LW6055 - Environment and Sustainability

The module will utilise lectures and seminars to develop your practical thinking on the areas mentioned above. The lectures (12x1 hour) will cover the basic theoretical and legal frameworks of the topics outlined above. Seminars (12x1 hour) will combine consolidation of existing knowledge with discussion questions, debating exercises, and analysis of problem questions with focus on international and domestic legal frameworks.
You will be assessed by a written piece of coursework (100% of the final mark), which will take place in the Semester 1 assessment period.
The members of staff who teach on this module have significant research and practice experience in this area. As such, they will provide academic support where necessary. All lectures will be recorded and made available to students to aid in learning and understanding.
The module will make use of the eLearning Portal where lecture materials, podcasts, recordings, and other learning support will be made available. The module site will also direct you to supplementary resources which you are encouraged to explore in addition to the material covered in lectures.
The module will make use of an online reading list. The reading list will provide you with links to key texts and information on their availability in the university library.

The University supports you in learning and research with an excellent library and teaching facilities, access to on-line legal databases and resources and appropriate software.



This module is designed and will be managed by the module tutors who will be responsible for guiding you in your engagement and learning. Relevant materials and instructions will be accessible through the module eLP site, maintained by the module tutors.



Extensive use is made of the eLP to facilitate discussions between you and the module tutors, to provide materials, make announcements and to highlight recent developments and relevant research materials.



You may communicate with the module tutors and you are encouraged to make contact if you encounter any difficulties.



Academic support is available through formative feedback from tutors and on summative assignments.



At programme level you will be supported by the programme leader who will provide pastoral support throughout the module and the programme.



The Programme Administration and Student Liaison teams are responsible for the non-academic administration of the module. They will contact you throughout the duration of your module with details about the assignment and other issues.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

At the end of the module you will have:

• Develop knowledge and a critical understanding of environment and sustainability legal frameworks both at international and domestic level.

• Develop a critical awareness of important current legal and political developments in the environment and sustainable development sphere with a focus on the sectoral challenges including climate change and biodiversity.

• Be able to evaluate this specialist knowledge in the context of a written problem or essay question.


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

• Develop an ability to conduct rigorous and independent legal research in the area of environmental law and sustainable development, including accurate identification of issues; the retrieval and evaluation of relevant, current information from a range of sources; and close reading of complex materials
• Develop an ability to reflect on and critically evaluate environment and sustainability, and be able to identify solutions to a range of legal and practical and ethical problems.



Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• Students will increase their global/cultural awareness through exploring the challenges relating to environmental protection and implementation of sustainable development, and the way forward

Formative Assessment

Students will be given regular feedback throughout the module in seminars. Formative assessment will be achieved via group discussion, informal peer assessment and assessed and non-assessed work.



Summative Assessment

Students will be assessed by means of a 2,500-word piece of written coursework critically evaluating environmental and sustainability issues. This will constitute 100% of the marks for this module. The assignment aims to encourage a deep and critical approach to learning, developing an ability to think widely about the issues presented within the module and to explore these in line with directed and independent learning. Students will be provided with appropriate written or oral feedback (as appropriate), and, as part of reflective development, such feedback can be utilised in the preparation of subsequent module assessments on the programme.

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Environmental protection and sustainable development have become central to policy-making and decision-making and are increasingly perceived as integral to all aspects of life. The terms ‘environment’ and ‘sustainability’ cover a range of problems and issues: from the seemingly intractable global problem of climate change through to more local issues relating to development, waste and contaminated lands. The module will examine the legal reach of environmental law and sustainable development by exploring the sources, principles and concepts, and the nature of the regulatory systems both at the international and national level. Further, specific laws relating to climate change, biodiversity, water, waste and contaminated land will be analysed to determine the way in which law, policy and rights affect or promote environment and sustainability issues.



Research underpins the module and the assessment process. The teaching team are research active in this area and will therefore structure teaching around their research. This will ensure that the module is research led. The module’s blend of theory and practice will enhance critical thinking and analytical skills, alongside development of an in-depth understanding of a complex area of law. These are skills which are highly desirable to employers.

You will critically engage with research outputs as part of your research-rich learning, drawing from Northumbria’s extensive on-line databases and library facilities.