Dr Michelle Lim
Ph: 8313 0573
Room 3.08, Ligertwood Building (Adelaide Law School)
michelle.lim@adelaide.edu.au

Intensive school: Monday and Tuesday 21-22 August 2017; 4-5 September 2017. 10am-4pm. Room 5.15, Level 5, Ligertwood Building. 

For specific topics available each week see Learning Activities.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1) Describe the planetary boundaries concept and the impacts of global environmental change in the current geological epoch of the Anthropocene;

2) Explain the sources of international environmental law and the content of international environmental law in the areas of climate change, biodiversity, water, oceans, polar regions, sustainable development and human rights;

3) Analyze the complexity of interactions across international environmental regimes and between other international regimes;

4) Describe how international environmental law is developed and implemented and critique the effectiveness of implementation regimes and institutions;

5) Assess whether international environmental law is fit for purpose in the Anthropocene;

6) Develop and execute original interdisciplinary research on a focused area of international environmental law.

Philippe Sands & Jacqueline Peel, “Principles of international Environmental Law” 3rd  ed., Cambridge University Press, 2012

References

During the course there will be references to various sources, particularly on internet websites which students may find useful. Some of the more commonly used sites are listed below.

U.N.Treaty Collection: www.treaties.un.org

This site contains copies of all UN treaties together with data on which countries are signatories, date of operation, amendments etc

Australian
Treaties Database:  http://www.dfat.gov.au/treaties/index.html
This is an online resource maintained by the Australian Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade for researching treaties to which Australia is a signatory or where Australia has taken other treaty action.

The United Nations Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements: https://www.informea.org/
This is a very useful website. Materials from this website will be used to supplement information provide in class. 


Other Texts (Most of these are available in the Law Library. The library has an extensive collection of other international environmental law texts. You are not expected to read all or indeed any of these suggested texts. They are provided though as helpful resources for understanding the course and delving into the research topic)

Fitzmaurice, M., Ong, D.M. and Merkouris, P., Research Handbook on International Environmental Law, Edward Elgar 2010. 
A very helpful reference with 30 contributors. Covers a extensive array of topics on International Environmental Law. 

Voight, C., Sustainable Development as a Principle of International Law - Resolving Conflicts Between Climate Measures and WTO Law, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2009. 
A must read for anyone interested in the evolution of the concept of sustainable development. 

Rothwell, D.R., Kaye, S., Akhtarkhavari, A. and Davis, R. International Law, Cases and Materials with Australian Perspectives. Cambridge University Press, 2nd edn. 2004. 
Very useful particular for those who do not have prior grounding in international law. While not specifically focused on international environmental law there is a dedicated international environmental law section. The implications for Australia contained within the book are particularly relevant for this course. 

David Hunter, James Salzman, and Durwood Zaelke, International Environmental Law and Policy, 4th  edition, Foundation Press (Thomson Reuters in Australia), 2011

Ulrich Beyerlin & Thilo Marauhn, International Environmental Law, Hart Publishing Ltd, 2011

Additional web-links, further resources, assessment, important messages, topic notes, power point slides, case studies and other materials relating to the course will be placed on MyUni for the purposes of the course. MyUni can be found at www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au.

You should check the International Environmental law course link on MyUni regularly. Any announcements during the intensive will also be posted on MyUni and emailed to all students listed in the course.

Learning and Teaching Activities amounting to 24 hours (across lecture, seminar and structured learning activity formats) will be offered to students in this course. This will occur at intensive schools on 21-22 August and 4-5 September.

In addition, materials and instruction will be provided online to prepare students for the intensive school and for assessment. Content, delivery and assessment is aligned to enable students to achieve course and programme outcomes.

The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies.

Therefore, from Week 1, students are expected to spend an average of 12 hours a week on this course. This includes working through the readings and online materials provided each week and preparing for assessment tasks.

This course combines online self-directed learning with intensive schools which extend across 4-days (10am-4pm, 21-22 August & 4-5 September).

The course is divided into 12 topics. With the exception of Week 1, which is comprised of 3 topics, two topics will be available online each week from Weeks 1-4. Students are expected to have engaged with this material prior to the first intensive school (21-22 August). Students will engage with Topic 10 (Environmental Law Futures –Scenarios) at the Intensive School. Students are expected to familiarise themselves with Topics 11 and 12 in Week 6. From Week 8 onwards students are expected to work on their assessment. The course coordinator will be available to respond to comments during this time.

Week 1	Topic 1: The Anthropocene
	Topic 2: Fundamentals of International Law
	Topic 3: The Research Process
Week 2	Topic 4: Climate Change
	Topic 5: The Law of Transboundary Watercourses
Week 3	Topic 6: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
	Topic 7: Polar Governance
Week 4	Topic 8: Sustainable Development
	Topic 9: Human Rights and the Environment
Week 5	Intensive School 21-22 August 2017
	Topic 10: Environmental Law Futures (Scenarios)
Week 6	Topic 11: The Law of the Sea
	Topic 12: Regime interaction and implementation
Week 7	Intensive School - 4-5 September 2017
Weeks 8-12	Complete assessment

There are three (3) components of assessment for this course.  Each part of the assessment scheme is compulsory. This means that if any one of the items of assessment is not undertaken/submitted, the marks assigned for that assessment will be irrevocably lost, and the final mark obtainable will be reduced by that amount.

