Climate Change Law

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

• Understand the scientific basis for projections of global warming and the impacts of climate change in an ecological, social and economic context
• Understand the international, regional and local factors that produce climate change
• Understand the international legal framework governing climate change issues and likely future trends, including the UNFCCC and associated international instruments
• Understand legislative responses to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including market measures and energy-related measures such as mandatory renewable-energy targets
• Be able to critically evaluate the various legislative and regulatory mitigation and adaptation measures at federal and state level
• Be able to assess Australia’s progress towards a comprehensive and effective governance framework for climate change.

Syllabus:

This subject will provide a general outline of climate change law and regulation at an international, national and local level. This will be supplemented by more detailed examination of specific topics, such as international law frameworks, and federal policy and law responses such as cap and trade/emissions trading schemes and energy responses. Representative case studies at a state, business and resource level will also be examined.

Principal topics may include:*

• The scientific basis for projections of global warming and the existing and predicted physical impacts of climate change
• The drivers for climate change law
• The international legal framework, including the UNFCCC and associated international instruments, together with likely trends in international law
• The existing and potential legislative federal framework for climate change mitigation and adaptation with responses, including market measures such as emissions trading schemes
• The nature of climate change litigation and its intersections with wider environmental concerns
• The integration of energy/GHG emissions impact considerations into planning law, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
• The scope of state-based legislative and regulatory responses to climate change
• Climate change law and regulation and its impact on corporate and government entities (case study).

* Climate law is a field in a considerable state of flux at the present. Consequently, case studies and other topics may vary with changes in relevant law and policy.

• In-class presentation and written essay 1,000–1,500 words (25%) (26 February)
• Research paper 7,500 words (75%) (27 April) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

• Understand the scientific basis for projections of global warming and the impacts of climate change in an ecological, social and economic context
• Understand the international, regional and local factors that produce climate change
• Understand the international legal framework governing climate change issues and likely future trends, including the UNFCCC and associated international instruments
• Understand legislative responses to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including market measures and energy-related measures such as mandatory renewable-energy targets
• Be able to critically evaluate the various legislative and regulatory mitigation and adaptation measures at federal and state level
• Be able to assess Australia’s progress towards a comprehensive and effective governance framework for climate change.

Syllabus:

This subject will provide a general outline of climate change law and regulation at an international, national and local level. This will be supplemented by more detailed examination of specific topics, such as international law frameworks, and federal policy and law responses such as cap and trade/emissions trading schemes and energy responses. Representative case studies at a state, business and resource level will also be examined.

Principal topics may include:*

• The scientific basis for projections of global warming and the existing and predicted physical impacts of climate change
• The drivers for climate change law
• The international legal framework, including the UNFCCC and associated international instruments, together with likely trends in international law
• The existing and potential legislative federal framework for climate change mitigation and adaptation with responses, including market measures such as emissions trading schemes
• The nature of climate change litigation and its intersections with wider environmental concerns
• The integration of energy/GHG emissions impact considerations into planning law, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
• The scope of state-based legislative and regulatory responses to climate change
• Climate change law and regulation and its impact on corporate and government entities (case study).

* Climate law is a field in a considerable state of flux at the present. Consequently, case studies and other topics may vary with changes in relevant law and policy.

• In-class presentation and written essay 1,000–1,500 words (25%) (26 February)
• Research paper 7,500 words (75%) (27 April) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)