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Course

Environmental Law - LAWS3361

Faculty: Faculty of Law

School: Faculty of Law

Course Outline: See below

Campus: Kensington Campus

Career: Undergraduate

Units of Credit: 6

EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)

Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 4

Enrolment Requirements:

Pre-requisite: Crime & Criminal Process (LAWS1021/JURD7121) & Criminal Laws (LAWS1022/JURD7122) OR Crim. Law 1 (LAWS1001/JURD7101) & Crim. Law 2 (LAWS1011/JURD7111). Co-requisite: Litigation 1 [LAWS2311/ JURD7211] OR Res. Civil Disp. (LAWS2371/JURD7271)

Excluded: JURD7361

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 introduces the fundamental principles and concepts of Australian environmental law and policy. For the purposes of the course, 'environmental law' is defined to mean that area of law concerned with managing the impact of human activities on the environment. This course provides a framework for understanding the environmental issues which humans are faced with today and the implications of these issues for law making and policy. Within that framework this course will cover key areas of environmental law in New South Wales and at the federal level. The course will explore a number of cross-cutting themes that influence current debate in relation to environmental law and policy.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Course Objectives

At the end of this course you should be able to:
  • Know the origins and sources of environmental laws including the international context of environmental law
  • Be able to assess the efficacy of environmental law within the context of contemporary national and international challenges
  • Have a good understanding of the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) and the difficulties faced by decision-makers in implementing these principles at an international, federal, state and local level
  • Have a good understanding of the framework of laws for environmental planning, development control, environmental impact assessment, the protection of biodiversity and native vegetation as well as pollution regulation
  • Have a good understanding of the workings of the New South Wales Land and Environment Court
  • Have an appreciation and understanding of the difficulties and disadvantages the community faces when engaging in environmental decision making

Main Topics

  • Global environmental issues and the development of international environmental law
  • The common law and statute as sources of environmental law
  • Commonwealth, State and local responsibilities
  • Commonwealth environmental law
  • Environmental planning
  • Development control
  • Environmental assessment, enforcement and scrutiny
  • Pollution control and enforcement
  • Climate change: mitigation and adaptation
  • Protection of biodiversity
  • Native vegetation conservation

Assessment

Class participation 10%
Research essay 40% (3,000 words)
Take home exam 50% (3,000 words)

Course Texts

Prescribed

  • Lyster, Lipman, Franklin, Wiffen and Pearson Environmental and Planning Law in NSW (2012, Federation Press)
  • Reading materials provided by the Convenor

Recommended
Refer to Course Outline provided by lecturer.

Law Books

Study Levels

Undergraduate Study Postgraudate Study Postgraduate Research Study Non-Award Study

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