Legal Issues in Sustainability

SLN #: 26742
Course Prefix: LAW-791
Course Section: 024
Credit Hours: 2/3
Instructor(s): Askland
Course Books: View List of Books

Course Description:
Legal Issues in Sustainability. Spring 2009. To be taught by Andrew Askland, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and Jon Fink, Global Institute of Sustainability. Any definition of sustainability implicates substantive law and legal process. This course addresses law as potentially both an enabler and an impediment to the identification and adoption of sustainable practices. While law often focuses on discrete cases and problems, this class looks at the intended and unintended impacts of the law on systems, i.e., environmental, social and economic systems. This class does not focus on statutory frameworks and interpretation, as does an environmental law class. Instead, it integrates law within the larger orienting goal and perspective of sustainability. The course will consist of 13 two-hour classes. Each class will feature a presentation by scholars from Law, the School of Sustainability, and other departments, and also community experts . The second hour will be guided discussion of issues generated by the presentation and by assigned readings. Students will be evaluated on the basis of class participation, responses to readings, and a seminar paper. Topics to be addressed include: Extents and limits of property rights Natural resource and water policies Energy issues, e.g., cap and trade, licenses for nuclear power Food production laws and policies Effective levels of governance/Federalism Immigration Biodiversity and conservation Emerging technologies Environmental justice/corruption Theories of economic development and globalization

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 2/3
Grading Option: Numeric Grade and ONE-Time Pass Option is Available, or Letter Grade Only
Written Assignment: See course description
Graduation Writing Requirement: Yes, With Instructor's Approval
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: No
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Mid Term Or Other Exam: See course description
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: See course description
Participation Points: See course description
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Additional Attendance Policy: See course description

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.