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Climate Change Law (LAWS50056)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5Not available in 2020
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
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This subject introduces students to the emerging, specialised field of climate change law and regulation, covering domestic, comparative and international legal dimensions. It develops and integrates legal knowledge from across many sub-disciplinary fields (e.g. administrative law and torts law), augmenting this through study of specific climate change-related legislation and case law, and relevant multidisciplinary knowledge to build an understanding of the complex interactions that define climate change law. Topics addressed will include the multidisciplinary nature of climate law study, structures for climate change governance at the international and domestic levels, modes of climate change regulation, such as emissions trading schemes and renewable energy targets, litigation and its role in securing climate justice, and legal frameworks for climate change adaptation. Case studies considered throughout the subject will provide students with an understanding of recent developments in the disciplinary area and the associated field of climate and energy law professional practice.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject should have an advanced and integrated understanding of, and be able to critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in relation to, the following issues:
- The regulatory implications of scientific projections of global warming and predictions of the impacts of climate change in an ecological, social and economic context;
- The drivers for climate change regulation at an international, regional and local level;
- The development of, and prospects for, the international legal framework governing climate change issues, including the UNFCCC and associated international instruments;
- Climate change litigation and its integration with wider environmental concerns;
- The existing and potential legislative responses to climate change mitigation and adaptation including market measures and energy related measures;
- The impact of Australia’s federal governance framework on the form and effectiveness of climate change regulation; and
- The necessary elements of a comprehensive and effective governance framework for climate change.
Generic skills
Students who have successfully completed this subject will have developed and demonstrated the following skills:
- Mastery of theoretical knowledge and demonstrated ability to critically reflect on theory and professional practice on issues of climate change law;
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different areas of climate change regulation;
- Advanced communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
- High level technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or legal scholarship, at both a domestic and international level;
- Attitudes towards legal knowledge that include openness to new ideas and awareness of location and politics in its creation and use;
- An applied understanding of diverse international, comparative and domestic legal materials;
- An expanded capacity for self-directed legal research involving interdisciplinary materials and high level personal autonomy and accountability with respect to time management; and
- An awareness of the value of collaborative learning in a participatory seminar style teaching environment.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Successful completion of all the below subjects:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
April (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
June (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50025 | Torts |
November (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50026 | Obligations |
May (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50027 | Dispute Resolution | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
LAWS50028 | Constitutional Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50030 | Property |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
April (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50031 | Legal Theory |
November (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50032 | Administrative Law |
May (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students cannot enrol in this subject if they have previously completed the following subject:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70293 | Climate Change Law | May (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Students are recommended to take the following subject prior to, or in conjunction with, this subject.
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50041 | Public International Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Independent research essay on a topic related to climate change law as approved by the coordinator
| 75% | |
Case study on an allocated aspect of climate change law
| 25% |
Additional details
The due date of the above assessment will be available to students via the Assessment Schedule on the LMS Community.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2020
Time commitment details
144 hours
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Specialist printed materials will also be made available from the Melbourne Law School.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Juris Doctor - Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022