International Environmental Law

Key information

Start date
End date
Year of study
Any
Duration
Term 1
Module code
15PLAH073
FHEQ Level
7
Credits
15
Department
School of Law, Gender and Media

Module overview

This module introduces the foundations of international environmental law, including its subjects, sources, principles and measures of implementation, compliance and dispute settlement.

It explores the range of laws and norms that impact on global environmental problems. This module is built around the understanding that international environmental law is about both conservation and use (captured in the notion of sustainable development). It is also structured around an understanding that it is the North-South dimension of environmental issues that explains a large part of existing international environmental law.

It provides an introduction to the principles of international environmental law (such as the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the precautionary principle), environmental justice (human rights, participatory rights), examines questions related to compliance, effectiveness and enforcement of international environmental law; the governance and institutional framework governing the environment at the international level and links with other branches of international law, such as human rights.

This course is open to all Postgraduate Taught Students at SOAS.

Workload

  • Weekly 2-hour seminar

Scope and syllabus

The module covers, for instance:

  • principles of international environmental law (such as the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the precautionary principle)
  • environmental justice (human rights, participatory rights)
  • questions related to compliance, effectiveness and the enforcement of international environmental law, including non-compliance mechanisms

Method of assessment

  • Policy brief/book review: 30% (1000 words)
  • Essay: 70% (2500 words)

Suggested reading

  • Shawkat Alam et al eds, International Environmental Law and the Global South (Cambridge University Press, 2015)
  • Alan Boyle and Catherine Redgwell, Birnie, Boyle, and Redgwell's International Law and the Environment (OUP, 4th ed 2021)
  • Malgosia Fitzmaurice, Marcel Brus & Panos Merkouris eds, Research Handbook on International Environmental Law (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2nd ed, 2021)
  • Lavanya Rajamani & Jacqueline Peel eds, Oxford Handbook of International Environmental Law (Oxford University Press, 2021)
  • Stephen Turner et al. eds, Environmental Rights – The Development of Standards (Cambridge University Press, 2019)

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.