LAW 664 - International Environmental Law Seminar

The course focuses on international law applicable to the leading environmental and natural resource issues. It first analyzes the sources of international law concerning environmental protection and transboundary harm through treaty making, customary law, international judicial decisions, and other legal instruments from the perspective of the primary actors: governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and multinational businesses. The course then surveys specific issues, including climate change, ozone depletion, transboundary pollution and hazardous waste disposal, marine resources, and biodiversity. The course also examines intersections with other bodies of law, such as domestic environmental law and regulation, international investment and trade law, human rights, and sustainable development financing. It also considers international dispute resolution and remedies. Special attention will be given to novel or emerging topics, such as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, ecocide as an international crime, and climate change impact litigation, including the three current advisory opinion proceedings before the ICJ, ITLOS, and Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Students interested in environmental law or international law generally should consider the course to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Students who have taken public international law should additionally consider the course to gain insight into how international law is made and works in practice. Assessment may be conducted by written examination or paper on a topic to be confirmed with the instructor.