LLIR9518 Principles of International Environmental Law

This topic examines the role of international environmental law in protecting the global environment. This includes an examination of the principles, sources and the architecture of international environmental law. It will provide an opportunity to consider aspects of the interaction between law, politics, economics, and social concerns in the context of international environmental law. The topic will highlight particular subjects of international environmental law and may draw on aspects of the international climate change regime, the international legal regime for the protection of biological diversity and polar regions, water and oceans law, concepts of sustainable development and human rights and the environment. This will also involve an examination of implementation and compliance mechanisms in international environmental law.

This topic aims to acquaint students with key principles and the sources of international environmental law. It aims to enable students to analyse the implementation, effectiveness and enforceability of international environmental law. This topic will do so in a range of specific international environmental law contexts, such as climate change, biological diversity, water and oceans law, polar law, concepts of sustainable development and human rights and the environment.

This topic further aims to:

• Encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning
• Provide students with the opportunity to develop their opinions
• Develop students' awareness of the different types of arguments (legal, moral, practical) that inform debates about international environmental law
• Cultivate students' analytical skills
• Offer the opportunity to research a topic in-depth
• Support students in successful cooperation with peers

1. Identify and critically examine general principles of international environmental law and the sources of those principles
2. Describe and critically examine the politics, economics, and social concerns that arise in the context of the development, implementation and enforcement of international environmental law
3. Explain international environmental law in the context of international law and principles of international relations
4. Demonstrate an advanced ability to undertake in depth research, formulate arguments and complete a research project on a topic of international environmental law