Human Rights and Climate Change (LAWS70452)

Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

You’re viewing the 2025 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks

Overview

Availability(Quotas apply)
October
FeesLook up fees

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. 

Indicative list of principal topics:

  • 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, the stand-alone right to a healthy 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: 4 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Recommended background knowledge

 

 

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

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Individual class presentation on an allocated topic (750 words)

  • 5 minutes
During the teaching period15%

Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator

  • 5000 words
3 December 202585%
Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required.Throughout the teaching periodN/A

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Quotas apply to this subject

Dates & times

  • October
    CoordinatorAlice Palmer
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours34
    Total time commitment150 hours
    Pre teaching start date10 September 2025
    Pre teaching requirementsPlease 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 8 October 2025 to 14 October 2025
    Last self-enrol date15 September 2025
    Census date10 October 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail14 November 2025
    Assessment period ends19 December 2025

    October contact information

    Teaching staff:

    Dr Alice Palmer ( Subject Coordinator)

    For 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

Last updated: 4 March 2025