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:
- Explain and evaluate the legal, policy and philosophical issues relating to human rights norms that may be employed to protect the environment;
- Identify and reflect on the limits and utility of human rights norms (international and domestic) relating to the environment;
- Identify and analyse how basic international and regional human rights systems can be utilised to provide a measure of environmental protection;
- Apply human rights norms to an array of contemporary international and domestic environmental problems; and
- Research, critically examine and communicate in writing about a problem or specific aspect of environmental protection and human rights.
Indicative Assessment
- Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately 2 weeks prior to the commencement of the course. (null) [LO null]
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Workload
Classes offered in non-standard sessions will be taught on an intensive base with compulsory contact hours (approximately 26 hours of face to face teaching). The course will also require advanced preparation through assigned readings. In total, it is anticipated that the hours required for completion of this course (class preparation, teaching and completion of assessment) will not exceed 120 hours. Classes offered during semester periods are expected to have 3 contact hours per week.
Click here for the LLM Masters Program timetable.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Donald K. Anton & Dinah Shelton, Environmental Protection and Human Rights (Cambridge University Press, 2010)
Preliminary Reading
An ebrick will be available on the Wattle course site
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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $3840 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $5460 |
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.