CLJ213 | International Sustainable Development Law and Governance

Course Description

Our globalizing world faces significant challenges, and law and governance can play a crucial role to either foster or frustrate more sustainable development. Seeking a practical, universal and effective framework to end poverty, increase social inclusion, and sustain the biosphere, 193 countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit (UN SD) in 2015, setting out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 time-bound targets to end poverty and hunger, secure access to health and education, tackle climate change, protect life on land, promote peace, justice and strong institutions, and other pressing priorities. However, feasible pathways to long-term sustainability are highly complex, subject to technological uncertainty and environmental constraints – they require considerable financial and other resources, including many trained, motivated individuals. Inter-disciplinary specialist teams, with access to new knowledge and international networks, skilled in working across national borders and cultures, are needed to provide integrated approaches. This course introduces the foundations of key legal and governance knowledge to advance the SDGs internationally. It draws on insights from international initiatives led by University of Victoria and international law professors on climate law and governance, biodiversity law and governance, human rights and intergenerational justice, sustainable trade, investment and financial rules, and sustainable management of natural resources.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be familiar with current and emerging global law and public policy issues related to the SDGs, equipped to analyze critical legal dimensions of sustainable development in different jurisdictions and cognizant of the key principles and skills for integrating environmental, human rights and economic law, policy and practice. Students will also feel more confident in taking informed decisions for future professions helping the world achieve sustainable development.

Human impacts on our global environment are already exceeding carrying capacity. By 2050, ourworld may reach a global GDP of more than US$250 trillion, with approx. 9.7 billion people and average temperatures between 2 to 4 degrees warmer. There is a pressing need transform law and governance systems for sustainable development in time to avoid serious social, environmental and economic degradation. Governments need to coordinate policy development and implementation with diverse actors – businesses, local governments, regional / international institutions and civil society organizations. The global information and communication revolution is leading to increased transparency, with growing demands for participation in decision-making in every country, at all levels. Multinational corporations are key players in global trade, finance, manufacturing, resource extraction, and technological change more than most national governments. Globalization opens new opportunities for collaborating across jurisdictions, fostering or frustrating economic policies, environmental regulations and respect for human rights. Tackling problems that require global cooperation is extremely challenging in a multi-polar world. The world urgently needs a practical and effective framework for sustainable development to address the simultaneous challenges of ending poverty, increasing social inclusion, and sustaining local and planetary life systems.

Leaders of 193 countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the UN SD Summit in 2015 (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld), aiming towards a more sustainable world in 2030. It sets out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets to end poverty and hunger, advance health and education, ensure access to clean water and renewable energy, tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, secure sustainable cities and communities and achieve other global sustainability priorities. In preparation, several activities have been initiated under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General, building on the UN SG’s

High-Level Global Sustainability Panel Report (http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org.). Supporting this agenda, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) works to mobilize global scientific and technological knowledge for sustainable development, including law and policy contributions to achieving the SDGs (http://unsdsn.org.) Viable trajectories to long-term sustainability are highly complex, subject to environmental and technological uncertainty, with substantial investments required. Sound law and policy-making in each country requires a long-term approach that integrates strategies to address the many SDG challenges. New kinds of cross-disciplinary expert teams, engaged in the relevant international partnerships and networks in these issues, working across national borders, are needed to provide an integrated approach to sustainability. This course builds on new materials from the UN, the SDSN and several global initiatives related to law, policy and practice to help learners build their capacity to contribute to achieving the global SDGs.