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International Environmental Law (LAWS70219)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
August
Teaching staff:
Alice Palmer (Subject Coordinator)
Sam Johnston
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | August |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
International environmental law is the field of public international law concerned principally with the protection of the natural environment. It is a vitally important branch of international law, seeking as it does to safeguard the environment on which humanity depends for its very existence. International environmental law seeks to integrate the activities of diverse actors — states, international organisations, businesses, communities and non-government organisations (NGOs) — and uses a wide range of legal tools (including economic instruments and participatory mechanisms) to address pressing environmental concerns. This subject explores the critical governance and regulatory dimensions of international environmental law, as well as introducing you to cases and treaties that have been pivotal to the development of this area of international law. The lecturers in the subject are international environmental law experts, with both academic and practical experience in the field, which will be drawn into the delivery of a stimulating and relevant subject.
Indicative list of principal topics:
- The need for international environmental law and its historical development
- Fundamental principles and concepts necessary for an understanding of international environmental law, eg sustainable development, precautionary principle and 'polluter pays' principle
- The principal institutions and actors involved in the creation, implementation and enforcement of international environmental law
- The principal cases and treaties that have been influential in the development of international environmental law
- Current issues of concern in international environmental law, including atmospheric pollution and climate change, the protection of the oceans, species protection and biodiversity as well as environmental issues relevant to finance, human rights and international trade.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have a sophisticated appreciation of the need for, and historical development of, international environmental law
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts of international environmental law
- Be able to critically analyse, interpret and assess the contribution of cases, treaties and institutions to the development of international environmental law
- Be an engaged participant in debate regarding emerging and contemporary issues in the field, such as multi-level environmental governance, participatory reforms and inter-linkages with other areas of international law
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating to problems in the current environmental regime at the global level and to critically evaluate ways to improve international environmental law
- Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information regarding substantive areas of international environmental law to relevant specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Be able demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment and responsibility as a practitioner and learner in the field of international environmental law
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Option 1
Admission into a Melbourne Law Masters program
Option 2
Admission into the MC-JURISD Juris Doctor
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are taught at an advanced graduate level and requires a thorough background in common law. While efforts are made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, teaching and assessment activities are designed to give an advanced and integrated understanding of the discipline of law for legal practitioners, learners and researchers.
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class Presentation
| During the teaching period | 10% |
Take-home examination
| 12 - 15 September 2025 | 90% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- August
Principal coordinator Alice Palmer Coordinator Sam Johnston Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 23 July 2025 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 20 August 2025 to 26 August 2025 Last self-enrol date 28 July 2025 Census date 22 August 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 October 2025 Assessment period ends 7 November 2025 August contact information
Teaching staff:
Alice Palmer (Subject Coordinator)
Sam JohnstonFor current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment, 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: 4 March 2025
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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If subject coordinator approval is required, or for further information about Community Access Program study, please contact us
- 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: 4 March 2025