RGMUIER0137.5 ECTSQ1EnglishMaster
International Environmental Law
FaculteitFaculty of Law, Economics and Governance
NiveauMaster
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
- The student has knowledge of international environmental law in general and understanding of its historical development and factual, social and political context;
- The student has knowledge of international law dealing with specific environmental issues, including transboundary air pollution, ozone depletion, climate change, nature conservation, biodiversity, and the relation between international environmental law and other fields of international law;
- The student is able to connect theory with practice and apply their knowledge to understanding current environmental issues, form an opinion on ongoing topical debates, and actively participate in discussions;
- The student is able to give an oral presentation in English on one of the topics of the course, formulate arguments, as well as justify their conclusions using law and other considerations underlying them, to classmates in an understandable, structured, correct and convincing manner;
- The student is able, not only to take part in class discussions, but also to moderate those discussions, effectively summarise them, and reflect on their participation;
- The student is able to solve a fictitious case by identifying and applying the relevant legal instruments and case law in relation to the issues covered in the course.
Content
Our planet is faced with many environmental problems that can only be solved through international cooperation. Climate change, the loss of biodiversity, air pollution, the degradation of the oceans and its living resources, ozone depletion, and hazardous economic activities are only a few examples of environmental issues that are addressed by international environmental law.
The course starts with a general introduction into the subject and then continues with a series of lectures addressing specific environmental issues of international concern. The general introduction covers the historical development and main sources of international environmental law, and key actors. It also covers the most important general rules and principles of international environmental law and the concept of sustainable development. The course then focuses on several substantive issues and the associated multilateral environmental agreements and/or applicable rules of customary international law. These issues include the protection of the atmosphere (air pollution, ozone depletion and climate change), international watercourses, the oceans, biodiversity and nature conservation. The course will then also address several horizontal issues including responsibility and liability for environmental damage and the particularities of the process of law-enforcement in this field. The last weeks of the course concentrate on the international environmental law in context, namely on how international environmental law interacts with international human rights and international peace and security law. The aim of these last weeks is to show how effectively tackling some of the most pressing issues, such as climate change, and achieving the sustainable management of the Earth’s resources require the simultaneous application, and thus interaction, of all relevant fields of international law.
The course is designed to provide students with first-hand experience of international environmental law in practice. The lectures are then combined with discussion seminars, debates, and guest lectures by experts.
Place of the course within the curriculum:
The course starts with a general introduction into the subject and then continues with a series of lectures addressing specific environmental issues of international concern. The general introduction covers the historical development and main sources of international environmental law, and key actors. It also covers the most important general rules and principles of international environmental law and the concept of sustainable development. The course then focuses on several substantive issues and the associated multilateral environmental agreements and/or applicable rules of customary international law. These issues include the protection of the atmosphere (air pollution, ozone depletion and climate change), international watercourses, the oceans, biodiversity and nature conservation. The course will then also address several horizontal issues including responsibility and liability for environmental damage and the particularities of the process of law-enforcement in this field. The last weeks of the course concentrate on the international environmental law in context, namely on how international environmental law interacts with international human rights and international peace and security law. The aim of these last weeks is to show how effectively tackling some of the most pressing issues, such as climate change, and achieving the sustainable management of the Earth’s resources require the simultaneous application, and thus interaction, of all relevant fields of international law.
The course is designed to provide students with first-hand experience of international environmental law in practice. The lectures are then combined with discussion seminars, debates, and guest lectures by experts.
Place of the course within the curriculum:
- Compulsory course in the track Oceans, the Environment and Sustainability
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