11284 - Advanced Studies of International Environmental Law Modulübersicht

Module Number: 11284
Module Title:Advanced Studies of International Environmental Law
  Internationales Umweltrecht für Fortgeschrittene
Department: Faculty 5 - Business, Law and Social Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. jur. Albrecht, Eike
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every summer semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:After completing the module, students should be able to:
  • Understand international environmental law and its role in the management of global environmental problems,
  • Identify and critically analyse issues pertaining to international environmental disputes,
  • Apply international environmental law in specific concrete cases,
  • Comprehend and evaluate the significance of international environmental law in protecting the environment and fostering international relations.
 
After completing the seminar, students will:
  • Understand the way in which international agreements are achieved,
  • Understand the role various international actors play in decision making,
  • Have an understanding of the relevant actors who contribute to the outcome of international agreements,
  • Be able to make clear and convincing statements (orally and in written form),
  • Understand international decision-making procedures after playing an active role in a (simulated) negotiation process,
  • Have improved their skills in effectively arguing their case in relation to the topics discussed in class.
Contents:Lecture: Advanced Studies of International Environmental Law
  • Introduction to international law and international environmental law
  • Creation and development of international environmental law
  • Implementation and enforcement strategies of international environmental agreements
  • International environmental agreements with respect to the following topics:
    • Biodiversity (Biodiversity Convention/CITES/WHC).
    • Marine environment (Convention on the Law of the Sea)
    • Climate change (Climate Change Convention/Kyoto Protocol/Paris Agreement)
    • Ozone depletion (Convention for Protecting Ozone Layer/Montreal Protocol)
    • Toxic/hazardous substances (Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste)
    • Citizens rights to information, public participation and access to Justice
 
Seminar: International Negotiations and Environmental Decision-Making
  • Challenges of international negotiations with a focus on climate change
  • Actors of global environmental governance and international environmental decision-making
  • State participation in global environmental governance
  • The role of non-state actors in environmental decision-making and negotiations
  • Simulation (role play) of an international conference (2 groups with maximum 35 students)

At the beginning of the semester, the students will we be prepared to participate in a simulation of a multilateral negotiation process. (Climate Conference Simulation Groups). Each student in the simulation group will take the role of a relevant international player such as a country, an NGO, the private sector, or a subsidiary body. Participants will be required to prepare (in written and oral form) an assigned country/organisation engaged in the international environmental negotiation process to actively participate in the final role-play.
 

Recommended Prerequisites:Knowledge of the content of module:
  • 41201 International Environmental Law
Mandatory Prerequisites:None
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Lecture / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Seminar / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:
  • Birnie/Boyle/Redgwell, International Law and the Environment, 4th edition, Oxford University Press, 2021
  • Knopp/Epstein/Hoffmann, International and European Environmental Law with Reference to German Environmental Law – A Guide for International Study Programs, 2nd edition, Berlin 2019
  • Albrecht, Egute, Wanki, Ezeamama (Eds.), International environmental law (IEL) – Agreements and introduction. 6th expanded and updated edition, 2022.
  • IPCC, 2022: Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [P.R. Shukla, J. Skea, R. Slade, A. Al Khourdajie, R. van Diemen, D. McCollum, M. Pathak, S. Some, P. Vyas, R. Fradera, M. Belkacemi, A. Hasija, G. Lisboa, S. Luz, J. Malley, (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA. doi: 10.1017/9781009157926.001.
  • IPCC, 2018: Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty [Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, H.-O. Pörtner, D. Roberts, J. Skea, P.R. Shukla, A. Pirani, W. Moufouma-Okia, C. Péan, R. Pidcock, S. Connors, J.B.R. Matthews, Y. Chen, X. Zhou, M.I. Gomis, E. Lonnoy, T. Maycock, M. Tignor, and T. Waterfield (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, pp. 3-24 https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157940.001.
Additional literature will be announced in class and made available on the Moodle page of the course.

Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:
  • Written Exam, 120 minutes (maximum 40 points) 

And
 
Climate Conference Simulation Group:
  • Paper for preparation of the climate conference, 2 pages (maximum 15 points)
  • Simulation of a climate conference, 10 SWS (maximum 25 points)
or
Weekly seminars Group:

  • 10 pages essay submission on topics related to environmental negotiations and decision-making (maximum 40 points)
 

To pass (grade 4,0) the module, students need to earn a minimum of 40 points.
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Abschluss im Ausland / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / keine PO
  • Abschluss im Ausland / Environmental and Resource Management / keine PO
  • Master (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2011
  • Master (research-oriented) - Double Degree / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Abschluss im Ausland / Euro Hydroinformatics and Water Management / keine PO
  • Master (research-oriented) / Umweltingenieurwesen / PO 2012
Remarks:
Module Components:
  • Lecture: Advanced Studies in International Environmental Law
  • Seminar: International Negotiations and Environmental Decision-Making (including COTTCOP blocked seminars)
  • Examination: Advanced Studies in International Environmental Law
Components to be offered in the Current Semester: