Environmental Law and Management Systems

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The terminology, nomenclature and classification systems used in environmental science
• Issues concerning the availability and sustainability of resources, for example, the different value sets relating to the Earth's resources as commodities and/or heritage
• The contribution of environmental science to the development of knowledge of the world we live in
• The need for both a multi-disciplinary and an interdisciplinary approach in advancing knowledge and understanding of Earth systems, drawing, as appropriate, from the natural and the social sciences
• The contribution of environmental science to debate on environmental issues and how knowledge of these forms the basis for informed concern about the Earth and its people
• The applicability of environmental science to the world of work

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Analysing, synthesising and summarising information critically, including prior research
• Recognising and using subject-specific theories, paradigms, concepts and principles
• Recognising the moral and ethical issues of investigations and appreciating the need for professional codes of conduct
• Applying knowledge and understanding to complex and multidimensional problems in familiar and unfamiliar contexts

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Recognising and respecting the views and opinions of other team members
• Communicating appropriately to a variety of audiences in written, verbal and graphical forms
• Developing the skills necessary for self-managed and lifelong learning (eg working independently, time management and organisation skills)
• Developing an adaptable and flexible approach to study and work
• Using the internet critically as a means of communication and a source of information
• Evaluating performance as an individual and a team member
• Identifying individual and collective goals and responsibilities and performing in a manner appropriate to these roles
• Receiving and responding to a variety of information sources (eg textual, numerical, verbal, graphical)
• Identifying and working towards targets for personal, academic and career development

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Undertaking field and laboratory investigations in a responsible and safe manner, paying due attention to risk assessment, rights of access, relevant health and safety regulations, and sensitivity to the impact of investigations on the environment and stakeholders
• Referencing work in an appropriate manner
• Planning, conducting, and reporting on environmental investigations, including the use of secondary data
• Collecting, recording and analysing data using appropriate techniques in the field and laboratory

This module opens with an introduction to and an explanation of basic legal concepts in relation to environmental management, but this module will not require a detailed academic understanding of law. The module will then progress to an investigation of environmental law in industry through the application of management techniques. The international standard ISO14001 will be the primary vehicle for this analysis, focusing on the development of policy statements, their application, and demonstration of legal compliance as a mechanism for the prevention of environmental or social harm. This will be followed by an investigation of the main international, national and local agreements that have shaped environmental law and policy, along with an introductory look at the key regulators, how they operate, and what penalties might arise for non-compliance.

The law section of the module will investigate and interpret on a practitioners level the main themes of environmental law and policy. This will be broken down into the broad categories of atmosphere, waste, water, nature and land conservation. Whilst the content of the primary legislation and policy will be addressed, the emphasis will remain on what the regulations mean to the operation of companies and society and how they can lead to improved environmental performance on an industrial and societal level. Each theme will be explored to a higher level of scrutiny through the investigation of case studies.

Students will be required to work in professional consultancy teams to develop and present an environmental management report to the board of directors of an organisation.

The taught component of the module will then close with a wide scoping discussion session exploring the engagement of environmental policy and management in the public arena.

The module content will address the following areas, supported by case study investigations:

Introduction to Law & Policy

Environmental Management

Environmental Law

Application of Environmental Law and Management Systems

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include:

• The lecture sessions will be delivered by the module lead plus guest speakers where appropriate.
• The case-study workshops will be facilitated by the module lead with contributions from assigned students.
• Discussion seminar sessions will be facilitated by the module lead and led by assigned students.
• The field visit session will involve the module coordinator and contributors guiding the students in groups around the operational site of an organisation to identify and analyse practices that require environmental management, and identify the environmental impacts.
• Directed theory reading.
• Directed case study reading.
• Individual and group assignments.
• Private study.

Learning activities include:

• Attendance at and participation in lectures.
• Participation in case-study workshops. The students will be divided into 5 groups. Each group will be required to lead the discussions and analysis of the case studies in their pre-allocated session (e.g. waste law and management).
• Participation in discussion seminars. All students will be given advance reading and expected to contribute to the discussion seminars.
• Debating techniques through engagement in the discussion seminars and the case-study workshops.
• Participation in the identification and interpretation of environmental regulation compliance practices in an external organisation.
• Professional consultancy team development and presentation.
• Group-based research and presentations.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

All other useful information is web-based and links will be made available on the module blackboard site.

Environmental Management Systems- specification with guidance for use. ISO Specification document available on Blackboard

Textbooks

Bell, McGillivray & Pederson (2017). Environmental Law. Oxford University Press.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External