Environmental Law WF-OB-SUEL
Lectures (WYK) Winter semester 2022/23

 Sands P., Principles of International Environmental Law, – selected issues

 Bodansky D. M., The Art and Craft of International Environmental Law (2010) – selected issue

 Eccleston Ch. H., March F., Global Environmental Policy, Concepts, Principles and Practise (2011) – selected issue

Optional reading:

 Kiss A., Shelton D., Guide to International Environmental Law (2007)

 Louka E., International Environmental Law: Fairness, Effectiveness, and World Order (2006)

 Fitzmaurice M., Contemporary Issues in International Environmental Law (2009)

 Bodansky D., Brunnée J., Rajamani L., International Climate Change Law (2017)

 Carlarne C. P., Gray K. R., Tarasofsky R., The Oxford Handbook of International Climate Change Law (2016)

 Hollo E. J., Kulovesi K., Mehling M., Climate Change and the Law (2013)

 Argüello G., Marine Pollution, Shipping Waste and International Law (2021)

 Craik N., Impact Assessment Process, Substance and Integration (2010)

 Wood Ch., Environmental Impact Assessment. A Comparative Review (2013)

 Fischer T. B., The Theory and Practice of Strategic Environmental Assessment. Towards a More Systematic Approach

 Jürgen F., International Environmental “soft law” (2013)

 Stephens T., International Courts and Environmental Protection (2009)

 Weiss E. B., The Evolution of International Environmental Law (2011)

 Rubenstein K., Pogge T., Environmental Discourses in Public and International Law (2011)

 Weiss E. B., The Evolution of International Environmental Law, 54 Japanese Y.B. Intl. L. 1-27 (2011)

 P. H. Sand, J. McGee, Lessons learnt from two decades of international environmental agreements: law International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics volume 22, (2022)

 Bekhoven J. van, Public Participation as a General Principle in International Environmental Law: Its Current Status and Real Impact, National Taiwan University Law Review 2016, Vol. 11: 2

 Eritja M. C., del Castillo T. F., Biological Diversity and International Law. Challenges for the Post 2020 Scenario, 2021

 Ong D. M., The Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species (Cites, 1973): Implications Of Recent Developments In International And Ec Environmental Law, Journal of Environmental Law, Vol. 10, No. 2, 10th Anniversary Issue (1998)

Legal acts (main):

Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, Aarhus, 1998

Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movements and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa, Bamako, 1991

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nairobi, 1992

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 2000

Nagoya Protocol on Access and benefit sharing 2010, Japan

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), Bonn, 1979

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, Basel, 1989

Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), Washington, DC, 1973

Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context 25.02.1991 (Espoo Connvention)

Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (ECE Water Convention), Helsinki, 1992

Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, Helsinki, 1992

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (notably not a Multilateral Environmental Agreement)

Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (UNCCD; 1994)

Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, Espoo, 1991

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), New York, 1992

International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), Geneva, 1994

Stockholm Convention Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants Stockholm, 2001

Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, Vienna, 1985, including the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Montreal, 1987

Learning outcomes:

1. Knowledge - Students knows environmental problems and will be able to identify their causes and environmental, social and economic consequences. Student identifies the instruments of international, European, polish environmental law and institutional surrounding. The student is able to name basic international legal acts in environmental protection and knows their basic principles.

2. Skills - The student understands the importance of law as an instrument of environmental protection. Student interprets the legal acts and, on the basis of them draws correct conclusions (examines the legal acts, finds the necessary acts). Student explains terminology and data in the field of sustainable development, environmental law and nature protection, understands the significance of each sources of environmental protection.

3. Competences - Student applies environment regulation to current problems, is critically interested and open to innovative achievements in the field of environmental law (to contribute to a better environment and biodiversity saving).

activity during classes = 20 % of the final grade; presentation on the topic connected with environmental law = 80 % of the final grade.

Grade 2

A

1. Student does not explain terminology and principles in the field of sustainable development, environmental law and nature protection, does not understand the significance of each sources of environmental protection.

2. Student does not identify the instruments of international, European, polish environmental law and institutional surrounding.

B

3.Student cannot construct conclusions from the facts presented to him and concepts regarding environmental law.

4.Student does not interpret the legal acts and, on the basis of them cannot give correct conclusions (examines the legal acts, finds the necessary acts).

C

5. Student is not able to work in a group, is critically interested and is not open to innovative achievements in the field of environmental law (to contribute to a better environment and biodiversity saving).

Grade 3

A

1.Student explains basic terminology and principles in the field of sustainable development, environmental law and nature protection, understands in general the significance of each sources of environmental protection.

2. Student identifies the basic instruments of international, European, polish environmental law and institutional surrounding.

B

3. Student can construct basic conclusions from the facts presented to him and concepts regarding environmental law.

4. Student interprets in general the legal acts and, on the basis of them draws basic conclusions (examines the legal acts, finds the necessary acts).

C

5. Student is able to work in a group to some extend, is little critically interested and open to innovative achievements in the field of environmental law (to contribute to a better environment and biodiversity saving).

Grade 4

A

1.Student explains terminology and principles in the field of sustainable development in a proper way, environmental law and nature protection, understands well the significance of each sources of environmental protection.

2.Student identifies well the instruments of international, European, polish environmental law and institutional surrounding..

B

3.Student can construct proper conclusions from the facts presented to him and concepts regarding environmental law.

4. Student interprets the legal acts well and, on the basis of them draws correct conclusions (examines the legal acts, finds the necessary acts).

C

5. Student is able to work in a group, is critically interested and open to innovative achievements in the field of environmental law (to contribute to a better environment and biodiversity saving).

Grade 5

A

1.Student explains very way terminology and principles in the field of sustainable development, environmental law and nature protection, presents in-depth understanding of the significance of each sources of environmental protection.

2. Student identifies very well the instruments of international, European, polish environmental law and institutional surrounding.

B

3.Student can construct very well conclusions from the facts presented to him and concepts regarding environmental law.

4. Student interprets the legal acts very well and, on the basis of them draws correct conclusions with complex explanation (examines the legal acts, finds the necessary acts).

C

5. Student is able to work in a group performing different roles, is very critically interested and very open to innovative achievements in the field of environmental law (to contribute to a better environment and biodiversity saving).

1. Introduction to environmental law – current problems – 2 h

2. Environmental protection at international, regional and national levels – 2 h

3. Legal instruments of environmental protection – 2 h

4. Terms, concepts and principles of environmental law – 2 h

5. Access to environmental information and public participation in environmental decision-making – reasons, instruments and competences – 2 h

6. Environmental impact assessment for projects and plan, programmes – 4 h

7. Legal regulation regarding nature protection – 4 h

8. Regulation for the protection of the seas and oceans - 2h

9. Management of waste and hazardous substances – 2 h

10. Air protection – 2 h

11. Legal basis for climate protection - 4

12.State liability for environmental damage - 1

13.Future perspective of environmental law - 1

Teaching methods: lecture, case study, discussion, judgment analysis.