Postgraduate Course: EU Climate Change and Energy Law (LAWS11354)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Climate change is a global issue, which requires international cooperation in order to be tackled. However, the actions developed at local, national and regional levels are absolutely crucial. First, their study is indispensable to assess the effectiveness of the global climate policy. Second, while international negotiations have not been successful in the last years, concrete actions have been implemented at national and regional levels. The sub-international levels of governance are therefore becoming the most dynamic and influent power centres in the fight against climate change.
EU climate and energy law offers a fascinating example of the dynamism of sub-international levels. It also reveals the intricate relations between international, regional and national levels when it comes to climate policy.
On one hand, the EU¿s policy is influenced by its international commitments and by the international negotiations. On the other, the EU aims to become the leader of climate governance, by tailoring its internal law to achieve this objective. EU climate and energy law is meant to be ambitious and to influence third countries. Therefore, the class will be interesting for EU and non-EU students alike.
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| Course description |
The class will proceed to a deep analysis of EU climate and energy law¿s content, effectiveness and coherence as well as of its international relevance. The class will explore the competence, instruments and actions of the European Union in the area of climate change (for ex. EU¿s actions to reduce GHG emissions: effort-sharing decision, car¿s emissions regulation, carbon market) and in the intricately related area of energy (for ex. energy efficiency, promotion of renewable energy, eco-design of products, Biofuel).
In addition to the course organiser, some seminars will be given by practitioners who will bring their field experience to the class.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
172 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1) One essay: 4,000 words, 80%«br /»
2) Class participation: 20%«br /»
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| Feedback |
After seminar 5 students will be invited to discuss their oral participation grades with the Course organiser. They will be given reasons for their class participation marks up to that point and will discuss how they might improve their performance.
Mid-term, students will have an opportunity to turn in an essay outline (on a topic provided by the Course organiser). Written feedback will be provided within 2 weeks. This will provide invaluable training for the final 80% essay, considering that the students will have the opportunity to identify their strengths and weaknesses
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Gained an understanding of the share of competences between the EU and the Members states in Climate Change & Energy law, and of the pluricentric governance system which results from it.
- Gained an understanding of the resources, actions and inactions of the EU and its Member States in the field of climate change and Energy policy.
- Gained an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of EU Climate Change & Energy policy.
- Developed awareness of the tensions, both potential and actual, between Climate Change & Energy law and other areas of EU law (environmental, etc.) and of the interactions between national, EU and international climate change law.
- Gained an understanding of the growing international influence (actual or sought for) of EU Climate Change and Energy law.
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Reading List
Preparatory reading:
S Oberthür and M Pallemaerts, The New Climate Policies of the European Union: Internal Legislation and Climate Diplomacy (VUB Press, 2010), chapter 1.
Subsequent reading lists will be provided in the course guide on arrival in Edinburgh. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
LO 3. Skills and abilities in Personal and Intellectual Autonomy
¿ Develop original and creative responses to problems and issues.
¿ Deal with complex issues and make informed judgments in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information. Especially, capacity to engage with a holistic assessment of complex policies, including by identifying synergies and conflicts between implemented actions.
¿ Identify the need for and engage with interdisciplinary cooperation to create and implement effective public policies.
LO 4. Skills and abilities in Communication
¿ Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues, and specialists.
¿ Participate to a brainstorming and contribute to a collective reflections on issue solving
¿ Understand a broad variety of sources.
LO 5. Skills and abilities in Personal Effectiveness
¿ Develop their ability to work independently under fixed deadlines.
¿ Develop their ability to lead and participate in team work.
¿ Develop their assertiveness with peers and supervising staff.
¿ Participate effectively in seminars and discussions.
¿ Develop their ability to present the outcome of independent research in a clear written and oral form.
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| Keywords | Renewable energy,EU ETS,Energy community,Environmental Law,Environmental Justice,Equity |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Apolline Roger
Tel:
Email: Apolline.Roger@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Karin Bolton
Tel: (0131 6)50 2022
Email: Karin.Bolton@ed.ac.uk |
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