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:

Hunter et al., International Environmental Law and Policy

Young, The Effectiveness of International Environmental Regimes

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 eight policy field groups that will present a report and lead the discussion on one of the class days beginning Feb. 21. 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 10). 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

W Jan 5 Introduction to the course

F Jan 7 Major global and regional issues - Hunter, pp. 1-25

M Jan 10 Human dimensions of global change - Hunter, 25-65

W Jan 12 Technology and population growth - Hunter, 65-97

F Jan 14 Economics and Sustainable Development - Hunter, 98-144

II. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

M Jan 17 Sources of international law: treaties - Hunter, 197-231

and custom

W Jan 19 Sources of international law: general principles and "soft law" - Hunter, 231-266

F Jan 21 International regime theory handout

M Jan 24 From Stockholm to Rio - Hunter, 276-294

W Jan 26 The UNCED Conference at Rio - Hunter, 294-317

III. PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

F Jan 28 Principles A-F, Hunter, 318-354

M Jan 31 Principles G-K, Hunter, 354-374

W Feb 2 Principles L-Q, Hunter, 374-385

IV. ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTORS

F Feb 4 International Governmental Organizations, Hunter, 386-422

M Feb 7 Mid-term break no class

W Feb 9 The role of NGOs, Hunter, 422-442

F Feb 11 Mid-term exam all of above

V. IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL LAW AND POLICY

M Feb 14 Implementation and compliance, Hunter, 443-478

W Feb 16 Non-compliance procedures handout, Hunter, 478-502;

F Feb 18 Evaluating the effectiveness of agreements, Young, 1-32

VI. CASE STUDIES (tentative areas)

M Feb 21 Transboundary air pollution (LRTAP), Hunter, 503-544; Young, chap. 4

W Feb 23 Ozone depletion (Montreal Protocol), Hunter, 544-608

F Feb 25 Climate change (Kyoto Protocol), Hunter, 609-674

M Feb 28 Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Hunter, 675-731

W Mar 1 Maritime pollution (MARPOL), Hunter, 731-778; Young, chap. 2

F Mar 3 Hazardous waste shipment (Basel Convention), Hunter, 855-888

M Mar 6 Convention on Biological Diversity, Hunter, 931-1007

W Mar 8 Wildlife and habitat conservation, Hunter, 1007-1164

F Mar 10 Conclusion: the effectiveness of international environmental regimes, Young, chap. 5

Final exam