UNSW Handbook - Back to Home

Direct Find

Use this search only if you have an exact code for a Program, Stream, or Course, e.g. 3400, ACCTA13502, ACCT1501 or ACCT*.

Course

Australian Climate Law - LAWS8066

Faculty: Faculty of Law

School: Faculty of Law

Course Outline: See below

Campus: Kensington Campus

Career: Postgraduate

Units of Credit: 6

EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)

Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2

Enrolment Requirements:

Prerequisite: Academic Program must be either 9200 or 9210 or 9230 or 5740 or 9220 or 5750 or 8619 or 5499 or 7339

Excluded: JURD7466

CSS Contribution Charge: 2 (more info)

Tuition Fee: See Tuition Fee Schedule

Further Information: See Class Timetable

View course information for previous years.

Description

This course examines the Australian legal regime relating to global climate change. The course begins with an overview of the scientific, economic, equity and international contexts of Australian climate law and then proceeds to a detailed examination of the Australian legal framework, including Commonwealth and State policy and legislation relating to emissions trading, carbon markets and carbon sequestration. The course also examines the substance and process of climate change litigation in Australia, as well as local government and planning issues, and the legal implications of climate change for businesses, including corporate reporting, directors’ duties, and management of risk. The course will include some comparative analysis of climate law in other national jurisdictions.

This course is also available to students enrolled in the Master of Environmental Management (8619), Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management (5499) and the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management (7339).

This course is also available to students undertaking relevant postgraduate non-law degree programs at UNSW provided such enrolment is approved by the appopriate non-law Faculty.


LLM Specialisations

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Course Objectives

A candidate who has successfully completed this course should be able to:
  • be familiar with and understand the legal and policy issues relating to the development and implementation of the Australian legal framework as it regulates activities impacting on climate;
  • identify and understand the climate change related issues that arise in the Australian legal contexts;
  • have a working knowledge of Australian law and policy on climate change;
  • be able to assess the efficacy of Australian climate law within the context of contemporary international challenges.

Main Topics

  • The science and economics of climate change
  • The international climate law framework
  • The Australian climate law framework: Commonwealth and State policy and legislation
  • Carbon sequestration (including bio- and geosequestration)
  • Climate change litigation in Australia
  • Local Government: Risks, liabilities and adaptive actions
  • Emissions trading and carbon markets
  • Business, risk and climate change
  • The future of climate law in Australia

Assessment

Class participation 10%
Class presentation and abstract 15%
Research essay (6000 words) 75%

Course Texts

Required Readings for this course will be posted on Blackboard.
Recommended
There are a large number of new and proposed books on the market. A full up-to date reading list will be provided in the detailed course outline.
Clancy

Study Levels

Undergraduate Study Postgraudate Study Postgraduate Research Study Non-Award Study

UNSW Quick Links

Apply Online Fees and Financial Assitance Academic Calendar