LAW5314 - International environmental law - 2018

This unit examines the way in which the international community is tackling existing and future environmental problems, including ozone layer depletion, climate change, destruction of biodiversity, world heritage conservation, and disposal of hazardous waste. International and Australian domestic obligations in respect of these various environmental issues will be examined. The development of international environmental law policy will be looked at as well as Australia's profile in international negotiations on environmental matters.

On completion of this students will be able to:

• apply knowledge and understanding of recent developments in relation to international environmental law and policy in response to the increasingly global, transboundary nature of ecological problems with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning;
• investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in relation to foundational aspects of public international law which underpin international environmental law, including sovereignty, jurisdiction, territory and state responsibility;
• conduct research in international environmental law and major international environmental agreements based on knowledge of appropriate research principle and methods; and
• use cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate at an abstract level complex ideas and concepts relevant to international environmental law.

Research paper (6,000 words): 80%

Take-home exam (1,500 words): 20%

24 contact hours per teaching period (either intensive, semi-intensive or semester long, depending on the Faculty resources, timetabling and requirements).