Course overview
Climate change poses enormous challenges due to its wide-ranging implications and long-term effects to the environment, economy and society. This course examines the various legal regimes, approaches and responses to climate change at the international and national level from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to Australian federal, state and local legislation. It will also consider the broader scientific, policy, ethical and normative debates that overlay and add context to the legal measures and solutions-undertaken to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Course learning outcomes
- Explain the development of climate change law and policy from an international and Australian context
- Critically reflect on the range of social, political, ethical, economic and ecological factors that influence climate change law, policy, and decision-making
- Conduct legal research and generate a medium length research essay
- Demonstrate oral communication skills and collaboration by discussing and debating theoretical propositions, methodologies and legal problems related to climate change
- Apply climate change law to complex issues, and critique the law from a practical perspective, either individually or as part of a team