LAW-40043 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

First or second class honours degree in Law or a related discipline (such as politics, criminology, sociology or history), or appropriate professional qualifications and/or experience

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module offers a critical perspective on the development of international environmental law. It provides a grounding in the legal norms, institutions and processes of the field, and explores current environmental global issues such as biodiversity loss, trade and environment, food security and climate change through specific treaty regimes. Drawing on a range of legal, policy and other literature, the module highlights key challenges facing the regulation of the environment today.

The module offers a critical perspective on the development of international environmental law, i.e. the principles and rules of international law which have as their primary object the protection of the natural environment. The module examines the history, development and sources of international environmental law, and provides a grounding in the legal norms, institutions and processes of the field. The course then proceeds with a thorough examination of specific environmental issues such as climate change, wildlife conservation, biodiversity loss, toxic waste or animal rights through specific treaty regimes. Drawing on a range of legal, policy and other literature, the module highlights key challenges facing the regulation of the environment today.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Situate the historical development of international environmental law within colonial and postcolonial contexts: 1,2
Think critically about the basic rules, principles, institutions and processes of international environmental law: 1,2
Open discussion on some of the structural limits and biases of international environmental law: 1,2
Develop and defend informed opinions and express them clearly in writing and orally within the discipline's accepted methods of proof and argument: 1,2

Study hours

Seminars: 10 x 2 = 20 hours
Class preparation: 50 hours
Essay preparation: 50 hours
Viva preparation: 30 hours
Total = 150 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment