Course overview
This course examines the role and effectiveness of international law in addressing global environmental challenges. It introduces key legal principles, concepts, and obligations, while engaging with the scientific, political, economic, and social dimensions that shape global environmental governance. A central focus is the evaluation of international environmental law in practice, particularly its implementation, enforceability, and capacity to respond to evolving global pressures. The course traces the historical development and contested nature of environmental governance across key areas, including ocean fisheries management, polar governance, and climate change, as well as emerging issues such as marine plastic pollution, deep seabed mining, transboundary watercourses, and outer space governance. These themes are explored through comparative case studies from around the world, with particular attention to Australia’s role in selected regimes and governance settings.
Course learning outcomes
- Explain and critically analyse the key principles, concepts, and sources of international environmental law.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of international environmental regimes in addressing global environmental challenges, including issues of implementation and enforcement.
- Analyse the interaction between legal, scientific, political, and economic factors in shaping environmental governance at the international level.
- Apply legal frameworks to contemporary case studies, including climate change, ocean and polar governance, and emerging environmental issues.
- Develop and communicate well-reasoned arguments on complex environmental law issues, supported by relevant legal sources and evidence.