Climate Change Law and Policy unit (LAW243)

Hobart, Online

Introduction

Climate change poses enormous challenges for Australia and the international community. The level of warming already in the climate system means that law and policymakers must deal with dual policy imperatives – to manage the now-unavoidable impacts of climate change, whilst also avoiding the unmanageable impacts of further warming. There is also increasing recognition that there will be impacts ‘beyond adaptation’, that must be compensated for. This unit examines responses to these imperatives of climate change mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, and intervention at the international, national and local levels. It is designed to help students understand the fundamentals of international and domestic climate law and policy, in order to provide a platform for further engagement or research in the field. Its approach is cross-disciplinary, comparative, and analytical. The unit does not aspire to be comprehensive in its coverage of every issue, but aims to introduce students to key concepts and the range of issues presented by this dynamic policy field.

Summary

Unit name	Climate Change Law and Policy
Unit code	LAW243
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Faculty of Law
Discipline	Law
Coordinator	Professor Jan McDonald
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Intermediate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Semester 1
Online	Semester 1

Note

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Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 1	22/2/2026	16/3/2026	19/4/2026	13/6/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Describe and explain the causes and likely impacts of climate change and the range of strategies available to mitigate, adapt to, compensate for, and postpone its effects.
• Describe and explain the key elements of the national and international climate law regime, including division of powers, legal and regulatory tools.
• Critically evaluate the social, political, ethical, economic and ecological factors that influence the development and implementation of climate law and policy nationally and internationally.
• Effectively communicate orally and in writing on issues relating to climate change law and policy.

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
050900	$1,192.00	$1,192.00	not applicable	$3,382.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

50 credit points of Introductory units - to do this unit it is recommended that you have completed LAW107

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

LAW656

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Lectures: 1 x 2hr weekly interactive lecture, in-person and online. Tutorials: 1 x 1hr weekly interactive lecture, in-person and online. In addition to the three contact hours per week, there will be 3-5 assessment workshops of one hour duration (number of workshops depends on final enrolment numbers). These are currently scheduled for weeks 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10, but the workshops for weeks 4 and 5 are currently "reserve", as three workshops is most likely at this point. These workshops are where students will present their debates.
Assessment	Assessment Task 3: Class participation (10%)|Assessment Task 1: Test (20%)|Assessment Task 2: Leading class discussion (group work) (30%)|Assessment Task 4: Exam (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	There is no prescribed text for this unit. All prescribed readings will be made available via mylo weekly pages.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.