Outline

Overview

The relationship between the natural environment and business practice is deep and complex, and a multiplicity of regulatory initiatives have been employed in an attempt to manage and influence their interaction. This unit of study aims to demystify environmental regulation as far as it is relevant to the running of a business. It begins with an analysis of the contemporary institutional framework surrounding the interaction between business and the environment with particular reference to the historical conditions which have given rise to it, before introducing major stakeholders in the development of environmental and business regulation (including nation states, international organisations and other non-state actors) and their respective roles. The unit then discusses international environmental regulation and situates Australian regulation within it in order to explain its impact on Australian businesses. The effectiveness of different regulatory styles in this area is assessed together with the argument that business can and should take ownership of problematic elements of their interactions with the natural environment. Different strategies developed to 'manage' a business' relationship with the environment and issues surrounding liability for environmental damage are also considered.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Accounting
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Cary Di Lernia, cary.dilernia@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Individual reflection Individual reflection	5%	Week 01 Due date: 23 May 2023 at 23:00 Closing date: 23 May 2023	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Major Assignment Research paper	50%	Week 13 Due date: 26 May 2023 at 10:00 Closing date: 01 Jun 2023	1500-3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Leading Class Discussion and Weekly Participation Participation	15%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Major Presentation Oral presentation	20%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Critique Participation	10%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Assessment for this unit is comprised of two elements: i. Common Elements, and ii. Choice Elements. Students must have their Assessment Stream (A, B or C) choice confirmed by the coordinator via email by Week 4.

i: Common Elements:
Participation of 15% is comprised of Leading Class Discussion and Weekly Participation in Weeks 1-7: This component of the assessment will be assessed through the leading of class discussion. You will need to pick an article from a major Australian publication or academic journal focussing on a particular issue concerning the environment, law and business from the last three years, explain its relevance to what you have learnt in the unit with particular reference to the material to be covered in class that week and illustrate how the environment, law and business interact to influence the management and trajectory of organisations in the real world. Further detail in Canvas (see ‘Assessment Information and Resources’ in ‘Modules’ tab).
Individual Reflection 5%: Further detail regarding this item of assessment will be provided in class in Week 1, and is also available via Canvas (see ‘Assessment Information and Resources’ in ‘Modules’ tab).
Critique 10%: At the conclusion of each student’s major presentation (see below), students in the audience will be chosen to provide a critique, point of discussion, or ask questions of the presenter regarding their presentation. Pre-prepared generalised questions which do not seek to interact with material presented will receive low, if any, marks. Critique marks are awarded on the basis of consistently high-quality contributions to other students' presentations.

ii. Choice Elements:
Major Presentation 20%: A ~10 minute presentation on a topic of each student’s choice, depending on Assessment Stream (A, B or C) chosen, further detail in Canvas (see ‘Assessment Information and Resources’ in ‘Modules’ tab).
Major Assignment 50%: Individual or group, depending on Assessment Stream (A, B or C) chosen, further detail in Canvas (see ‘Assessment Information and Resources’ in ‘Modules’ tab).

All assessment items will be discussed in detail in the Week 1 Seminar.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Standard Business School late penalties apply

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Special topic on environmental regulation: pollution	Online class (1 hr)
Week 01	Planetary boundaries and the rule of law for nature	Online class (3 hr)
Week 02	The environment, law and business	Online class (3 hr)
Week 03	Nature, science and the 'Anthropocene'	Online class (3 hr)
Week 04	International environmental law and sustainable development	Online class (3 hr)
Week 05	State and Commonwealth environmental law	Online class (3 hr)
Week 06	Regulatory strategies and litigation	Online class (3 hr)
Week 07	Corporate strategies and responses	Online class (3 hr)
Week 08	Reading Week / Consultation class	Online class (3 hr)
Week 09	Research paper workshop	Online class (3 hr)
Week 10	Special topic on environmental regulation: climate change	Online class (3 hr)
Week 11	Special topic on environmental regulation: corporate reporting and disclosure	Online class (3 hr)
Week 12	Special topic on environmental regulation: social licence and praxis	Online class (3 hr)
Week 13	Reflection and review	Online class (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the business school does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There is no prescribed text for this unit. Required readings will be made available in class or via Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate a detailed understanding of the framework of actors and regulation surrounding corporations in their interaction with nature
LO2. recognise and address environmental law issues in a commercial context and engage in a critical appraisal of the broader policies operating within the area
LO3. describe and evaluate the conceptual, political, and legal frameworks surrounding and structuring environmental and business issues
LO4. recognise and evaluate environmental, corporate and personal risk arising from the interaction between nature, the law and business
LO5. communicate, orally and in writing, to a professional standard
LO6. identify, explain and assess regulatory tools available in this area
LO7. describe and evaluate strategies available to businesses in their interaction with nature.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Business School Policies

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

CLAW3209: The Environment, Law and Business

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect