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Overview

Climate change is the defining global challenge of our time, and understanding the law and policy that governs it is increasingly essential across sectors and professions. This module gives students the knowledge and skills to navigate the international legal frameworks shaping global climate action, with a focus on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, and more specialised perspectives within international law. Through critical analysis of international negotiations, contemporary case studies, and policy debates, students will learn to assess, interpret, and apply climate change law with confidence, preparing them for careers in law, policy, international organisations, and beyond.

The module introduces students to the background, development, and key elements of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, including mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage, as well as the annual Conference of Parties (COP) process. It then explores the growth and diversification of climate change litigation and policy, highlighting how legal frameworks are evolving in response to the urgent global climate crisis.

Through seminars and case studies, students will critically examine emerging challenges and debates in climate law, including questions of justice, responsibility, and the interaction of climate law with other areas of international law. The module encourages analytical thinking and practical engagement, equipping students to interpret, evaluate, and apply climate change law in a variety of contexts.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -BU Marking Criteria for C- to C+ (50-59%) in the Regulations for Taught Programmes: /regulations/regulations/reg01.php.en

-good -BU Marking Criteria for B- to B+ (60-69%) in the Regulations for Taught Programmes: /regulations/regulations/reg01.php.en

-excellent -BU Marking Criteria for A- to A* (70%+) in the Regulations for Taught Programmes: /regulations/regulations/reg01.php.en

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse and apply climate change law and policy to complex international and domestic scenarios, demonstrating reasoned legal and policy arguments.

• Conduct independent research and communicate informed, evidence-based conclusions clearly and persuasively

• Critically evaluate emerging trends, debates, and challenges in climate change law, including the effectiveness of legal and policy mechanisms and their interaction with broader areas of international law.

• Develop a sophisticated understanding of the international legal and policy frameworks addressing climate change, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.