Environmental Law

Subject LAWS70100 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

August, Parkville - 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: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Coordinator

Prof Lee Godden

Contact

For more information, contact the Melbourne Law Masters office.

Email law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone +61 3 8344 6190.

Alternatively, visit our website:

www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject will provide an examination of the development and current scope of Australian environmental law, with a focus on the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) and related state environmental protection legislation.Principal topics will include:

  • The growing importance of international law, with the recognition that environmental protection issues cross regulatory boundaries
  • Greater integration between relevant discipline areas concerned with environmental protection
  • Greater diversity in environmental law approaches, including integration with other regulatory areas such as planning, natural resource management, water use and indigenous land management, and financial measures and economic instruments.

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

  • Environmental law: The drivers of change
  • Environmental actors, including public interest litigation
  • The range of legal and regulatory tools deployed in environmental law, including consideration of market mechanisms
  • The interaction of law and science, with a focus on the precautionary principle
  • Integration and complexity challenges in implementing environmental law with a focus on biodiversity protection
  • International law trends including trade and environment and climate change governance.
Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this 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
  • Understand the influence of other disciplines, such as science, on the scope and character of environmental law
  • Analyse the nature of current environmental law approaches such as the ‘regulatory mix’
  • Be familiar with key case studies that illustrate the dynamic trends in environmental law, such as cumulative impact assessment
  • Understand the need for integration across many areas of law to achieve environmental goals, such as ecologically sustainable development.
Assessment:

Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date

Download PDF version.