99743 - INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, a student knows: • The international origin and basis of rules and principles of domestic environmental law; • The content of rules and principles on the international protection of the environment; • The sources of international environmental law; • The interactions between international environmental law and other branches of international law, eg human rights law and investment law; • How to develop a research on international environmental law.

Course contents

The course addresses the international legal and institutional framework on the protection of the environment.

Throughout the course, the law governing the protection and management of freshwater resources will be taken as a case study for giving relevant examples on the functioning of international environmental law.

First, international environmental law will be presented as the outcome of an ongoing social development within the International Community started with the 1972 Stockholm Conference on Human Environment.

Second, rules and principles regulating the management of environmental resources will be presented both in their substantive and procedural nature, stressing the interplay between these two levels in assuring a sound management of environmental risks and resources.

Third, the interplay between international environmental law and other fields of international law will be tackled. A specific focus will be made to the relationship with human rights law, international economic law and the law of armed conflicts.

Last, specific substantive areas of international environmental law will be outlined. In particular, seminars will be delivered on the protection of biodiversity, the protection of marine environment and climate change.

Readings/Bibliography

Malgosia Fitzmaurice, Meagan S. Wong, International Environmental Law: Text, Cases and Materials (Edward Elgar 2022), Parts I, III and IV.

A.M. Tanzi, The Consolidation of International Water Law: A Comparative Analysis of the UN and UNECE Water Conventions (Editoriale scientifica 2017).

Teaching methods

Classes will mostly be held by the Lecturer.

Assessment methods

Final examination will be composed of an oral examination.

The mark will be given considering the following elements:

- knowledge of institutional profiles;

- the ability to analyse international practice and case law;

- the ability to link the different parts of the course programme;

- the ability to elaborate critical arguments;

- the accuracy of verbal exposure and property of language.

Office hours

See the website of Attila Massimiliano Tanzi