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- the student reproduces the basic science background and the interdisciplinary nature of laws and policies related to climate change
- the student understands the role of law in addressing climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation), both in an international context (UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol), within the EU (EU ETS Directive), and within a domestic context
- the student is able to assess the impact both on the environment and on the economy of legal and economic instruments aimed at mitigating climate change, particularly emissions trading, joint implementation, REDD+ and the Clean Development Mechanism
- the student understands the tension between climate change mitigation and development and is able to assess the role of law in addressing this tension in the global context where there exists a deep divide between developed countries, developing countries and emerging economies
- the student explains the meaning of the goals and principles of climate law, specifically the common-but-differentiated responsibilities principle, the sovereignty and no harm principles, and the precautionary principle, and is able to analyse and comment on current debates in climate law & policy using these principles, in particular the post-Kyoto debate
- the student understands how human rights can be impacted by climate change, and is able to assess the potential of a human rights based approach to addressing severe impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities
- the student shows the various legal options to obtain compensation of damage caused by climate change and is able to assess which of these are the most effective
- the student understands the role of law in adapting society to the changing climate, particularly in the fields of water management, biodiversity conservation, agriculture, coastal and marine areas
- the student is able to select a topical issue in the field of climate law of his/her own choice, to formulate a valid academic research question on that topic, and to come up with the research methodology that fits the question
- the student is able to carry out the necessary research aimed at answering the main research question through the selected research method
- the student analyses a current legal problem related to climate change and presents answers and a way forward
- the student finds and analyses the relevant academic literature on the topic of his/her choice
Recommended Prerequisites
International law, European law, environmental law
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Climate change is the most difficult and important international environmental problem that the world faces today, and probably will be for decades to come. This course introduces you to climate change and to climate law, which includes the legal instruments aimed at reducing climate change and its risks. Not only is climate law itself interesting, it also offers a case study of a difficult problem that cuts across all sectors of society, whose legal response is complex and multi-level. Furthermore, understanding responses to climate change requires a somewhat interdisciplinary approach to policy. Thus, the class will help you comprehend how the economics, ethics, and politics intersects with the law.
Topics include:
- Climate change: The basic science, politics, and economics
- Development of international climate law, climate law principles
- The UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol
- The Paris Agreement
- EU Climate law
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- Liability? The Urgenda case
- Climate engineering
- Climate change and human rights
- Case study: Climate change and food security
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Type of exams
One written closed book exam and one research paper
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| Course available for exchange students |
| Written test opportunities |
| Omschrijving/Description | Toets/Test | Blok/Block | Gelegenheid/Opportunity | Datum/Date |
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| Written test opportunities (HIST) |
| Omschrijving/Description | Toets/Test | Blok/Block | Gelegenheid/Opportunity | Datum/Date |
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| Schriftelijk / Written | EXAM_01 | SM 2 | 1 | 25-03-2019 | | Schriftelijk / Written | EXAM_01 | SM 2 | 2 | 06-06-2019 |
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| | Required materialsLiterature| Available online for free |
| Title | : | | 1. The Oxford Handbook of International Climate Change Law |
| Author | : | | Cinnamon P. Carlarne, Kevin R. Gray, and Richard Tarasofsky (eds) |
| Publisher | : | | Oxford University Press, Oxford 2016 |
| To be announced| Other readings will be available online, linked via the syllabus on Blackboard |
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Recommended materialsTo be announced| Recommended literature will be listed in the syllabus for each lecture topic |
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TestsWritten
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