Purpose

This course is a study of the response of the international community of nation states to the global environmental crisis. Building on the concepts of global change and sustainable development, it will focus on the development of international law, institutions, and regimes to deal with problems such as ozone depletion, climate change, loss of biodiversity, cross-boundary pollution, and protection of oceans, forests, and non-renewable resources. Basic concepts of international legal proecedure, treaty negotiation and compliance, and emerging principles of environmental law will be explored. Students in the class will be divided into several groups to investigate different fields of international law and policy and will write papers and present group reports in their area of specialization.

Required Readings

The following books are required readings and will be available in the bookstore:

D'Amato and Engel, International Environmental Law Anthology

Audley, Green Politics and Global Trade (trade group only)

Benedick, Ozone Diplomacy

Brown et al., State of the World 1998

Jurgielewicz, Global Environmental Change and International Law

Other Requirements

Students are expected to complete assigned readings and to be prepared for discussion prior to each class. All students will participate in one of six policy field groups that will present a report and lead the discussion on one of the class days beginning May 20. Each student will also write a 10-15 page term paper on some aspect of international environmental law or policy in his or her policy field (papers are due June 1). There will also be mid-term and final exams in this course. The final grade will be weighted as follows: mid-term exam, 25%, final exam 25%, term paper 25%, class presentation and general class participation, 25%.

Assignments

I. INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS

M Mar 30 Introduction to the course

W Apr 1 The concept of global change - Jurgielewicz, pp. 1-12; handout

F Apr 3 The concept of sustainable development - Brown, chap. 1; handout

II. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

M Apr 6 International institutions and law - Soroos (handout), Weiss (handout)

W Apr 8 Sources of international law - Jurgielewicz, 23-51; D'Amato, 3-16

F Apr 10 General principles of international law - Jurgielewicz, 52-61, D'Amato, 93-102, 129-145

M Apr 13 Emerging principles of law - Jurgielewicz, 62-69; D'Amato, 17-37

W Apr 15 Treaties and soft law - D'Amato, 39-60

F Apr 17 Domestic v. international law - D'Amato, 71-89

III. POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY AND REGIMES

M Apr 20 The concept of regimes - Jurgielewicz, 97-130

W Apr 22 The role of NGOs - Jurgielewicz, 146-64; D'Amato, 468-72

F Apr 24 North-South relations t.b.a.

M Apr 26 Intergenerational equity - D'Amato, 421-440

W Apr 28 The problem of uncertainty - Jurgielewicz, 131-45

F May 1 Mid-term exam all of above

M May 4 Mid-term break

IV. CASE STUDIES

A. Case Study # 1: Ozone Depletion

W May 6 The ozone depletion regime - Jurgielewicz, 165-198; D'Amato, 361-74;

Appendix, 157-67

F May 8 The negotiating process - Benedick, chaps 1-6

M May 11 The lessons of Montreal - Benedick, chaps. 7-14

B. Case Study # 2: Climate Change

W May 13 The climate change convention - Jurgielewicz, 199-239; D'Amato, Appendix, 178-188

F May 15 Issues in negotiations - D'Amato, 374-396

M May 18 Kyoto and implementation - Brown, chap. 7; and handouts

C. STUDENT POLICY GROUP PRESENTATIONS

W May 20 - M June 1

V. CONCLUSIONS

W June 3 The future international order - Jurgielewicz, chap. 7; Brown, chap. 10