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CRI-30086 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 26 October 2026

CRI-30086 - Environmental Harm, Justice and Global Inequalities
Coordinator: Leah Koumentaki
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

none

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module examines environmental harm, climate injustice and ecological crisis through a criminological lens. The module is practice-led, and moves beyond traditional 'types of crime' approaches. Alongside set reading, you will study visual materials including documentary photography, satellite imagery and activist evidence. The module is particularly suited to students considering careers in environmental policy, regulation, advocacy or corporate accountability.

Aims
The module aims to:
1. Develop critical understanding of environmental harm and environmental justice within contemporary criminological and social scientific debates.
2. Examine how environmental harms are shaped by global inequalities, power relations and historical processes including colonialism and capitalism.
3. Explore contemporary environmental controversies through the analysis of real-world case studies.
4. Encourage critical evaluation of competing claims regarding responsibility, victimisation, accountability and justice.
5. Develop students' ability to analyse visual, documentary, policy and media sources as forms of evidence.
6. Foster interdisciplinary perspectives on environmental harm by drawing upon criminology, sociology, political ecology and environmental justice scholarship.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically evaluate key theoretical perspectives relating to environmental harm, green criminology and environmental justice.: 1,2
Critically analyse how intersecting social, political, economic, and historical forces—including colonial legacies, global inequalities, and capitalist systems of production and consumption—produce, perpetuate, and obscure contemporary environmental harms.: 1,2
Critically apply criminological and social scientific concepts to contemporary environmental case studies: 1,2
Interpret and critically assess visual, documentary, policy and media sources relating to environmental issues, and communicate complex arguments effectively using appropriate academic, policy and professional formats: 2

Study hours

12 hours of interactive lecture activity.
12 hours of tutor led small group/seminar activity.
24 hours of directed online asynchronous activity designed to help students prepare for in situ classes and/or reflect on issues covered in
sessions.
102 hours personal study, additional self-directed preparation for classes, assessment preparation etc. This breaks down as:
Independent study: 52 hours
First assessment prep: 20 hours
Second assessment prep: 30 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Presentation weighted 40%
Environmental Harm Case Investigation
Students will produce a professional-style case investigation examining a contemporary environmental harm. Their findings should be presented through a 7-minute recorded presentation Students will select a case study and critically analyse: • Nature of the environmental harm • Key actors and stakeholders • Victims and affected communities • Political, economic and social drivers • Evidence of environmental injustice • Potential solutions and forms of accountability Examples may include: • Mass tourism in Crete or Venice • Lithium extraction in Chile • Palm oil production in Indonesia • Fast fashion supply chains • Sustainability parks and environmental justice • Environmental activism and protest policing

2: Report weighted 60%
Critical Policy Brief
Students will critically evaluate a contemporary environmental issue and propose strategies for achieving environmental justice. (2000 words). Students may focus on topics such as: • Climate justice • Tourism and environmental harm • Fast fashion • Food systems • Environmental activism • Ecocide They will be supported in choosing a topic by their tutor.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 26 October 2026