• Class Number 5666
  • Term Code 2940
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Mode of Delivery In Person
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Samantha Hepburn
  • LECTURER
    • Samantha Hepburn
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 21/03/2019
  • Class End Date 04/05/2019
  • Census Date 05/04/2019
  • Last Date to Enrol 21/03/2019
SELT Survey Results

This course will examine international climate law, looking at both the current international legal frameworks and the negotiation of the future regime.

The course will also explore fundamental questions about how international climate law interacts with national law and how private sector players participate in a global public international law regime. It examines the effectiveness of the regime and what is required to achieve safe levels of anthropogenic emissions with many practical examples of how the law is implemented.

Although touched upon in this course, the focus is not on domestic climate law regimes. Domestic climate law is covered in the course Climate and Sustainable Energy Law LAWS8181.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Explain and analyse international legal norms pertaining to the global climate;
  2. Identify and reflect on the legal, policy and philosophical issues relating to international juridical norms which regulate activities impacting on climate;
  3. Evaluate the limits and utility of existing norms relating to the climate;
  4. Apply principles of international climate law to an array of contemporary international problems; and
  5. Research, critically examine and communicate in writing about a problem or specific aspect of international climate law.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:
  • Written comments
  • Verbal comments
  • Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Climate Change Law and Discipline, UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement
2 Climate Change Negotiations, Finance, International Institutions, REDD+
3 Paris Agreement, Climate Law and Global Business, Domestic Responses

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Due Date Return of assessment Learning Outcomes
Participation in class participation Q and A sessions 10 % 23/03/2019 02/06/2019 1,3,4
Research essay 90 % 05/05/2019 02/06/2019 1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Value: 10 %
Due Date: 23/03/2019
Return of Assessment: 02/06/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,3,4

Participation in class participation Q and A sessions

Mark Value: 10%

Format:  Interactive Discussion on course content

Relationship between the Assessment Task and the Course Objectives: Demonstrated understanding of the icore principles relevant to nternational climate change law.

Assessment Criteria:

Class Participation / Discussion

(a) Preparation and understanding materials

  • consulting and reading pre-assigned material
  • linking material between various aspects of the class and different lectures
  • thinking critically about own understanding and the perspective of others

(b) Expressing ideas clearly / Communication & development of position

  • clear position so that other students and lecturer can understand it
  • arguments logical and well-organised
  • use of appropriate language

(c)  Engaging with other students in discussion

  • including others and engaging discussion
  • responding to questions
  • being respectful of other positions / comments

Assessment Task 2

Value: 90 %
Due Date: 05/05/2019
Return of Assessment: 02/06/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5

Research essay

Mark Value: 90

Format: Essay. Note that essays are to be on the law and policy - not a more general description of issues. For example, an essay on the clean development mechanism (CDM) should analyse the international rules that apply to the CDM (treaty and protocol provisions and decisions and guidelines that implement project development and unit creation and trading) rather than describing the operation of a CDM project activity.

Relationship between the Assessment Task and the Course Objectives: Demonstrated knowledge of basic international legal norms pertaining to climate; in depth understanding of the legal, policy and philosophical issues relating to one or more aspect of the international legal regimes that regulate activities impacting on climate.

Approval of Topic:  Suggested essay topics are set out below. Other essay topics may be approved. Approval must given by 30 March 2018 via email.

  • Discuss the nature and importance of climate finance in for international adaptation and mitigation measures.
  • Analyse two different types of market mechanisms that have been implemented with the aim of incentivizing decarbonisation and compare their success.
  • Discuss some of the ways in which international climate change law has impacted the progression of energy governance at both the international and domestic levels.

Submission Date: 5 May 2019. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted on or after the date specified below for the return of the assessment item.

Length: 6000 words

Estimated Date of Results: 2 June 2018

Assessment Criteria:

Research Essays/Papers

(a) Understanding of the Issues

  • addresses the question and covers all the important points
  • evidence of close consideration of the question and the research materials drawn on
  • issues raised by the topic are clearly and concisely identified
  • material chosen relates clearly to the topic and is analysed not just summarised or quoted extensively

 (b) Communication & Development of Argument

  • clear theme or argument
  • arguments logical and well-organised
  • ideas/paragraphs linked coherently

 (c)  Argument/Analysis

  • originality of ideas and critical analysis of the material
  • complexity and insight in dealing with theory/ideas
  • suggestions for change where appropriate
  • interdisciplinary perspective where appropriate
  • addressing opposing arguments
  • well-reasoned conclusions

(d) Research

  • research covering primary and secondary materials
  • good organisation of sources and ability to synthesise all the research materials used
  • use of theoretical material where appropriate
  • range of research sources
  • integration of material from research resources into the essay

(e) Presentation, style and referencing

  • good use of structure, section headings and paragraphs
  • clarity and conciseness of expression, interesting and engaging of reader
  • use of appropriate terminology and correct grammar, syntax and spelling
  • full and accurate footnotes together with a bibliography
  • style according to Australian Guide to Legal Citation
  • adherence to word limit

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded. OR Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).
Samantha Hepburn
0438631006
samantha.hepburn@deakin.edu.au

Research Interests


Samantha Hepburn

Thursday 17:00 17:15
Samantha Hepburn
0438631006
samantha.hepburn@deakin.edu.au

Research Interests


Samantha Hepburn

Thursday 17:00 17:15

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions