NE_PH_SUD Sustainable Development Law and Policy

NEWTON University
winter 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: graded credit.
Teacher(s)
Olayinka Oluwamuyiwa Ojo, PhD, LL.M. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Olayinka Oluwamuyiwa Ojo, PhD, LL.M.
Centre for International Programmes – International programmes – NEWTON University
Timetable of Seminar Groups
NE_PH_SUD/01: Thu 13:30–15:00 PH Učebna 12, except Thu 30. 10. ; and Thu 30. 10. 13:30–15:00 PH Učebna 09, O. Ojo
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives

By the end of this course, students will be empowered to:

-     Comprehend the core legal principles that underpin sustainable development and their implications for various stakeholders.

-     Analyse key international agreements and policies on sustainability, understanding their origins, scopes, and impacts.

-     Critically evaluate the effectiveness of existing environmental laws and policies in promoting sustainable practices and achieving long-term goals.

-     Develop well-informed legal and policy recommendations aimed at advancing sustainable development initiatives within diverse contexts.

-     Address and navigate the complex challenges tied to the enforcement of sustainable development laws, including barriers, effectiveness, and compliance issues.

Learning outcomes

•        Understand Sustainable Development: Grasp its concept, evolution, and global significance.

•        Role of Global Institutions: Analyse how international organisations shape and support sustainability efforts.

•        Global Environmental Challenges: Identify key environmental issues, their causes, impacts, and solutions.

•        International Environmental Law: Understand major treaties and core principles (e.g., precautionary, polluter-pays).

•        Compliance & Enforcement Mechanisms: Examine how international agreements are monitored and enforced.

•        Climate Change Strategies: Differentiate mitigation vs adaptation and assess global and national responses.

•        Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Evaluate legal frameworks and effectiveness in achieving SDG targets.

•        Corporate Sustainability & ESG: Understand ESG frameworks and their influence on corporate behaviour and compliance.

•        Human Rights & Environment: Assess the right to a healthy environment and its legal implications.

•        Environmental Justice & Future Challenges: Explore equity, enforcement challenges, and innovative solutions for sustainability.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to Sustainable Development Law and Policy

Topics:

- Emergence and Definition of Sustainable Development: Historical Evolution of Sustainable Development, Key Milestones - The Brundtland Report, Earth Summits, Agenda 21 Role of International Organisations (UN, UNEP, World Bank) in Sustainable Development.

- Climate Change and Other Environmental Challenges: Delving into the multifaceted environmental crises facing the globe, such as climate change, deforestation, and pollution.

 

Week 2 - 3: Frameworks for International Environmental Law and Sustainable Development

Topics:

 - International Environmental Law Treaties: Insight into landmark treaties like the Rio Declaration, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement, focusing on their significance and impact on global environmental governance.

 - Environmental Law Principles and Policies: Exploring crucial principles such as Intergenerational Equity, the Precautionary Principle and the Polluter-Pays Principle that guide policy-making and implementation.

 - Monitoring and Compliance Mechanisms: Examining the structures in place to ensure compliance with international norms and standards.

 

Week 4: Climate Change Law and Policy

Topics:

 - National and International Climate Policies: Analysis of the policies adopted globally to mitigate climate change impacts and promote resilience.

 - Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Policies: Understanding strategies to reduce vulnerability to climate effects and enhance adaptive capacities.

 - Carbon Trading and Emissions Reduction: A focus on market-based solutions that incentivise emission reductions and promote sustainable practices.

 

Week 5: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Law

Topics:

 - Legal Frameworks for Achieving SDGs: Analysing the legal structures that facilitate implementation and monitoring of the SDGs.

- Principles of Sustainable Development: Explain the fundamental principles of sustainable development.

 - Monitoring and Compliance Mechanisms: Understanding how adherence to SDGs is evaluated at various governance levels.

Week 6: ESG Law and Policy

Topics: -

-    ESG Frameworks: Understanding the frameworks that guide organisations in effective ESG reporting.

-    Legal Obligations for Environmental Compliance: Understanding the legal standards that govern environmental responsibilities for organisations.

 

Week 7 - 8: Human Rights and Sustainable Development

Topics:

 - Right to a Healthy Environment: Discussing legal frameworks that protect environmental rights and promote sustainable living conditions.

 - Balancing Human Rights and Environmental Protection: Investigating the interplay between environmental conservation and the respect for human rights.

 

Week 9: Environmental Justice

Topics:

 - Environmental Justice Movements: Highlighting movements advocating for the rights of communities disproportionately affected by environmental degradation.

 - Access to Justice in Environmental Matters: Discussing legal pathways for individuals and organisations seeking redress in environmental issues.

- Social Equity in Environmental Law: Understanding the principles of equity and justice in environmental governance.

 

Week 10: Enforcement of Sustainability Law

Topics:

 - Legal Institutions and Enforcement Mechanisms: Investigating the role of institutions in ensuring compliance with environmental laws.

 - Challenges in Enforcing Environmental Laws: Exploring the barriers to effective enforcement and compliance within environmental legislation.

 

Week 11: Challenges and Future Directions

Topics:

-    Barriers to effective environmental law and policy.

-    Emerging trends in sustainable development law.

 

Week 12: Course Review and Final Project Presentation 

Assessment methods

•            Active Participation: Engage in class activities and discussions; lectures are optional but recommended. Cameras must be on for online sessions.

•            Case Study & Presentation: Complete and present a relevant case study.

•            Final Essay: Submit a 2,500-word essay as the final assessment.

Language of instruction
English
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