Human Rights and the Environment – 5 credits

The course focuses on two key terms, human rights and sustainability, to address the impact of environmental degradation and climate change on people worldwide.  

The earth gets warmer and warmer as a result of the human impact on the climate. 2011-2020 marked the warmest decade ever recorded and we’ll keep on seeing an increasing temperature if no changes are made. The global warming leads to natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding, drought and heat waves. These disasters, in turn, can lead to the displacement of people, so-called climate refugees, where individuals are forced to leave their homes in search of safety.  Not infrequently, famine and diseases also arise in these crises. Climate change affects different parts of the world in different ways. In many cases, already vulnerable groups suffer the consequences of environmental disasters, despite contributing very little to global warming themselves. This, in turn, presents challenges for the legal system regarding how a fair distribution of responsibility and support should be structured to address these inequalities.  

The technological and political development in relation to climate change presents new demands, not only on the legal system, but also on how companies and society can contribute to the protection of human rights in a time of environmental degradation. This raises questions about if and how public international law can compel states to take positive measures to protect people from disasters caused by global warming. What measures must be taken to address foreseeable threats that could trigger such disasters? What is required of states to assist victims of climate-related disasters and protect their rights? 

After completing the course, you will understand the significance of public international law’s role in relation to human rights and sustainability in addressing these crises. The course will analyze the legal frameworks surrounding human rights and sustainability and how these can be applied in practice in various global scenarios. The course also provides an opportunity to discuss and analyze the limitations of public international law and whether these legal instruments are sufficient to meet the growing challenges in an increasingly uncertain global climate.  

Course content 

Human Rights and the Environment is an 5 credit undergraduate-level online law course conducted in English over a period of 10 weeks. The course will provide you with an understanding of the historical development of environmental justice. Key concepts such as biodiversity and global supply chains will be included and utilized throughout the course. You will gain insight into the relevant policies and conventions that shape this legal field, as well as ongoing discussions and perspectives from various stakeholders. Additionally, you will gain an understanding of why, when and where the development of human rights began, as well as how environmental issues have become an important part of this development. You will become familiar with specific areas within the subject, including various conventions and other documents in public international law. This will enable your understanding of law and its applicability. Furthermore, the course aims to highlight bilateral agreements and other forms of cooperation.  

If you want to engage in a critical and multifaceted discussion on human rights and the environment, this course is for you! 

Course design 

The course is made up of five modules stretched over a 10-week period. Each module will include an online lecture, assigned readings, and a quiz. As a final moment in each module, you will write a short reflective paper.  

The different parts of the course 

Lectures 

In each module there will be a video lecture accessed from the platform Canvas. You can watch the lectures when it suits you so that you as a student can plan your studies. 

Literature and legal text 

In parallel with the lectures, you will read the associated legal text. For this course, there is no assigned literature, instead the reading instructions will be made up of academic journals, websites, book-chapters etc.  

Self-grading tests 

To continuously test your knowledge, each module includes a self-grading test with multiple-choice questions. The tests are mandatory, and a passing score is required in order to progress to the next module.  

Written assignments 

Each module includes a reflective paper. The final grade is based on a cumulative assessment of your performance on each assignment.  

Information regarding registration 

When you have been accepted to the course you will, shortly before the start of the course, receive an e-mail from us with all the information you need to register for the course. The e-mail is sent to the e-mail address you provided on Universityadmissions.se.  If you have not received an email from us the day before the start of the course at the latest, please check your junk mail. If you do not find the email there, please contact us.  
 
When you have received the welcome letter with information regarding registration, it is important that you register as soon as possible to keep your place on the course. Registration is done via student.ladok.se. All information can be found in the welcome letter. 

Early discontinuation  

If you do not want to complete the course, you have the option to discontinue your studies. If you made an early discontinuation of your studies, it is possible for you to apply for the course again. An early discontinuation can be made no later than three weeks after the start of the course, after which the discontinuation becomes definitive. Then you cannot apply for the course again. You can either discontinue early via student.ladok.se or by sending an email to JXHA01 [at] jur [dot] lu [dot] se (JXHA01[at]jur[dot]lu[dot]se.) 

Re-registration 

You must re-register if you wish to redo a course you were previously registered for and which you did not complete. You can only be re-registered according to availability and you must re-register in a semester when the course is given. Our courses are almost always full. If so, re-registration is not possible.  

If, on the other hand, you only want to be examined on remaining exams or other mandatory elements, you do not need to re-register. In that case, contact us.