Political Science/ENTS 268

International Environmental Law and Politics

Winter Term, 2002
Prof. Norm Vig

 

Science Annex 116A
Office hours: Tu, Th 2:00-4:00
Ext. 4120

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 procedure, 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:

Bernstein, The Compromise of Liberal Environmentalism (2001)

Hunter et al., International Environmental Law and Policy, 2nd ed. (2002)

Porter et al., Global Environmental Politics, 3d ed. (2000)

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 nine policy field groups that will present a report and lead the discussion on one of the class days beginning Feb. 18. 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 March 11). 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. INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

F Jan 4 Introduction to the course

M Jan 7 Major global and regional issues--Hunter, pp. 1-42

W Jan 9 Human dimensions of global change-- Hunter, 43-124

F Jan 11 Economics and Sustainable Development-- Hunter, 125-165

  1. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

    2. A. Institutions and Actors

    M Jan 14 Emergence of international Environmental regimes--Porter, 1-34; Bernstein, Introduction

    W Jan 16 States and other actors-- Porter, 35-78; Hunter, 254-264

    F Jan 18 International environmental institutions-- Hunter, 217-241

    B. Major Events and the Concept of Sustainable Development

    M Jan 21 The Stockholm Conference And Brundtland Report--Hunter, 166-186;Bernstein, 28-69

    W Jan 23 UNCED Earth Summit (Rio)-- Hunter, 186-204; Bernstein, 70-109

    F Jan 25 The Post-Rio Era-- Hunter, 204-216; Bernstein, 110-121

  2. PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

    3. M Jan 28 Sources of international law: treaties and custom--Hunter, 272-275, 291-315

    W Jan 30 Sources of international law: general principles and "soft law"--Hunter, 315-324, 336-370

    F Feb 1 Specific Principles-- Hunter, 371-401

    M Feb 4 Mid-term break

    W Feb 6 Specific Principles (cont.)-- Hunter, 402-438

    F Feb 8 Mid-term exam all of above

  3. IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL LAW AND POLICY

    M Feb 11 Implementation and compliance-- Hunter, 439-467

    W Feb 13 Non-compliance procedures-- Hunter, 467-496; Porter, 147-173

    F Feb 15 International trade and global development-- Porter, 174-218

VI. STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (order subject to change)

M Feb 18 Transboundary Pollution-- Hunter, chaps. 9-10; Porter 79-87

Trail Smelter Case
Acid Rain/LRTAP
US-Canadian Agreements
International Watercourses

W Feb 20 Ozone Depletion-- Hunter, chap. 9, sect. IV; Porter, 87-93

Vienna Convention
Montreal Protocol
Post-Montreal Developments

F Feb 22 Climate Change I-- Hunter, chap. 9, sect. V; Porter, 112-124

Framework Convention on Climate Change
Berlin Mandate
Kyoto Protocol

M Feb. 25 Climate Change II

Post-Kyoto Developments (The Hague, Marrakesh)
The U.S. Position
The European Position
The South's Position

W Feb 27 Protection of the Oceans-- Hunter, chap. 10, sect. I-IV; Porter, 135-40

Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
Sea-bed Mining
Fisheries Protection
Marine Pollution

F Mar 1 International Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Materials--Hunter, chap. 12; Porter, 103-108

Basel Convention
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Treaty
Nuclear Testing

M Mar 4 Wildlife and Biodiversity-- Hunter, chap. 13; Porter, 93-103

Whaling
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
Convention on Biodiversity
Biosafety Protocol

W Mar 6 Protection of Habitat-- Hunter, chap. 14; Porter, 108-112, 130-135

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Antarctica
Convention on Desertification
World Heritage Sites

F Mar 8 International Trade and Environmental protection--Hunter, chap. 15; Porter, 182-199

NAFTA/Implementation
WTO Procedure/Reform
Tuna/Dolphin Case
Shrimp/Turtle Case

M Mar 11 Conclusions