LAW-30066: International Law, Globalisation and the Environment

This module will build on Level 2 'Introduction to International Law' and will consider how the international community has recognized and sought to deal with the interdependence of the global environment, from early bilateral arrangements dealing with local trans-boundary issues, to more recent regional and international regimes.

The three principal aims of this module will be:

1) to outline the basic rules, principles, institutions and processes of international environmental law, and consider how they operate in an era of globalisation;

2) to explore specific themes and topics, such as climate change, bio-diversity or ecological refugees

3) to think critically about some of the structural limits and biases of international law, and in particular its Western, state-centered and top-down approach to environmental problems.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically engage with the fundamental principles and rules of international institutions, as well as the frameworks in which they have developed, especially where such relate to the environment will be achieved by assessments: 1 and 2
analyse the role of international environmental law in its wider political and economic context, and so appreciate its relation to other regimes and societal values will be achieved by assessments: 1 and 2
construct a coherent legal argument drawing on theoretical and legal frameworks and contemporary examples in International Law will be achieved by assessments: 1 and 2

Study hours

Seminars: 10 x 2 = 20 hours
Class preparation: 50 hours
Portfolio: 80 hours
Total = 150 hours

Description of Module Assessment

01: Class Participation weighted 20%

Class participation at seminars including in particular by individual presentation
Class participation will be taken in a very broad and holistic sense, so as to accommodate different kinds of learners. It will cover, among other things: - regular attendance at seminars - contribution to class discussions - posting questions on the KLE - very short presentations on 'international environmental law in the news' at the beginning of each seminar

02: Portfolio weighted 80%

Reflective Portfolio
Students will be asked to post short pieces (about 350 words) every week on the KLE, reflecting on compulsory readings. These reflective pieces will then be compiled into a portfolio, and will be complemented by a short 2500 word long essay.

Version: (1.05A) Created: 01/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.