Outline

Overview

This unit adopts a comparative approach to understanding the dynamics of one of the most pressing global environmental concerns - global climate change. The objective is to provide postgraduate and undergraduate students with an understanding of the legal frameworks governing one of the most pressing global issues - climate change. The outcomes include detailed knowledge and comparative analysis imparted by some of the world's leading climate law academics. In particular, the overarching international legal framework - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its successors especially the 2015 Paris Agreement - will be discussed in detail. The unit will critically assess progress in meeting the aims of the Paris Agreement. The three largest international emitters are China, the United States, and the European Union. The legal and policy responses of these three jurisdictions will be critically analysed and compared. An Australian case study is set against international legal obligations and the efforts in the highest emitting jurisdictions. Students will engage with academic literature, lectures presented in mixed media formats, small group discussion and they will be given the opportunity to contribute original research by way of the research assignment. Refer to the Sydney Law School timetable - https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/4533/pages/postgraduate-lecture-timetable

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Law
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Rosemary Lyster, rosemary.lyster@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 21 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback Task (0%) Online Quiz	0%	Week 03 Due date: 17 Aug 2026 at 23:59	5 questions, 150 word responses / 3 days	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Post-Presentation Submission (10%) Written submission	10%	Week 03 Due date: 21 Aug 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 21 Aug 2026	500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Problem-Solving Group Work Presentation (10%) Presentation with slides, Q&A, and 500 word written submission to follow	10%	Week 03 Due date: 21 Aug 2026 at 17:00	3 minute presentation with slides, Q&A	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Alternative - CAPSTONE Presentation (20%) Presentation with slides, Q&A	0%	Week 03 Due date: 21 Aug 2026 at 17:00	10 minute presentation	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Online Quiz (30%) Out-of-class online quiz	30%	Week 05 Due date: 31 Aug 2026 at 23:59	Short-answer questions / 90 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Policy Brief (50%) Written Assessment - essay	50%	Week 06 Due date: 11 Sep 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 18 Sep 2026	2,500 words / 4 weeks	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Alternative - CAPSTONE Essay (80%) Written Essay	0%	Week 07 Due date: 18 Sep 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 25 Sep 2026	7,000 words / 5 weeks	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = early feedback task ?

Assessment summary

Early Feedback Task (0%)
This unit includes an Early Feedback Task that is designed to provide students with timely insights into their understanding and engagement with the unit content. The Early Feedback Task in this unit is a 5 question online quiz for which students will need to provide 150 word responses. The task will be available on Canvas from 5:00PM on Friday 14 August 2026 to Monday 17 August 2026 at 11:59PM (Sydney, Australia time). It will be tailored to reflect key concepts from the first day of classes. Students will be provided with immediate automated feedback upon completion of the task.

Out-of-class Online Quiz (30%)
Students will complete an out-of-class knowledge online quiz consisting of 10 questions in total which must be supported by short-answer questions (approx 150 words per question). The quiz has a total duration of 90 minutes. Students may attempt the quiz only once. This assessment is an open task and evaluates students’ ability to engage deeply with disciplinary knowledge, demonstrate critical thinking, and apply problem-solving skills. The quiz will be uploaded to Canvas on Monday 31 August 2026 at 5:00PM (Sydney, Australia time). Students will have 1.5 hours to complete it, and the assessment task must be submitted by 11:59PM on Monday 31 August 2026 (Sydney, Australia time).

Problem-Solving Group Work (20%)
The problem-solving component consists of the following two components.

Presentation (10%): Students will deliver a 3-minute presentation with slides responding to a problem question, followed by a Q&A session. This assessment will be conducted in-class and is a secure task. The task evaluates students’ ability to apply problem-solving skills, exercise expert judgment, and communicate complex ideas effectively in a professional context. Students will receive an individual mark based on marking rubrics and instructions published on Canvas. The topics will be allocated on Canvas on the first day of the unit (Thursday 13 August 2026) and the presentations will take place in class on Friday 21 August 2026 from 1:30PM - 5:00PM (Sydney, Australia time).

Post-presentation submission (10%): Students are required to submit a 500 word submission in support of the presentation which must be submitted by 11:59PM on Friday 21 August 2026 (Sydney, Australia time).

Policy Brief (50%)
Students will create a 2,500-word policy brief on a relevant topic chosen from a provided list. This open task assesses students’ ability to integrate disciplinary expertise, demonstrate original thought, and communicate complex ideas clearly in written form. The policy brief must be submitted by 11:59PM on Friday 11 September 2026 (Sydney, Australia time).

Alternative Assessment: CAPSTONE (100%) LLM students only. The Capstone is an alternative task and replaces all other assessments for this unit, except the Early Feedback Task.

Alternative 7,000 word CAPSTONE Essay (80%)
LLM students completing the penultimate or final units of their degrees and who require a Capstone essay as a degree requirement must submit an EOI to write the Capstone Essay before 5:00PM on Wednesday 12 August 2026 (Sydney, Australia time). Detailed instructions for the writing of the EOI will be uploaded to Canvas on Tuesday 4 August 2026 at 9:00AM (Sydney, Australia time).

