LW928-7-AT-CO:
International Environmental Law and Sustainability
2024/25
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn Special
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
20 August 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module introduces students to the critical study of international environmental law and sustainable development with an emphasis on the practical effects that these areas of law have on the decision-making, whether that be of States themselves, international organisations or businesses.
It analyses the key principles that underpin international environmental law and sustainability and examines the tensions concerned with the sometimes competing objectives of achieving environmental sustainability, economic performance and societal development. In this respect it analyses the roles and priorities of different actors in the development, implementation and enforcement of international environmental law and sustainability. In doing so it enables students to analyse and understand the formal structures related to international environmental law and sustainability as well as the less formal governance structures that have become prevalent in recent decades.
In particular the module enables analysis of the relationship that international environmental law has with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the extent to which they complement each other. The module will combine study of the theoretical aspects of international environmental law and sustainability with the way that the theory has become integrated into into law and practice itself. It will analyse how those law and governance practices have become embedded within different regimes that are associated with specific aspects of environmental concern such as climate, biodiversity, freshwater resources and the management of toxic wastes.
The module will consider the different economic status of different actors within the field of international environmental law and sustainability with particular emphasis on the way that such economic imbalances can affect outcomes related to the environment, communities and the overall achievement of sustainable development itself.
The aims of this module are to:
1. Provide students with an in-depth understanding of the general principles of international environmental law and sustainable development;
2. Provide students with an understanding of the way that States and international institutions work to develop and implement international environmental law;
3. Enable students to develop an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different actors including States and businesses in the implementation of sustainable development through evolving governance structures.
4. Introduce students to different regimes of international environmental law and enable critical analysis of the role that the law has in relation to States and on outcomes in the furtherance of sustainable development and the SDGs.
5. Enable students to critically appreciate the dimensions of international environmental law relating to States in differing stages of development and the commercial and economic pressures that affect outcomes for the environment, communities and the law itself.
Following successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Identify the key principles, actors and institutions relevant to international environmental law and sustainable development
2. Critically assess the sources of international environmental law and environmental governance;
3. Analyse the relationship between formal international environmental law and evolving governance structures related to environmental protection and sustainable development.
4. Assess the tensions that exist in the role that States and commercial actors have in the development and implementation of international environmental law and sustainability.
5. Critically analyse the development of international environmental law and sustainability within the context of specific areas of concern such as climate change, biodiversity, freshwater resources and toxic waste;
6. Identify and analyse critically the manner in which State and non-State actors are influenced by developmental and economic/commercial concerns in their own engagement with international environmental law and associated governance practices.
An indicative outline of teaching:
Introduction to the history of international environmental law and sustainability
Principles – part I
Principles – part II
Enforcement and Compliance
Environmental Governance Structures I
Environmental Governance Structures II
Climate Change I
Climate Change II
Biodiversity
Freshwater Resources
This module will be taught via weekly 2-hour seminars.
The module teaching team will upload all relevant teaching materials on Moodle. You will find reading lists, the textbook, weekly handouts or PPS notes on Moodle. The materials in question are designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the seminars and to equip you to analyse the required readings. You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your seminars.
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Boyle, A. and Redgwell, C. (2025)
Birnie, Boyle, and Redgwell’s International Law and the Environment. 3rd edn. Oxford University Press, USA. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780199594016.001.0001.
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Sands, P.
et al. (2018c)
Principles of international environmental law. Fourth edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1851057.
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Voigt, C. and Foster, C. (eds) (2024)
International courts versus non-compliance mechanisms: comparative advantages in strengthening treaty implementation. 1st ed. Cambridge, United Kingdom?; New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://www-cambridge-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/core/product/identifier/9781009373913/type/BOOK.
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Boyle, A. and National University of Singapore. Centre for International Law (2015)
Transboundary pollution: evolving issues of international law and policy. Edited by S. Jayakumar. Cheltenham, England: Edward Elgar Publishing. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=3563694.
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Sands, P.
et al. (2018b)
Principles of international environmental law. Fourth edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1851057.
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Friedman, K.
et al. (2022) ‘The Post-2020 biodiversity framework: People’s place within the rest of nature’,
People and Nature, 4(6), pp. 1475–1484. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10403.
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Gilbert, J. (2023) ‘The Rights of Nature as a Legal Response to the Global Environmental Crisis? A Critical Review of International Law’s Greening Agenda’,
Netherlands yearbook of international law. Edited by D. Dam-de Jong and F. Amtenbrink, 52, pp. 47–74. Available at:
https://eprints.ncl.ac.uk/288840.
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May, J.R. and Daly, E. (eds) (2019) Human rights and the environment: legality, indivisibility, dignity and geography. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
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The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Practical |
LW928-7-AT - Presentations |
|
100% |
| Exam |
Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during January
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during Summer (Main Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
The Law Education Admin Team - pgtlawqueries@essex.ac.uk
No
No
Yes
Dr Avidan Kent
University of East Anglia
Associate Professor
Available via Moodle
Of 18 hours, 18 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Essex Law School
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