding of recent developments in climate change law, regulation and policy, as well as the key bodies operating this area and their functions and responsibilities, with creativity and initiative to solve practical problems and/or for further learning.
• Investigate, analyse and synthesise information, problems, concepts and theories in relation to international, supranational and national law of climate change.
• Conduct research on the political and legislative developments behind the emergence of international, supranational and national climate change law on knowledge of appropriate research principles and methods.
• Use cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate ideas and concepts relevant to the law of climate change.

1. Reflection paper (1,000 words): 20%
2. Research paper (3,000 words): 60%
3. Presentation: 10%
4. Class participation: 10%

Students will be required to attend 36 hours of classes, and undertake approximately an additional 108 hours of private study, including reading, class preparation, assignment preparation and revision time over the duration of the course.

See also Unit timetable information