This course examines the legal and policy issues likely to be encountered by an environmental scientist and addresses the question: Is the adversary system the most appropriate method of dealing with conflict in determining the appropriate use of resources? The difficulties encountered with the multiplicity of authorities and interactions between local government regulations, state and federal laws and international law are considered. Case studies examined at each of these levels are used to provide a brief overview of current environmental law in Australia and the World, with examples.

The aim of this course is to acquaint students with the fundamental principles of environmental law; and to explain how these principles are applied. The course assumes that participants have little or no background in the law, and so the course also provides some basic instruction about important legal concepts and structures as well as policy approaches to implementation of regulation and enforcement of the law.

More information can be found on the Course Outline Website.