Students will be notified on Canvas on Saturday 15 August 2026 by 1:00PM (Sydney, Australia time) whether their application is approved.

If approved, the Capstone Essay must be submitted on Friday 18 September 2026 by 11:59PM (Sydney, Australia time).

Alternative Capstone Outline Presentation (20%)
Students must do a 10-minute in-class presentation about their proposed essay explaining the topic, table of contents, literature review, research methodologies, and the research question that their essay addresses, on Friday 21 August 2026 from 1:30PM to 5:00PM (Sydney, Australia time).

Word limit penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will exclude all footnotes and any bibliography (if required), and exclude acknowledgements of assistance from editors, automated writing tools or generative AI (where use is permitted).

Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, although you should confirm this with your lecturer. A link to the library website where this is set out comprehensively is available at Referencing and Citation Styles: AGLC4.

Special consideration: Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternative tasks, as appropriate.

Assessment requirements to pass a unit of study: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study. As the EFT is an early diagnostic tool, this task is not included in the final grade for the unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Completely answers the question. Contains striking originality of approach or analysis. Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required). Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed. Is otherwise exceptional in some way.
Distinction	75 - 84	Completely answers the question. Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues. Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument. Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument. Generally well expressed and free from errors. Has a clear structure and is well articulated.
Credit	65 - 74	Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question. Contains no significant errors Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues. Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues. Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.
Pass	50 - 64	Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument. Contains some significant errors. Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues. Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the question. Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase. Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis. Adequate expression. Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies in the degree or subject area.
Fail	0 - 49	Does not answer the question. Contains significant or numerous errors. Few or no identifiable arguments. Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant. Lack of research or analysis. Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure. Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

For more information see Guide to Grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission of a piece of assessment, without an approved extension, will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment per 24 hours or part thereof, after the due time on the due date. Penalties for late submission will be applied strictly, subject to a 5 minute grace period.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 02	The Climate Crisis: • Welcome and introductions • The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Reports 2021/22 • The 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) • The 2015 Paris Agreement • Sustainable development goals • Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction • Global energy use in 2026 and climate change implications • Implications of 2022 war in Ukraine and 2026 war in Iran • Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) in tropical rainforest developing countries	Seminar (6.5 hr)
Week 02	•Geoengineering including Carbon Capture and Storage •Aust’s response to global climate change (1992-2026) •Aust’s nat'l electricity market •AEMO’s 2024 Integrated System Plan •Securing electricity utilities and supply in face of extreme weather events - Case study: Smart Grids, 2016 Sth Aust Blackout, 2019-2020 Summer Bushfires, 2022 Floods •Battery storage and pumped hydro •Climate Change Act 2022 (Cth) •Renewable energy target • Energy efficiency •Carbon solutions fund •Safeguard Mechanism	Seminar (6.5 hr)
Week 03	• China’s Climate Change and Energy Package • The EU’s Climate an Energy Policies - Policies and Measures for the First Commitment Period including EU ETS (2008-2012), The 2020 Climate and Energy Package (2012-2020), The 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework (2021-2030), Long Term Strategy for A Low-Carbon Economy (2021-2030) • Long Term Strategy for A Low-Carbon Economy (2031-2050). Neoliberalism and the political crisis: • The Paris Agreement • The US Climate and Energy Policies (1992-2026)	Seminar (6.5 hr)
Week 03	The ecological crisis: • IPBES reports • IPCC reports • Multispecies Climate Justice • Climate Change Litigation • International Court of Justice • ITLOS • Inter-American Court of Human Rights • The polycrisis and Corporate Governance • Completion of the Student Feedback Survey for this Unit of Study, and Assessment Discussion.	Seminar (6.5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: This unit of study is taught in intensive mode over four days requiring 75% attendance from 9am - 5pm each day. Students are encouraged to attend all four days to derive the best teaching and learning outcomes from this unit. Failure to meet this requirement will result in an Absent Fail grade being recorded as the student’s result for this unit (see The University of Sydney Law School Resolutions: Coursework Awards cl 11).

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit are available on Canvas Reading List.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Critically evaluate the respective roles, responsibilities and institutional limits of governments, courts and international legal bodies in responding to climate change.
LO2. Analyse how legal, policy, regulatory and fiscal measures are used to reduce emissions from the energy and forestry sectors.
LO3. Evaluate the relationship between competition policy, market (de)regulation, energy security and emissions reduction in Australia’s National Electricity Market.
LO4. Critically outline the legal, regulatory and policy issues associated with carbon capture and storage as an emissions avoidance technologiy in Australian and international contexts.
LO5. Apply relevant legal research methodologies to the examination of comparative climate law issues to create sound legal arguments and communicate these to diverse audiences.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Assessments updated since unit last ran.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

LAWS6921: Comparative Climate Law

Semester 2a, 2026 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links