Content, progress and pedagogy of the
module
Climate change represents an urgent and potentially irreversible
threat to human societies and to the planet – and thus requires to
be addressed by legislators and other decision-makers at the
international, EU and national levels. This course is focused on
the international and European Union (EU) law designed to reduce
the challenges caused by climate change, involving especially the
law that transforms the energy sector from a brown to a green
sector. It is first and foremost the use of conventional energy
sources in the electricity sector, the heating sector and the
transport sector that drives the growth in greenhouse gas emission.
The course will be of interests for students of law who want to be
future practitioners in law firms, public authorities, or as
practitioners within international, EU and national organizations
focusing of climate and energy interests.
Learning objectives
Knowledge
- The (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, the Copenhagen Accord and
the Durban Platform as implemented by the parties are the most
important international legislative and non-legislative
instruments.
- The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the
International Energy Agency (IEA’s) and the Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD’s) in their role
at the global level with reports/initiatives on new regulatory
instruments on greening of the energy sector.
- Knowledge on opportunities posed by renewable energy sources
and other new energy technologies to address the threats posed by
climate change with a legal perspective – focusing e.g. on the EU’s
Climate and Energy Package.
- Also project agreements between countries (involving the
private sector) and other sorts of financing of transfer of energy
technologies under the UNFCCC by the course.
- The Renewable Energy Directive, the Energy Efficiency Directive
and the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) Directive
- The role of the EU as a global actor and as a legal person
representing the 27 Member States.
Skills
- Master the terminology and concepts of the field
- Apply the relevant rules and the way of interpretation
- Identify and bridge the gap between rules protecting the
environment and those protecting human rights on the way in which
to enforce climate change substantive law through the involvement
of civil society in the procedural dimension of law.
- Interpret and apply rules of the relevant climate law in energy
rectors
- Present and explain an analysis of a theoretical or practical
problem in a convincing and appropriate manner
Competences
- put in perspective the climate and renewable
energy law in the context of the effects of globalization on
law;
- present and explain the legal
challenges related to the design of climate change law at
international and EU levels;
- understand the market based instruments used in
UNFCCC as well as in the promotion of renewable energy;
- understand the legal conditions for the use of
specific renewable energy technologies – especially solar energy
technologies, wind turbines and biofuels;
- understanding spatial planning
regulation/decision-making – as well as the protection of
international protected areas – as extremely important aspects to
the advancement of commercial scale renewable energy
facilities.
Type of instruction
Extent and expected workload
Exam
Exams
Name of exam | Climate Change and Energy Law |
Type of exam | Oral exam
20 minutes exam |
ECTS | 10 |
Permitted aids | Without aids |
Assessment | 7-point grading scale |
Type of grading | External examination |
Criteria of assessment | The criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination
Policies and Procedures |
Additional information
- The module is open to students from Law and Business
Law