International, environmental and space law
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The module focuses on the institutions and governance of international, environmental and space law, and explores issues of fairness, justice, voice and the challenges that arise from the changing nature of international governance. You'll develop your understanding of the transition of international law into global governance. You'll study humanity’s impact on the global and outer space environment and the governance mechanisms designed to manage that impact. You'll also learn what the law means for you individually and for the societies in which we live, as well as recognise where international law and policy is failing to protect the vulnerable or to enable social justice, equality, and equity in the global society.
What you will study
In this module, you'll explore the institutions of global governance, using environmental governance and the governance of outer space as topics of exploration. You'll examine these institutions and the regime through the context of justice and fairness particularly with regards to the Global South. You'll learn how to prepare an environmental case study and how to read and prepare policy briefs and policy papers.
You'll also explore environmental law, the challenges of climate change, the issues of climate injustice, and the possible remedies. This will include learning about planetary protection, the diversifying nature of space activities and those conducting them (as well as the need to diversify the space industry workforce) and the issues relating to resource use in the global commons (including outer space).
The module is divided into the following nine units, and they all highlight the issues of participation, fairness, and justice in the global order:
Unit 1
You'll learn about the foundations of the international system, the sources of international law, and the key actors.
Unit 2
The focus is on the Global North-South divide, beginning with the impact of colonialism and the acquisition of territory by European powers. It will highlight the inequalities of the international system and the challenges that face the Global South.
Unit 3
You'll focus on international governance through treaties exploring the governance of climate change from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to the Paris Climate change conference and beyond.
Unit 4
You'll explore the place of international courts in the international system and the change that they have brought to the way that the international system is governed. The unit will use transboundary pollution, rights of nature, and human rights litigation to explore global governance through international courts.
Unit 5
In this unit you're introduced to nature-based solutions to the climate emergency, and you'll learn about the proposed amendment to the Statute of the International Criminal Court, adding Ecocide as a new international crime. You'll also learn how to produce an environmental case study in the form of a script for a podcast.
Unit 6
You'll be introduced to the core concepts of the governance of outer space, from the Outer Space Treaty to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) and more.
Unit 7
You'll look more specifically at planetary protection issues and nascent environmental issues such as space debris, examining the connections with terrestrial environmental issues and governance.
Unit 8
You'll examine the diversity of space actors (or lack of) – in the sense of the organisations, companies, and states engaged in space activities – and the people who comprise those entities.
Unit 9
You'll explore the governance of resource utilisation in the global commons, which includes outer space.
Entry requirements
If you are new to study at university level, or are returning after some time, we recommend that you first study an OU level 1 law module such as Criminal law and the courts (W111) or Civil justice and tort law (W112), unless you are a graduate entry student.
If you are studying this module as part of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB) (R81) or Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (graduate entry) (LLB) (R82), then you will need to have studied or be studying on a concurrent presentation of Public law (W211) before enrolling on W260.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
Preparatory work
You might find the following resources useful in preparation for this module:
What's included
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
- a week-by-week study planner
- course-specific module materials
- audio and video content
- assignment details and submission section
- online tutorial access and tutor support.
You will need
You will have the option to record an oral presentation as part of your assessed work on this module. We strongly recommend that you use a headset with a microphone, as using an external or integrated microphone and speakers could result in a poor-quality recording.
Computing requirements
You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS (11 'Big Sur' or higher).
Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.
To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).
Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.
Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.
It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.