Explore a comprehensive course examining the fundamental principles, historical development, and modern applications of international environmental law. Learn about global environmental governance structures, key actors, and legal sources while studying critical environmental management systems. Delve into specific areas including atmospheric protection, marine conservation, freshwater resources, polar regions, and biodiversity preservation. Master the legal frameworks surrounding hazardous substances, green trade practices, and technology transfer. Analyze state liability for environmental damage, implementation mechanisms, and dispute settlement procedures through practical assignments. Gain expertise in international environmental treaties, customary law, and the evolving relationship between environmental protection and international trade. Understand the roles of various stakeholders including states, international organizations, and NGOs in environmental governance, while examining crucial principles like the polluter-pays concept and precautionary approaches.
Overview
Syllabus
- Chapter 1 General Introduction of International Environmental Law
- 1.1 The Definition of the International Environmental Law
- 1.2 The Functions of the International Environmental Law
- 1.3 The Basis of the International Environmental Law
- Chapter 2 The History of the International Environmental Law
- 2.1 From Early Fisheries Conventions to the Creation of the United Nations
- 2.2 From the Creation of the United Nations to Stockholm: 1945–1972
- 2.3 The 1972 Stockholm Conference
- 2.4 The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
- 2.5 The New Development Since Rio Conference 1992
- Unit Assignment (1)
- Chapter 3 The Actors of Global Environment Governance
- 3.1 States and Non-state Actors
- 3.2 The Establishment and Functions of International Organizations
- 3.3 Global Organizations and Some Organizations Related to UN
- 3.4 Regional and Sub-regional Organizations
- 3.5 Non-governmental International Organizations
- Chapter 4 The Sources of the International Environmental Law
- 4.1 Environmental Treaties
- 4.2 The Interpretation of Treaties
- 4.3 Reservations and Interpretative Declarations
- 4.4 The Customary International Law
- 4.5 The Relationship Between Treaties and Customary Law
- 4.6 General Principles of International Law
- 4.7 Subsidiary Sources
- Unit Assignment (2)
- Chapter 5 The Principles of International Environmental Law
- 5.1 Preventive and Precautionary Principle
- 5.2 Cooperation Principle
- 5.3 Principle of common but differentiated responsibility
- 5.4 Polluter-pays Principle
- Chapter 6 Environmental Management Systems
- 6.1 Environmental Quality Standards
- 6.2 Product Standards, Emission Standards and Process Standards
- 6.3 Economic Instruments: Charges and taxes, Deposit-refund systems
- 6.4 Incentives Mechanisms
- 6.5 Binding Instruments of the Environmental Impact Assessment
- 6.6 Non-binding Instruments of the Environmental Impact Assessment
- 6.7 Information Exchange
- 6.8 Reporting and Provision of Information
- 6.9 Notification of Emergency Situations
- 6.10 Monitoring of Information Gathering
- 6.11 Eco-auditing and Accounting
- Chapter 7 Atmosphere
- 7.1 Transboundary Air Pollution
- 7.2 Ozone Depletion
- 7.3 Climate Change
- Unit Assignment (3)
- Chapter 8 The International Law Protection of Marine, Freshwater and Polar Regions
- 8.1 The Treaties of the Marine Environmental Protection
- 8.2 The Crisis of Freshwater Resources
- 8.3 The Protection System of Freshwater Resources
- 8.4 The Antarctic Treaty Regime
- 8.5 The Arctic
- Chapter 9 Biological Diversity
- 9.1 The Legal Development of the Protection of the Biodiversity
- 9.2 General Instruments of Protection of Biodiversity
- 9.3 General Instruments of Regional and Sub-Regional Application
- 9.4 Wetlands and Forests
- 9.5 Land and Soil
- Unit Assignment (4)
- Chapter 10 Hazardous Substances, Activities and Waste
- 10.1 Chemical and Radioactive Substances
- 10.2 Biotechnology and Other Hazardous Activities
- 10.3 The Regulations of Accident Handling Mechanism
- 10.4 Types of Waste
- 10.5 Waste Management Process
- 10.6 International Movement in Waste
- Unit Assignment (5)
- Chapter11 Green Trade, Financial Resources and Technology
- 11.1 Trade Measures in International Environmental Agreements
- 11.2 The International Trade Agreements relevant to Environmental Measures
- 11.3 Competition and Subsidies
- 11.4 Multilateral Development Banks
- 11.5 Environment Funds and other Financial Resources
- 11.6 Technology Transfer and Technical Assistance
- 11.7 Intellectual Property
- Chapter12 Liability for Environmental Damage
- 12.1 The Legal Definition of Environmental Damage
- 12.2 What is State Liability
- 12.3 The Consequences of Environmental Damage for State
- 12.4 Treaties of State Liability for Environmental Damage
- 12.5 The Civil Liability for Environmental Damage under International Law
- Unit Assignment (6)
- Chapter13 Implementation and Dispute Settlement
- 13.1 International Law and Compliance
- 13.2 Enforcement by States
- 13.3 Enforcement by International Organizations
- 13.4 Diplomatic Means of Dispute Settlement
- 13.5 Legal Means of Dispute Settlement
- Unit Assignment (7)
- Final Exam
Taught by
Wu Ximei, Liu Yun, Zhai Xinli, Liu Hui, Lin Shuang, Li Zimu, Chen Yiwan, and Song Liyuan
