Insegnamento a.a. 2026-2027

The course examines the legal frameworks governing environmental protection and climate change within the European Union, with particular attention to the role of administrative law in addressing contemporary environmental challenges.

From this perspective, the course will cover the following main topics:

• The main characteristics and evolution of environmental law
• Core principles of European environmental law (e.g. precaution, prevention, polluter pays, sustainable development)
• Regulatory techniques for environmental governance: command-and-control, market-based, and information-based approaches
• Protection of nature and biodiversity under EU law
• Regulation of key sectors, including industrial emissions, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA), and the regulation of chemicals
• Climate change regulation and climate change litigation

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Develop a solid legal understanding of the principles of EU environmental law and the concept of sustainable development
• Understand the complexity of environmental challenges and the role of law in addressing them
• Analyse the main regulatory tools and strategies used to tackle environmental problems within the European Union
• Apply legal concepts to key areas of EU environmental law, including nature conservation, environmental assessments, industrial emissions, and climate change
• Understand and critically assess the interactions between public authorities, markets, and private actors in shaping environmental governance
• Understand how legal frameworks influence corporate behaviour, public policies, and sustainability strategies
• Develop key transferable skills, including teamwork, critical and analytical thinking, and problem-solving (in particular through case studies and class projects)

• Students will be able to:

• Discuss how public authorities address environmental issues within the EU legal framework
• Critically assess the evolving role of companies and their capacity to address environmental and social harms
• Understand the role of relevant stakeholders, their preferences, and the ways in which they can influence EU environmental law
• Locate, read, and analyse EU and domestic environmental legislation and case law

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Practical Exercises
• Collaborative Works / Assignments

The teaching method is based on active learning and combines lectures with in-class case study analysis. Lectures focus on the guided discussion of legal sources and readings. Case studies are first analysed individually and then discussed collectively in class. Students are expected to ensure regular class attendance (at least 75%) and to actively participate in discussions and teamwork. Slides and other materials are made available in advance to facilitate note-taking.

The exam consists of a case study accompanied by several (3–4) open-ended questions. Students are required to apply theoretical concepts to a practical scenario. This format allows the assessment of knowledge (understanding of legal principles), skills (analysis and problem-solving), and abilities (application of theory to practice and structured legal reasoning). This format is available only during the first two exam sessions. 

From the third session onwards, the exam will consist of 2–3 open-ended questions not based on a specific case, together with multiple-choice questions.

J. van Zeben, A. Rowell, A guide to EU environmental law, 2020, University of California Press, ISBN-10 0520295226.

Other materials and selected readings will be indicated at the beginning of the course and will be available online.

Notes will be provided with slides.