Module Catalogue 2024/25

LAW3015 : Environmental Law

LAW3015 : Environmental Law

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Sakshi Sakshi
  • Lecturer: Dr Anna McClean
  • Owning School: Newcastle Law School
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To provide an overview of:

• The definition of environmental law and its historical background, fundamental concepts, environmental principles, and environmental rights
• The legal framework and regulatory regimes for the protection of the environment in the UK
• The role and rights of the public in environmental decision-making
• Integrated themes – international and EU law and environmental protection; environmental justice; challenges

Outline Of Syllabus

11 lecture topics:
•       Introduction to environmental law (2 hours)
•       Environmental values, politics and institutions (1 hour)
•       Environmental permitting (2 hours)
•       Contaminated land (1 hour)
•       Waste management (1 hour)
•       Water law (2 hours)
•       Regulation of land use (planning law and conservation) (2 hours)
•       Private law (nuisance, negligence, trespass) (2 hours)
•       Climate change (2 hours)
•       The role and rights of the public in environmental decision-making (2 hours)
•       International environmental law (1 hour)
•       Environmental justice (1 hour)
•       Environmental and climate litigation: Role of Courts in Shaping Environmental Jurisprudence
•       Challenges to environmental law (1 hour)
•       Revision/assessment preparation (1 hour)

5 seminars:
•       Environmental principles
•       Environmental permitting; contamination
•       Waste and water law
•       Regulation of land use
•       Climate change; rights of the public

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

•       Ability to identify the interrelation between environmental law, environmental science and legal cultures
•       Familiarisation with the background to and development of environmental regulation in the UK
•       Understanding the role of environmental institutions in environmental regulation in the UK
•       Understanding the operation of the main environmental regulatory regimes in the UK
•       Recognition of the limitations and weaknesses of these regimes
•       Understanding the role of private law in environmental protection
•       A broad understanding of environmental jurisprudence and a detailed understanding of domestic environmental legal cultures

Intended Skill Outcomes

•       Ability to read legislation and understand complex regulatory regimes
•       Ability to critically analyse the law
•       Ability to form and communicate an opinion on the effectiveness of regulatory regimes, supported by evidence
•       Ability to discern social and political conditions underlying environmental law and the role of politics in the environmental policy making and legislative processes

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture221:0022:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion130:0030:00Assessment preparation
Structured Guided LearningStructured research and reading activities1140:00140:00Reading, seminar preparation and other independent learning
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching51:005:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery31:003:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures establish the framework for knowledge and techniques for analysis of the law. The small group teaching allows for detailed application of the knowledge and techniques by the students. The guided independent study takes the form of directed reading and tasks to consolidate and expand on the lectures, prepare for the small group teaching, and prepare for complete the assessment. These teaching methods promote knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and allow for development of skills in reading and analysing the law, and developing and communicating a clear argument. Further, the teaching methods aim to build passion for the subject and commitment to environmental issues and not mere engagement with the materials presented within the syllabus.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay2M1003000 words
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise2M1000 word essay plan
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The summative assessed coursework will give students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their research skills and their understanding of the operation of environmental law. Students will be expected to present a coherent argument supported by law, legal theory, policy and academic discussion. The coursework will give the students the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of one of the topics studied in the module, as well as develop their research and analytical skills. The formative 1000 word essay outline will allow students to develop their research skills and plan for the summative assessment.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.