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Human Rights and Climate Change (LAWS70452)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
December
Lecturer
Dr Alice Palmer (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | December |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Recent developments such as the decision to appoint a UN special rapporteur on human rights and climate change are significant milestones in the long-time efforts by international institutions and advocates to recognise and address the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on the enjoyment of human rights. UN institutions and international treaty bodies responsible for human rights and environmental matters have over many years taken steps to deal with the serious impacts that climate change has on the rights to life, culture, health, food and an adequate standard of living for individuals and communities across the world. Meanwhile, advocates have initiated proceedings before courts and other complaints bodies claiming that human rights have been violated as a result of climate change. In the process, existing human rights have been repurposed towards environmental ends, and rights to a healthy environment and a safe climate have emerged for international recognition.
This course will introduce and explore the main concepts, laws, institutions and policies at the intersection of international human rights law and international law on climate change. Through an examination of treaties and case law, it will consider how international law and policy is being developed to protect human rights affected by climate change.
Principal topics include:
- The human rights of particular groups – including indigenous peoples, children and displaced people – affected by climate change.
- The different responsibilities of nations and businesses to address the human rights impacts of climate change.
- Key developments in law and policy in UN bodies and treaty institutions dealing respectively with human rights and environmental protection, including existing and emerging human rights such as the right to a healthy environment.
- Critical perspectives on the use of human rights law and procedures to tackle harms arising from greenhouse gas emissions.
- The international movement on rights of nature as part of the context in which international human rights law is evolving to address climate change.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this course will:
- Have a sophisticated understanding of the architecture of the international and regional human rights system, as well as the international climate change regime, within which the human rights implications of climate change impacts can be addressed.
- Have advanced knowledge of the full range of substantive and procedural rights that can be invoked to offer protection against environmental and climate harm.
- Have insight into the philosophical and conceptual limits of human rights, including the autonomous healthy right to the environment, and the extent to which they can be extended to cover a healthy climate.
- Have nuanced appreciation of the potential and limits of international climate change law in protecting the rights of people affected by climate harm.
- Have the technical skills to navigate and interpret a range of international instruments, including UN and treaty resolutions, documents and decisions.
- Have the ability to communicate critical, targeted, insightful, well-researched and original interventions in debates relating to climate change and human rights.
- Have the expertise to marshal facts and evidence in making a convincing argument, in connection with legal complaints concerning climate change and human rights.
Last updated: 20 April 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must meet one of the following prerequisite options:
Option 1
Admission into a relevant Melbourne Law Masters program
Option 2
Admission into the MC-JURISD Juris Doctor
AND
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50049 | Human Rights Law and Practice | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
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: 20 April 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class participation | Throughout the teaching period | 5% |
Individual class presentation on an allocated topic (750 words)
| During the teaching period | 15% |
Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| 23 February 2023 | 80% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance. Note: the attendance hurdle does not apply when the subject is delivered online, however attendance at all live online sessions is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 20 April 2023
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- December
Coordinator Alice Palmer Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 9 November 2022 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 7 December 2022 to 13 December 2022 Last self-enrol date 14 November 2022 Census date 8 December 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 13 January 2023 Assessment period ends 23 February 2023 December contact information
Lecturer
Dr Alice Palmer (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 20 April 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS in the pre-teaching period.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- 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: 20 April 2023