LAWS 734 - Climate Change Seminar

Credits: 2/3

This seminar will explore legal and regulatory options for addressing global climate change. We will begin with materials examining the scientific evidence and projections of climate change, then move on to attempts at international legal and quasi-legal mechanisms, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol,and the Copenhagen Accord. We will also cover U.S. domestic climate policy options, including regulation under the Clean Air Act and at state level,and contrast these policies with those in place in other developed economies. Throughout, we will discuss the uniquely difficult challenges climate change creates for institutions, society, and the legal system.

Prerequisites: None, but Envi ronmental Law, International Environmental Law, or Energy Law are recommended.

Note: This course qualifies as a perspective course. If taken for three credits, it satisfies the writing requirement.

Basis of Grade: Class Participation, Class Presentation, and Paper (2 credits: series of response papers; 3 credits: research paper, 30-page minimum)

Form of Grade: Letter

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