Environmental Law: Science & Regulation

Subject 730-720 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008. Search for this in the current handbook Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 - 26 contact hours per subject.
Total Time Commitment: The time commitment for this subject depends on the candidate's background and experience.
Prerequisites: N.A.
Corequisites: N.A.
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: N.A.

Coordinator

A/Prof Lee Godden
Subject Overview:

Objectives:

A candidate who has successfully completed the subject should:

  • Gain an understanding of the evolution of environmental law and the factors driving change at an international and national level
  • Appreciate the pervasive nature of environmental regulation and its impact across many areas of law and policy
  • Understand the influence of other disciplines, such as science, on the scope and character of environmental law Analyse the nature of current environmental approaches such as regulatory mix and their implications for legal form, interpretation and implementation
  • Be familiar with key case studies that illustrate the dynamic trends in environmental law
  • Understand the need for integration across many areas of law in order to achieve environmental goals such as sustainability.

Syllabus:

Principal topics will include:

  • Centralisation of environmental law at the international level
  • The moves to decentralise at the national level to bring environmental management closer to the activities of community members and environmental groups
  • Integration between relevant discipline areas concerned with environmental protection, such as the biological sciences (particularly ecology), the social sciences, economics, politics and law
  • The challenges of communication between the disciplines, particularly between areas such as law and science, which employ different methodologies and different languages
  • The interaction of environmental law and policy with other regulatory areas such as those concerned with public health, development, agriculture, water use, indigenous land management and trade
  • The impact of environmental protection on the fields with which it interacts (e.g. are international trade policies environmentally sustainable?).

These themes will be illustrated by cases studies in the following areas:

  1. Environmental law: The past, the future and the drivers of change
  2. Environmental actors
  3. The regulatory mix
  4. The role of science
  5. Integration and complexity, which will include case studies of topical areas such as climate change or water regulation.
Assessment:
  • Case note/case study, 2,000 words (20%) (10 July)
  • Research paper 8,000 words (80%) (25 September) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Please visit the subject homepage on the Melbourne Law Masters website by following the link at the bottom of this subject entry.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Please see the Subject Objectives for this information.
Links to further information: 730-720Environmental Law: Science & RegulationMelbourne Law Masters, postgraduate law, post-graduate law, graduate law2008

Objectives:

A candidate who has successfully completed the subject should:

  • Gain an understanding of the evolution of environmental law and the factors driving change at an international and national level
  • Appreciate the pervasive nature of environmental regulation and its impact across many areas of law and policy
  • Understand the influence of other disciplines, such as science, on the scope and character of environmental law Analyse the nature of current environmental approaches such as regulatory mix and their implications for legal form, interpretation and implementation
  • Be familiar with key case studies that illustrate the dynamic trends in environmental law
  • Understand the need for integration across many areas of law in order to achieve environmental goals such as sustainability.

Syllabus:

Principal topics will include:

  • Centralisation of environmental law at the international level
  • The moves to decentralise at the national level to bring environmental management closer to the activities of community members and environmental groups
  • Integration between relevant discipline areas concerned with environmental protection, such as the biological sciences (particularly ecology), the social sciences, economics, politics and law
  • The challenges of communication between the disciplines, particularly between areas such as law and science, which employ different methodologies and different languages
  • The interaction of environmental law and policy with other regulatory areas such as those concerned with public health, development, agriculture, water use, indigenous land management and trade
  • The impact of environmental protection on the fields with which it interacts (e.g. are international trade policies environmentally sustainable?).

These themes will be illustrated by cases studies in the following areas:

  1. Environmental law: The past, the future and the drivers of change
  2. Environmental actors
  3. The regulatory mix
  4. The role of science
  5. Integration and complexity, which will include case studies of topical areas such as climate change or water regulation.
  • Case note/case study, 2,000 words (20%) (10 July)
  • Research paper 8,000 words (80%) (25 September) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)
N.A.N.A.24 - 26 contact hours per subject.Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Please visit the subject homepage on the Melbourne Law Masters website by following the link at the bottom of this subject entry.Please see the Subject Objectives for this information.The time commitment for this subject depends on the candidate's background and experience.N.A.Please see the subject homepage on the Melbourne Law Masters website for up to date timetable information.A/Prof Lee GoddenLawFor the latest information on this subject, please visit: http://www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au/subject/730720P12.500Semester 1NLawLaw730-720

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