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LAW30440

Academic Year 2024/2025

Environmental Law and Policy (LAW30440)

Subject:
Law
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Law
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Amanda Byer
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Environmental law is fundamental to how society interacts with the natural world around it. This module will examine the key principles of environmental law, its underlying philosophies, and how it is applied, at national, European and international levels. It will trace the development of environmental law to date and its sources, and will examine how environmental law has become an integral part of many aspects of community life. Fundamental concepts and principles of environmental law will be illustrated with contemporary international and domestic examples, including from climate change law, nature conservation law, and the law of sustainable development. Remedies and enforcement will be studied in detail. This module will not deal in depth with Planning Law, which is covered in a separate module in trimester 2.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, diligent students should: (1) have a good grounding in the history and key principles of substantive environmental law; (2) understand how environmental law is enforced and the remedies available for breach of environmental law at national, European and international levels; (3) understand the implications of the level at which environmental law is made - domestic, European and international; (4) have developed an awareness of the challenges that this field of law faces and will face in the future.

Indicative Module Content:

Due to the breadth of the environmental law field, a number of key substantive areas will be selected for particular focus. Topics
vary from year to year, most recently including:

- Who governs the environment? International and European institutions;
- Principles of environmental law;
- Techniques of governing the environment;
- Enforcing environmental law at international and EU levels;
- Environmental democracy rights (access to information, public participation, and
access to justice);
- Human rights and the environment;
- The law of nature conservation in Europe;
- Climate change law;
- Sustainable development.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

120

Seminar (or Webinar)

24

Total

144


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; critical writing

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Environmental Law (LAW20110), Environmental Law (LAW27110)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Essay: Essay (2,500 words) Week 12 Graded No
100
No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Group/class feedback after the exam.

Name Role
Mrs Julie Foulon Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Andrew Jackson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 11:00 - 12:50