Environment, Law and Society

This seminar focuses on the social and the legal stakes inherent in the regulation of environmental issues. In a context of global environmental crisis, it explores the relationship between nature, society and law. Analyzing of various case studies on climate, energy and biodiversity issues, it will introduce key concepts for legal studies, as well as contemporary debates on environmental law.

In so doing, the seminar will allow students to reflect on environmental matters through central notions whose importance touches on several scientific fields: compensatory mitigation, public participation, future generations, or common good for instance. As such, the seminar takes on an interdisciplinary approach which will encourage a cross-cutting study of the issues surrounding contemporary law and societies in their relationship with the environment. Different justice frameworks, legal remedies, environmental norms and principles will be analyzed both from a practical and a theoretical perspective. Students will thus have the opportunity to question the current conceptions and representations of the environment, proposing a critique of legal and societal approaches in response to environmental issues.