The taught modules offered on the LLM programme vary from year to year. Please check the full list of taught modules list for details of modules running in specific academic years. We make every effort to ensure that every module will be offered, but modules are subject to change and cancellation. You are therefore advised to check this site regularly for further updates throughout the year preceding entry to the LLM programme.
Assessment method for LLM students: 3,000 word coursework essay
Module Overview
Module summary
This module examines the legal and policy dynamics of environmental regulation and critically assesses the role that law and policy has to play in achieving sustainability and environmental justice. During the module we will: (a) identify the main tensions and challenges in law to achieve sustainability and environmental justice; (b) ascertain the key policy principles that underlie legal responses to particular kinds of sustainability and environmental justice issues, in particular precaution; and (c) develop a good working knowledge of several of the following: the Water Framework Directive, the Habitats Directive, the EIA Directive, CROW 2000, the Commons Act 2006 and the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.
By the end of the module you will: (a) be familiar with the main sources of law relating to environmental protection, sustainability and environmental justice; (b) have an appreciation of the relationship between environmental law and the policy objectives that it seeks to implement; and (c) gain the capacity to evaluate particular legal provisions in relation to underlying policy goals, for example sustainable development.
Module syllabus
Sustainability, Environmental Justice and Environmental Law
Ecological Foundations of environmental law
The Tragedy of the Commons
Tracing Sustainable Development
Dimensions of Environmental Justice
Relating Inter and Intra-generational Justice: Climate Justice
Ecological Justice: Wild Law and Gaia theories
Deep Ecology, Social Ecology and Ecofeminism
Human Rights and Ecological Rights
Sustainable communities, planning and the law
Presentations
Recommended materials
No specific text covers the syllabus. Instead, selected materials will be available via an online reading list.
Preliminary reading
J. Agyeman, Sustainable Communities and the Challenge of Environmental Justice (NYUP, 2005) which explores the argument that there is considerable theoretical and practical compatibility between sustainability and environmental justice.
Other information: N/A
Prizes for this module: There are currently no prizes available for this module.
APPLICATION NOTICES
The application process for the 2013-14 academic session is open.
The deadline for applications to be received has been extended to Monday 1 July 2013
Please refer to the How to apply section for information on the application process.
