LAWS6104Human Rights and Climate Change-Induced Human Displacement

Course handbook

Description

Climate change is today one of the top agendas in both domestic and international politics. The broad range of actors and systems that it impacts, such as humans and life, the earth, the oceans, the atmosphere and all in between, has prompted an unprecedented attention on the issue. There is also an acute focus on the great concern it poses for human rights protection. However, though the science of climate change has been established for a while now, the political, economic and social context within which we deal with climate change has meant that responses are slow. The existence of a wide array of actors and interests represented in the climate change debate continues to affect mitigation and adaptation strategies. This hurdle relates both to dealing with climate change and its impacts. A recognition of the direct impact of climate change on current and future generations and the urgency with which the international community needs to act has therefore given rise to an advocacy strategy that puts human rights at the centre of policy debates. This course will focus on issues at the intersection of climate change and human rights as they relate to a particular impact of climate change: the forced displacement of people from their abodes. It explores the institutions and actors as well as the international legal frameworks on climate change, human rights and forcibly displaced persons. Students will gain specialised knowledge of the impacts of climate change and the debate arounds approaches to dealing with them. The course further involves case studies that highlight the themes and considers special issues related to climate change. The course is primarily concerned with international law; however, students will have several opportunities to explore the interaction between international and domestic human rights protections.

Availability2024 Course Timetables

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced understanding and knowledge of the key international principles and rules on human rights law with a focus on climate change-induced human displacement.

2. Demonstrate specialised understanding of existing human rights mechanisms and the gaps for addressing climate displacement.

3. Evaluate and critically analyse the role of key actors in the area of human rights, climate change and climate-induced displacement.

4. Make professional contributions to the future development of law and policy.

5. Conduct high-level legal research, exploring primary and secondary materials, in order to generate and justify theoretical and practical legal propositions.

6. Prepare and present cogent arguments, orally and in writing, that are persuasive for a legal audience.

Content

The topic in this course include the following:

1. Introduction to climate change, human rights and forced human displacement
2. Understanding the scope of climate-induced displacement
3. Climate change and a human rights-based approach: Meaning, purpose and challenges
4. The impact of Climate Change: Human Rights in Perspective
5. Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Human Rights and Cliimate Risk
6. Climate change-induced displacement and the United Nations
7. Migration as adaptation
8. Climate change and the State: Special issues
9. Protection of 'climate refugees' through law: Alternatives and solutions
10. Climate change and Australia

Assessment items

Participation: Participation: Active learning participation in seminars

Online Learning Activity: Quizzes

Presentation: Presentation: Individual presentation prepared & delivered either in seminar or in a video recor

Written Assignment: Written Assignment and submission

Contact hours

Semester 1 - 2024 - Newcastle City Precinct

Course outline

• LAWS6104 - Semester 1, 2024 (Ncle) (PDF, 400.5 KB)