Accessibility statement

Environmental Governance - ENV00005M

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module provides an overview of the principles of governance concerning biodiversity and the environment, using some in-depth case studies in terrestrial and marine environments. The emphasis will be on the underlying principles and alternative approaches, rather than on specific laws and regulations. The module will start with an introduction to the role of law and policy in environmental protection. It will examine key principles that affect decisions regarding environmental regulation. It will then focus on some of the recent changes in our understanding of the environment and human interactions with it, and the challenges that these bring for environmental policy development. These themes will then be considered further through a number of methodological and topic-based case studies, to be drawn from: mechanisms for public participation in environmental governance; governance of marine environments and the law of the sea; social learning and adaptive governance and the role of science and governance in coastal management policy.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, successful students will acquire:

  1. An understanding of the key principles behind governance of biodiversity and the environment.
  2. An understanding of the changing role of public participation in environmental protection and policy development.
  3. An appreciation of the specific contexts surrounding ecosystem governance in terrestrial and marine environments.
  4. An understanding of the science-policy interface.

Generic / Employability Skills:

By the end of the module, successful students will acquire:

  1. An understanding of the key principles behind governance of biodiversity and the environment.
  2. An understanding of the changing role of public participation in environmental protection and policy development.
  3. An appreciation of the specific contexts surrounding ecosystem governance in terrestrial and marine environments.
  4. An understanding of the science-policy interface.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Formative work is embedded via small group discussions during seminar sessions.

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Student receive ongoing feedback through small group discussions during lectures. Students receive feedback on final assessment according to the standard departmental guidelines.

Indicative reading

Beder, S. (2006) Environmental Principles and Policies. Earthscan, London.

Sands, P. (2018) Principles of International Environmental Law. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.