Bachelor 2025/2026

International Law and the Environment

Type: Elective course (Law)

Delivered by: School of International Law

When: 5 year, 1, 2 module

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Aleksei Petrenko

Language: English

Contact hours: 56

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The environment is a major concern for humankind, and contemporary international lawmaking has increasingly addressed this issue over the last few decades. The international community has developed a complex regulatory framework under public international law (PIL) to protect and preserve the environment, promote the sustainable use of natural resources, and encourage state cooperation and meaningful engagement of the private sector in related matters. This continually evolving legal framework is the focus of the course "International Law and the Environment."This course serves as an introduction to international environmental law (IEL), rather than an in-depth study of all related issues. We will address key areas of this field with a systemic approach to the regulation, recognizing that various sub-fields of international law operate in an integrated manner. The course aims to foster an advanced understanding of public international law by exploring one of its sub-fields, where many questions of general international law inevitably arise and are addressed. The course also pays ample attention to practical aspects, such as decision-making, implementation and enforcement of commitments under international law, and the formulation of environmental law and policy.The course begins by contextualizing the regulatory framework as part of PIL. In the main section, it delves into selected issues of international environmental law, including climate change, species and habitat protection, biological diversity, protection of the marine environment, and others. We will also deal with potential conflicts with other commitments under international law, such as when continuing protection of foreign direct investments results in harm to the environment.During this course, students will engage in various class activities and participate in mock negotiations. At the end of the course, students must pass an oral examination.Preparatory courses are: “Public International Law” and “Theory of State and Law”. A course on "Environmental Law" is desirable. Participants must demonstrate a proficiency in English sufficient to understand and participate in university-level courses taught in English.