EU law and policy on climate change

Climate change presents unprecedented environmental, social and economic challenges. The role of law in addressing them is complex. Through the 2019 European Green Deal, the EU is committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050. To reach this target, its climate action embraces a set of ambitious policies and regulatory measures. This combination of legal complexity and policy ambition makes studying EU climate law and policy on climate change both fascinating and challenging.

This course will focus on the analysis of the EU policy and legal framework on climate change. The aim of the course is not to be exhaustive, but to combine in-depth discussion of particular issues with a sophisticated understanding of the role of law in dealing with climate change.  The course will consist of 3 interconnected blocks.

The first block will focus on the multi-level governance of climate change in the EU. It will discuss the relationship between international, EU and national law, actors and institutions involved in climate change mitigation and adaptation in the EU. This block will address key questions such as e.g. the constitutional and Treaty foundations of EU climate law, the Paris Agreement or the European Climate Law as a legal framework for climate neutrality.

The second block will analyse specific legal and policy actions addressing climate change within the EU. This block will focus on economic, regulatory, and technological tools such as e.g. the European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS); energy efficiency in buildings or renewable energy.

The third block will focus on overarching issues and ‘legal dilemmas of climate action’ (Bogojevic, 2023). Issues discussed in this block might include climate litigation in the EU, the European Just Transition, the external dimension of EU climate action.

The themes discussed in each block may vary from year to year, depending on the current developments in the EU law and policy on climate change.

The aim of this course is to enable students to :

- Become familiar with the constitutional foundations, legal rules and institutional processes that govern current legal and policy responses to climate change in the EU;

- Develop a critical understanding of the different legal, regulatory and policy instruments/approaches available to address climate change and their advantages and disadvantages;

- Appreciate the tensions, debates and issues surrounding climate change mitigation and the multi-layered nature of legal responses to climate change.

Connaissances et compétences pré-requises ou co-requises

None.

This course is taught by seminar discussion (2hours /week). Students are expected to prepare for each class and to contribute to class discussion. Readings and materials for each sessions will be provided in advance on the UV.

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

A detailed handout will be avaiable to the students on the UV.

Support(s) de cours

• Université virtuelle

Contacts

Chiara Armeni 
chiara.armeni@ulb.be

Campus

Solbosch

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Rapport écrit

Rapport écrit

The course is assessed by a 2000-word essay.

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais