International Environmental Law

Lecturers: Guest lecturers, Prof. Dr F.A. Nelissen (coordinator)

When: Block 1 + 2

Brief course description:
The protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development is one of the main challenges of our time. Depletion of fish stocks in the oceans, air and water pollution, climate change, and accidents with nuclear power plants are just a few examples of the complex issues that need national and international legal regulation. The course will provide a general overview of the history and basic principles of international environmental law and sustainable development following the historic line starting with the Stockholm Conference of 1972, the Rio Conference on Environment and Development of 1992, the Johannesburg Conference of 2002 to Rio+20, 2012. This will be followed by investigating through student contributions and discussion the application of the general principles, rules and procedures in relation to various areas, including transboundary pollution, marine pollution, liability questions, the protection of biodiversity, climate change, the protection of the Arctic and Antarctica, and waste disposal.

Teaching method:
Lectures, seminar. The course will include lectures focusing on the main features of international environmental law and the law of sustainable development and working sessions in which students will present their research findings.

Assessment: The course will be assessed on the basis of the written paper, the presentation, the oral examination and active participation in class discussion.

*Official course information and schedules during the academic year can be found in Ocasys.