LAWS6038

International Climate Change Law and Policy

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Available in 2014

Callaghan Campus Semester 1

This course will provide students with advanced and specialized knowledge of the legal principles, treaties and institutions of the international climate regime. The course will examine the evolution and architecture of the international climate regime including the 1992 United National Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1997 Kyoto Protocol and 2009 Copenhagen Accord. The course will also examine climate change institutions formed outside United Nations negotiation process and the key policy and theoretical debates about future development of the international climate regime. The course will also examine and evaluate differing approaches to domestic implementation of international obligations on climate change through case studies on Australian efforts at carbon pricing and the European Emissions Trading Scheme.

Objectives On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate advanced understanding and knowledge of the legal principles, rules and institutions of the international climate change regime.
2. Evaluate and critically analyse key theoretical debates on the formation and operation of international climate change regime.
3. Apply advanced knowledge of the international climate regime to negotiate and design part of an international environmental agreement on climate change.
4. Analyse and evaluate key policy debates surrounding future development of the international climate regime.
Content The topics in this course include:
1. Anthropogenic Climate Change and the International Law System.
2. Evolution and Architecture of the International Climate Change Regime.
3. The 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
4. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
5. The Kyoto Protocol Flexibility Mechanisms.
6. The Asia-Pacific Partnership and Soft-Law Climate Institutions.
7. Designing the post-2012 International Climate Change Regime.
8. Domestic Implementation: Case Studies from Australia and the European Union.
9. Multilevel Governance of Climate Change.
Replacing Course(s) NA
Transition NA
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge Nil
Modes of Delivery Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Seminar
Assessment Items
Essays / Written Assignments Research Assignment
Case Scenario/PBL exercises International climate change agreement mock negotiation and design exercise.
Contact Hours Seminar: for 24 hour(s) per Term for Full Term
Compulsory Components
Requisite by Enrolment This course is only available to students enrolled in the Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and Master of Laws.
Timetables 2014 Course Timetables for LAWS6038