International Environmental Law
Spring 2005
GraduateSchool of International Studies
YonseiUniversity
GENERALThis course provides a comprehensive understanding of the law, institution and politics governing the international regime of environmental protection. The main focus is International Environmental Law. In order to analyze the environmental protection system of today’s world community, each class will tackle structure and principles of international environmental law and institutions. This class will also explore the efforts of various members of the international community to achieve changes and improvements in global environmental protection. Especially, historical and ideological viewpoints will be closely intermingled with the actual questions dealing with current environmental issues. The Third World’s countries’ perspectives will be accordingly reflected in discussions. The Course Plan below shows the subjects to be covered by the course; we will try to keep to the Course Plan, but individual sessions may be rescheduled if necessary.
TIME: This course will meet from 18:00 to 21:00 onTuesday. (Rm. )
Lecturer: Eric Yong-Joong Lee, Dr.iur. DonggukUniversityCollege of Law
CONTACT:Number 011-94760550/02-22603204 Email:
TEXTThe texts for the course will be Birnie & Boyle, International Law and the Environment (Oxford, 2001); Caldwell, International Environmental Policy (Duke University Press 1996); Wettestad, Designing Effective Environmental Regimes (Edward Elgar 1999); Vig and Axelrod, The Global Environment: Institutions, Law and Policy (Congressional Quarterly Press 1999); Young, International Cooperation: Building Regimes for Natural Resources and the Environment (Cornell University 1989); Young, The Effectiveness of International Environmental Regimes (MIT Press 1999); Young, Global Governance: Drawing Insights from the Environmental Experience (MIT 1997).
Documents Supplement includes excerpts from Hunter, Salzman & Zaelke, International Environmental Law and Policy (West Publications 1998)[1]; Sand, International Environmental Law: Lessons in Global Change (Kluwer 1999); Chasek, The Global Environment in the Twenty-First Century: Prospects for International Cooperation (United Nations University Press 2000); Rolen, Sjoberg and Svedin, International Governance on Environmental Issues (Kluwer Academic Publishers 1997); and supplemental documents. The supplemental documents include the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, the Stockholm Declaration of the UN Conference on the Human Environment, the Rio Declaration, and many other important documents concerning international environmental law and policy.
Other helpful texts are listed in the following:P. Sands & P. Klein, Bowett’s Law of International Institutions (Sweet & Maxwell, 2001); Henkin, Puch, Schachter & Smit, International Law: Cases and Materials (West Group, 1993, 3rd ed.); Additional mandatory and optional readings may be used in class. We will also discuss current issues relating to environmental protection. For it, such a few well-renowned and highly balanced magazines can be selected to read as The Economist, Le Monde, Der Spiegel and New York Times. Information from Internet will be useful.
TEACHING PATTERNS
Duration of Course: 1 Semester (16 classes with 3 hours)
Class Management: Mixture of Lecture, Presentation and Tutorial
PAPERS: There are one short paper and one final paper; each must be related to the course. The short paper may be no longer than 5 double-spaced typewritten pages. The short paper is a country report. The final paper’s subject is on your free choice; students may be required to consult with the lecturer before writing the final paper. Please note that repeated lateness in handing in assignments will reflect negatively on your final grade.
ASSESSMENT Grade will be based on one short paper; one final paper and classroom presentations/participation. Students are expected to attend class and participate actively in discussions. In addition, They will be expected to present the facts, issues and arguments of specific cases they study. Bringing a copy of article is required for presentation.
COURSE PLAN
International Environmental Law
Class I: Class Organization
Class II: International Law and the Environment
Class III: The Formulation of International Environmental Law and Policy
Class IV: Rights and Obligations of States in Environmental Protection
Class V: Regulations, Compliance, Enforcement and Dispute Settlement in
International Environmental Law
Class VI: Environmental Rights and Crimes
Class VII: Environmental Protection and Sustainable Use of International
Watercourse
Class VIII: The Law of the Sea and the Protection of the Marine Environment
Class IX: The International Control of Hazardous Waste
Class X: Nuclear Energy and the Environment
Class XI: Protecting the Atmosphere and Outer Space
Class XII: Biodiversity 1: Conservation of Nature, Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Class XIII: Biodiversity 2: Conservation of Migratory and Land-based Species
Class XIV: Biodiversity 3: Conservation of Marine Living Resources
Class XV: International Trade and Environmental Protection
Class XVI: Conclusion
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[1]The price is about $70.00 and the book can be ordered through or Foundation Press at