This course examines the nexus between environmental protection and human rights. Environmental harm and the violation of human rights intersect in diverse and complex ways. Human rights claims and strategies are increasingly recognised as important in the promotion of all phases of sustainable development, including the preservation of healthy biosphere. So-called environmental rights clamour for acceptance as a new category of human rights per se. At the same time, claims based on existing human rights, both substantive and procedural, are now regularly deployed in a national and international fora. This course explores recent human rights developments that bear on the environment in international law, including the United Nations and regional human rights systems. It examines the environmental application of human rights contained in international instruments, national constitutions, and legislation. Through a series of discussion based seminars, student presentations and case studies, the course will address topics indicated below.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
A student that successfully completes this course will:
- be familiar with the legal, policy and philosophical issues relating to human rights norms that may be employed to protect the environment;
- understand the implications that environmental human rights norms raise for concepts that underpin the international state system (eg state sovereignty and domestic jurisdiction);
- understand the limits and utility of existing human rights norms (international and municipal) relating to the environment;
- have a working knowledge of the basic international and regional human rights system in relation to mechanisms that can be utilised to provide a measure of environmental protection; and
- be able to apply human rights norms to an array of contemporary international and municipal environemntal problems.
Indicative Assessment
Group presentations - 25%
Research Essay - 75%
More information will be given in the approved Means of Assessment
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.
Workload
It is anticipated that the student work-load would consist of 26 in-class hours, plus approximately 40-48 hours reading and approximately 25-30 hours to complete assessment requirements.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Donald K. Anton & Dinah Shelton, Environmental Protection and Human Rights (Cambridge University Press, 2010)
Confirm in the course outline.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 3
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $2958 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $4146 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.