Assessment Item	% of final mark	Due date	Assessment Type	Redeemable	Learning Outcomes
Abstract (5%), Seminar Presentation (10%) and Participation (5%)	20%	Abstract Friday 25 August Seminar Presentation Tuesday 5 September	Individual	No	1,2,5,4,6 (depending on chosen topic could also include 3)
Group Submission and Presentation on Environmental Law Futures (Scenarios)	15%	Submission Sunday 3 September 2017 Presentation Monday 4 September 2017	Group	No	1-5
Research Essay (5500 words)	65%	Friday 27 October 2017	Individual	No	1,2,5,4,6 (depending on chosen topic could also include 3)
Total			100%

There are three (3) components of assessment for this course.  Each part of the assessment scheme is compulsory.
This means that if any one of the items of assessment is not undertaken/submitted, the marks assigned for that assessment will be irrevocably lost, and the final mark obtainable will be reduced by that amount.

1) Abstract (5%), Seminar Presentation (10%) and Participation (5%) (total = 20% of the final result) 
Abstract due Friday 25 August 2017; Seminar Presentation Tuesday 5 September
This group of assessment tasks not only help students to deliver a high quality final written assignment but also familiarise students with the academic research process. 

Abstract (5%) due Friday 25 August 2017 - 300 words
The abstract should include the title of the final written assignment; a few sentences which set out the background and context of the research topic; a clear research question; preliminary arguments and conclusion. 

It is normal for thinking to evolve throughout the research process. Marks will NOT be deducted if the title (or even the content) of the final assignment differs from the submitted abstract. The writing of the abstract enables students to consolidate preliminary thinking about the written assignment and allows the course coordinator to guide students towards undertaking a manageable research project. 

Seminar Presentation (10%) Tuesday 5 September
Effective communication is an essential skill in research. A workshop consisting of 10 minute seminars from all students will be held on the final afternoon of the intensive school. The workshop will allow students to develop academic communication skills, share their research with their peers and receive important feedback for their final written assignment. 

Seminar Participation (5%) Tuesday 5 September
Collegiality is an important part of research. Students will be assessed on their ability to engage constructively with their peers. This process will also enhance students' broad understanding of a range of international environmental law topics. 


2) Group Submission and Presentation on Environmental Law Futures (Scenarios) (15% of the final result) 
Submission due Sunday 3 September; Presentation due Monday 4 September 
The uncertainty and surprise which characterises environmental governance in the Anthropocene requires the design of international environmental law which is fit for purpose in a range of different possible futures. 

Students will be provided with descriptions of a range of possible futures. From this they will be required to examine interactions across various international treaty regimes and the extent to which current international environmental law is adequate to acheive a desirable and sustainable future. Students will also consider what changes (e.g. legal, institutional, economic, social etc.) need to be made today to acheive the desired sustainable future of tomorrow. 

Students will work in groups of 3. At the 1st intensive school (21-22 August) students will choose their group members. Students will be required to convene prior to the 2nd intensive school and to submit an outline of their conclusions by Sunday 3 September. On Monday 4 September each group will jointly present the findings of the group to other members of the class. 


3) Written Assignment (65% of the final result) Friday 27 October 2017

This assessment provides students with the opportunity to develop deep disciplinary knowledge in a chosen area of international environmental law and to consider the effectiveness of international environmental law in an era of global environmental change. The assignment assesses students' research, written communication and critical thinking skills. 

Students must submit a 5500 word essay on a topic to be selected from a list of topics provided by the course coordinator at the commencement of the course. Students will be required to discuss their chosen topic through the lens of whether current international environmental law covering that subject area is fit for purpose in the Anthropocene. 

The deadline for submission is Friday 27 October 2017. Assignments must be submitted electronically through Turnitin and will be marked electronically and returned via the same medium. Instructions on how to lodge all assessment documents through Turnitin will be provided at the start of the course.

Assessment Criteria
Assignments will be assesed based on the following:
• The extent to which the paper engages with the task and provides ways forward for environmental law in the Anthropocene;
• Whether the paper has a clearly defined research questionl
• Whether the topic and or argument are novel;
• How coherent the of thesis (argument) is;
• The depth of analysis and level of critical examination of the issues raised;
• Clarity of expression;
• Logical planning, structure and sequence; 
• Evidence of comprehensive research and engagement with the relevant literature;
• The student demonstrates understanding of relevant legal materials;
• Correct application of relevant material
• Overall presentation, including correct grammar, spelling and punctuation
• Use of resources in formulating the paper including proper acknowledgment and correct
referencing

Fail 0 – 49
Does not develop coherent and rational arguments; demonstrates fundamental errors of understanding of key legal principles and concepts; little evidence of research to support arguments; demonstrates limited analytical and evaluative skills

Pass 50 – 64
Demonstrates a basic understanding of the relevant legal material eg legislation, cases and treaties; applies core texts and materials; arguments rational and coherent; adheres to referencing requirements

Credit 65 – 74
Demonstrates a high level of understanding of the relevant legal materials; has a thorough understanding of course materials; arguments are well constructed with appropriate supporting referencing; demonstrates some critical legal thinking and evaluative skills

Distinction 75 – 84
A very high standard of understanding of the relevant legal materials with some original and sophisticated perspectives included; paper demonstrates high level insight; broad ranging research undertaken; evidence of high level of critical thinking; well developed analytical and evaluative skills

High Distinction 85 - 100
Outstanding level of understanding and interpretation demonstrated; arguments are compelling and well supported by relevant authorities; the student has undertaken broad ranging research and demonstrated original and sophisticated thinking especially in relation to difficult areas of legal application; highly developed written communication skills demonstrated.

Students choosing to use this course to satisfy the requirements of the substantial research piece of scholarship for their program must undertake the required disciplinary research and produce a 7,000 - 8,000 word essay which will be assessed against publication standards. This essay will replace the above mentioned research essay.



Standard Adelaide Law School penalties re: late submissions and papers which exceed the word limits.

Standard Adelaide Law School submission requirements apply. Specific information will be provided in the assessment instructions for each item of assessment.