Techniques and Procedures in International Environmental Law - I 16
Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) are the predominant legal method for addressing transboundary environmental problems. Adopted by States, MEAs are standard-settings instruments for effective global environmental protection. However, nowadays some States, particularly least developed and developing countries, face the challenge of implementing over 300 MEAs due to limited technical, financial and human resources. For the adequate implementation of and compliance with MEAs at a national level, there is a need to develop specific capacities on International Environmental Law (IEL), specifically its techniques and procedures of adoption, implementation and compliance.
The course provides participants with a comprehensive knowledge of the techniques and procedures being applied to further improve the adoption, compliance and enforcement processes of environmental law and policies at an international and national level.
At the end of the course participants will be able to:
- Identify the environmental regulatory measures necessary to avoid environmental harm and reduce or eliminate environmental risk;
- Identify the objectives, requirements, scope and content of environmental impact assessment procedures;
- Identify the purposes and utility of licensing and permit systems;
- Differentiate between the different kinds of economic measures aimed at protecting the environment;
- Identify the public’s procedural right in environmental decision-making;
- Identify the main techniques available to ensure the formulation and implementation of environmental law;
- Identify the non-compliance and enforcement procedures of MEAs;
- Identify the techniques/procedures in IEL that can be applied to a given case study
This course is divided into three modules with a total of seven interactive lessons. Module 1 covers regulatory and economic measures used within the framework of IEL. In Module 2 participants will learn about environmental impact assessment, licensing and permitting. Finally, Module 3 explains the role of public participation and Human Rights in IEL, and presents implementation and compliance procedures, enforcement mechanisms and remedies. Each module presents lessons, tasks, discussion forums and assessments. The course comprises approximately 25 learning hours, spread over 3 weeks. On average, participants should expect a workload of about 8-10 hours/week. Depending on the module, there is a slight variation of the amount of learning hours required per week. The course is mostly organized around asynchronous activities, which gives participants flexibility to complete learning activities, assignments, and assessments.
The course is composed of lessons, which help participants to acquire the required knowledge necessary for the tasks, discussion forums and quizzes. Practical examples and case study analysis allow for the direct application of the knowledge acquired. At the end of the course, participants are expected to submit a final report tackling relevant elements of a case study based on the knowledge gained. Apart from the core content, a number of additional resources are available for participants to further deepen their knowledge on the subject. Throughout the course, participants will actively interact with their peers and the facilitator. The course facilitator will guide discussions on selected topics, which will stir knowledge and experience sharing among participants.
This course is designed for government officials from ministries of the environment, agriculture, forests, water, tourism, foreign affairs, and from other related areas. It also targets international civil servants, NGO representatives, judges, prosecutors and lawyers working in the fields of environmental law/management, international relations/politics and sustainable development. Additionally, it is directed at academics, private sector professionals and graduates/researchers interested in specializing in IEL.
Certificates: Participants who successfully complete all the course activities and assessments will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by UNITAR.
Technical Requirements: The course is delivered through UNITAR’s Virtual Learning Environment and participants will require a reliable internet connection throughout its duration. See full list of requirements.
Download the course brochure by clicking here.
* Please note that the course schedule could be changed if a minimum of enrolled participants is not achieved prior to the start of the course.