Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To provide an overview of:

• The definition of environmental law and its historical background, fundamental concepts, environmental principles, and environmental rights
• The legal framework and regulatory regimes for the protection of the environment in the UK
• The role and rights of the public in environmental decision-making
• Integrated themes – international and EU law and environmental protection; environmental justice; challenges

Outline Of Syllabus

11 lecture topics:
•       Introduction to environmental law (2 hours)
•       Environmental values, politics and institutions (1 hour)
•       Environmental permitting (2 hours)
•       Contaminated land (1 hour)
•       Waste management (1 hour)
•       Water law (2 hours)
•       Regulation of land use (planning law and conservation) (2 hours)
•       Private law (nuisance, negligence, trespass) (2 hours)
•       Climate change (2 hours)
•       The role and rights of the public in environmental decision-making (2 hours)
•       International environmental law (1 hour)
•       Environmental justice (1 hour)
•       Environmental and climate litigation: Role of Courts in Shaping Environmental Jurisprudence
•       Challenges to environmental law (1 hour)
•       Revision/assessment preparation (1 hour)

5 seminars:
•       Environmental principles
•       Environmental permitting; contamination
•       Waste and water law
•       Regulation of land use
•       Climate change; rights of the public

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

•       Ability to identify the interrelation between environmental law, environmental science and legal cultures
•       Familiarisation with the background to and development of environmental regulation in the UK
•       Understanding the role of environmental institutions in environmental regulation in the UK
•       Understanding the operation of the main environmental regulatory regimes in the UK
•       Recognition of the limitations and weaknesses of these regimes
•       Understanding the role of private law in environmental protection
•       A broad understanding of environmental jurisprudence and a detailed understanding of domestic environmental legal cultures

Intended Skill Outcomes

•       Ability to read legislation and understand complex regulatory regimes
•       Ability to critically analyse the law
•       Ability to form and communicate an opinion on the effectiveness of regulatory regimes, supported by evidence
•       Ability to discern social and political conditions underlying environmental law and the role of politics in the environmental policy making and legislative processes

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures establish the framework for knowledge and techniques for analysis of the law. The small group teaching allows for detailed application of the knowledge and techniques by the students. The guided independent study takes the form of directed reading and tasks to consolidate and expand on the lectures, prepare for the small group teaching, and prepare for complete the assessment. These teaching methods promote knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and allow for development of skills in reading and analysing the law, and developing and communicating a clear argument. Further, the teaching methods aim to build passion for the subject and commitment to environmental issues and not mere engagement with the materials presented within the syllabus.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The summative assessed coursework will give students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their research skills and their understanding of the operation of environmental law. Students will be expected to present a coherent argument supported by law, legal theory, policy and academic discussion. The coursework will give the students the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of one of the topics studied in the module, as well as develop their research and analytical skills. The formative 1000 word essay outline will allow students to develop their research skills and plan for the summative assessment.

General Notes

N/A