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Unit of study_
LAWS6342: Environmental Markets
2025 unit information
Environmental degradation is often caused by various forms of market failure. At the same time, it is recognised that market-based instruments (MBIs) can function as legitimate and effective legal tools for environmental protection. MBIs are instruments or regulations that encourage behaviour through market signals, rather than through direct regulation alone, and are applied broadly at both the international and national level to improve environmental quality and resource conservation. Markets are not, however, a panacea for the environmental issues we face, and MBIs can undermine environmental objectives if those instruments are not well designed and implemented. This unit will study the role of markets and financial incentives in addressing environmental and natural resource issues, and analyse the conceptual foundation for their use. It will then survey a range of MBIs, including marketable permits, offset programs and load-based licensing, across a diverse range of environmental issue areas, including climate change, renewable energy, water and biodiversity. The Unit will examine the key contributions MBIs can make to environmental regulation, as well as the relevant 'watchpoints' as these instruments develop in terms of environmental protection. Refer to the Sydney Law School timetable - https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/4533/pages/postgraduate-lecture-timetable
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Law School
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Law |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand of how environmental issues can be regulated through MBIs, the ethical issues raised by MBIs in environmental regulation and the significance of MBIs in this context
- LO2. understand the key principles underpinning the development of environmental markets, including ecologically sustainable development and its relationship to the law
- LO3. understand the key regulatory features of environmental markets and the key considerations in designing effective environmental markets
- LO4. understand the roles and capacities of various public and private actors within MBIs
- LO5. contribute your own perspectives to the unit of study through class exercises, debate and discussion
- LO6. formulate, and conduct independent research into, a question of potential significance in relation to environmental markets/particular MBIs and to present the arguments developed in light of that research in a balanced and scholarly manner.
Unit availability
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There are no availabilities for this year.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Intensive May - June 2025
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Block mode | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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There are no availabilities for previous years.
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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