Course title

International Environmental Law

Responsible person
SHIBATA Akiho
to enter grades
Numbering Code

Day・Period, etc. Mon3(対面)

開講区分

単位数

2nd semester

2.0

Timetable Slot
Code3J392

Lesson topic
IMPORTANT: Special Introductory Class on October 5 (Thu) or 6 (Fri). See below.
International Environmental Law: Combatting Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Marine environmental Degradation
How can the humanity protect and sustainably utilize the global commons such as the climate of the earth, thebiodiversity of the planet, and the ocean? This is the challenge for the humanity and for internationalenvironmental law in the twenty-first century. By taking this course, the registered students will be able tounderstand the current status of international normative and institutional frameworks to tackle these pressing
environmental challenges and to consider proactively how the humanity as a whole should act in the days to come tostrengthen those frameworks to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The registered students areencouraged to actively participate in international fieldwork to Iceland and/or special seminar in Kobe and toengage with scholars and students from all over the world interested in the international environmental law
applicable to the polar (Arctic and Antarctic) regions. [EUIJ subject]

Lesson target
Upon completion, the registered students should be able to analyze the global environmental challenges from aninternational legal perspective and to proactively propose legal and institutional means to tackle thosechallenges.
More specifically, the registered students should be able to:(1) Collect the basic factual information through newspapers and internet relating to global environmental
challenges, such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and the rapid degradation of marine environment;(2) Research and analyze by themselves international legal documents and material addressing such global
environmental challenges;(3) Engage in academic discussion with international students and scholars, by participating in international
academic conferences; and(4) Form their own views on both effectiveness and deficiencies of the current status of international
environmental law and proactively propose their improvements.

Syllabus and plan
Revised and updated on Sept. 11 2023.
*Please note Prof. Shibata will be on mission abroad from Oct.9 to Nov. 1 and will not be available forconsultation regarding this class during this period.
1 ★ Special Orientation and Introduction Class: October 5 (Thu) 2nd Period at SI or October 6 (Fri) 2nd Period atSI.
Please attend either one of the above. If you cannot come to either of these two occasions, please send an email toProf. Shibata with your full name, affiliation and year, and a brief statement why you are interested in taking
this course at the latest by noon of October 5, Thursday.
2-4. October 16 (Mon), 23 (Mon), 30 (Mon)
Individual research and report preparation. Please submit the presentation slide (PPT) by noon of November 1 (Wed)as an attachment to an email to Prof. Shibata.
5. November 6 (Mon):
What is international environmental law?
6. November 13 (Mon):
Most pressing global environmental threat: Climate Change
7. November 20 (Mon):
Students' Presentation on individual research #1
8. November 27 (Mon):
Students' Presentation on individual research #2
9.★ December 1 (Fri), 15:00-17:00
Special seminar by guest speaker (TBD) on Antarctic environmental protection
10. December 4 (Mon):
Climate Change and International Law
11. December 11 (Mon):Climate Change and International Law in Arctic and Antarctic context
12. December 18 (Mon):
Second pressing global environmental threat: Loss of biodiversity[December 25 (Mon): No class]
13. January 15 (Mon):
Conservation of biodiversity and international law
14. January 22 (Mon):
Biotechnology and international law: GMOs, genetic resources and DSI
15. January 29 (Mon):
Marine environmental protection and international law: with particular focus on Marine plastic pollution
Evaluation method
The students will be evaluated based on: preparation for the class (20%); class participation (40%); andpresentations based on research (40%). There will be no final examination. Short preparatory memos for the class
may be requested to hand in.

Evaluation baseline
Class preparation is evaluated based on reading/analyzing the assigned materials before coming to the class so as
to be able to engage in the discussion during the class.
Class participation is evaluated based on the quality (rather than the quantity) of the comments and questions,demonstrating his/her ability to understand the issue, analyze the issue in objective and academic manner, present
logically his/her view on the issue, and be open to the views of other students and of professor.
Class presentation is evaluated based on the scope and depth of the research, preparation of concise and logicalsummary (resume) for the presentation, the presentation performance, and the responsiveness to questions andcomments from the class.

Notice (include info. on related class)
The students are encouraged (but not required) to take basic courses in public international law.
Kobe University BEEF will be utilized fully (communications and assignments), so please be familiarized with thesystem.

Review and preparation
The registered students should come to the class prepared by reading the assigned materials. If you have questions
as to how to prepare for the class, please contact the professor by e-mail.
Kobe University requires 45 hours of study from students to award one credit, including both in-class instructions
as well as study outside classes. Students are required to prepare for each class and complete the review after
each class, depending on the respective class goals.

Office hour・Contact information
After the class or by appointment via e-mail.

Message for student
We hear a lot on the news how the earth's environment has been rapidly deteriorating, but do you know how thehumanity has been trying to tackle it? Since global environmental issues require international, concerted actions,international environmental law plays a very important role in such actions. I hope you will deepen yourunderstanding how much the humanity has done to tackle the challenge and what more we should/can do.

Improvemenets in TeachingThrough this course, the registered students will have an opportunity to engage with international law scholars andstudents from around the world gathering in Kobe or participating in international fieldwork.

TextFrom Sands and Peel's textbook, please read relevant chapters as indicated by the professor.
From Rajamani and Peel Handbook, this class will take up mainly Chapter 29 Climate Change.

Principles of International Environmental Law (4th edition, 2018) / Philippe Sands and Jacqueline Peel : Cambridge
University Press ,2018 ,ISBN:9781108431125
The Oxford Handbook of International Environmental Law (2nd edition, Sept. 2021) / Lavanya Rajamani and Jacqueline
Peel : Oxford University Press ,2021 ,ISBN:9780198849155

Reference Material
Additional documents, academic articles and references will be introduced in the class and provided through BEEF.
Cf.,
Research Handbook on International Environmental Law, 2nd edition (Elgar, 2021); Research Handbook on International
Marine Environmental Law, 2nd edition (Elgar, 2023);Paris Agreement on Climate Change: A Commentary (Elgar, 2021);
The Intenational Law of Biotechnology, 2nd edition (Elgar, 2023); Blobal Plastic Pollution and its Regulation(Elgar, 2023); A Research Agenda for Water Law (Elgar, 2023); Research Handbook on Fundamental Concepts ofEnvironmental Law, 2nd edition (Elgar, 2022); Climate Change Law: An Introduction (Elgar, 2021)
Oxford Handbook on International Climate Change Law / Gray, et al eds, : Oxford UP ,Oxford, 2016 ,ISBN:
Research Handbook on Climate Change Adaptation Policy / Keskitalo & Preston eds., : Elgar ,2019 ,ISBN:Classroom Language
EnglishWhen Japanese students are present, the professor may use Japanese to promote understanding of technical terms.

Keywords
International law, environment, climate change, biodiversity, ocean, Antarctic, Arctic