Teaching Environmental Law and Sustainability

By: Paulette L. StenzelProfessor of International Business law, Michigan State University

Presented: March 26, 2010Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business, Chicago, Illinois

Environmental challenges faced in the United States and throughout the world.

Sustainability viewed through the lens of the Triple Bottom Line: economy, social equity, and environment.

• Mechanisms available in U.S. law for environmental clean up and protection.

• Environmental laws in other selected countries, comparing them to those of the U.S.

• Selected international agreements and how implementation of them affects the Triple Bottom Line.

• Voluntary environmental protection programs set up by businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

• How environmental laws affect businesses on a day-to-day basis.

Course Objectives and Content:Work as a learning community to seek understanding of:

Who enrolls and why?

Fulfills requirements for:• MSU-wide: Residential Initiative in Studies

of the Environment (R.I.S.E.) specialization• Broad College of Business: International

Specialization• Planned for Fall 2010: MSU-wide

Sustainability SpecializationOthers enroll out of interest: • Use as elective within various majors• Honors Students also welcome (H-Option

available)

Structure of Course

• Three hour weekly seminar

• Emphasis on learning community

• Allows for guest speakers, film, and video clips.

Teaching Tools and Assignments

Build on outline of “Environmental Law” at start of class each week.

Students complete • 10 out of 13 reflections on preceding week’s

readings and class discussion. Due Fridays in on-line drop box.

• 8 out of 11 “informed contributions”• Paper #1: Informed evaluation of film Food, Inc.

– Requires study of related legal materials. • Paper #2 Business interview on sustainability

and environmental practices.– Presentation, PowerPoint, and Paper.

No exams: Goal is to focus on overall learning in holistic way

Required Reading:

Books• DANAHER, BIGGS & MARK, BUILDING THE

GREEN ECONOMY: SUCCESS STORIES FROM THE GRASS ROOTS (2007). One or more chapters discussed each week during the semester.

• RAY C. ANDERSON, CONFESSIONS OF A RADICAL INDUSTRIALIST

• ALAN SNITOW & DEBORAH KAUFMAN WITH MICHAEL FOX, THIRST: FIGHTING THE CORPORATE THEFT OF OUR WATER

Other materials• Articles selected from Internet • Articles and PowerPoints by Professor Stenzel.

Course Content

Day #1: Introduction to class and themes: – “Hi! Who are you?”–What is

environmentalism? –What is

sustainability?

Course Content

Day #2: Sustainable Development & How Companies Portray Themselves– Informed contribution:

• Analysis of advertisements. Greenwashing?

–Readings and discussion: • Silent Spring• Tragedy of the Commons

Course Content

Day #3: Toxic Torts– Informed contribution:

• News article about a toxic torts case in U.S. or other nation

– Discussion of “A Civil Action”• Students must view movie

before class• List of questions to prepare as

view film– Includes instruction on civil

procedure, negligence, proximate cause, use of expert witnesses, etc.

Course Content

• Day #4: Pursuit of Clean Air: Domestic Air Pollution Control – Mobile & Stationary– U.S. and examples from other nations.

 • Day #5: International Perspectives on Air

pollution Control, Climate Change, and Energy– Use of domestic (private) law: Canadian Smelter

Case.– International treaties and protocols.

Course Content

• Day #6: Pursuit of Clean Water; Environmental Impact Statements; Sustainability Ramifications of International Trade Agreements.– Focus on DR: CAFTA as example of

trade agreement.

• Day #7: “Global Warming, Sustainability, and You Are What You Eat”– Paper #1 due: Informed reaction to

movie. Food Inc. Assigned background readings.

– Guest speaker “Food, Global Warming, and You Are What You Eat”

Course Content

• Day #8: Tools for the pursuit of sustainability: Fair Trade, organics, local sourcing, and micro-finance.– Informed contribution: Visit to a local store to

gather data about Fair Trade, organics, and local products.

– Presentation on Fair Trade in Nicaragua by Prof. Stenzel

– Panel discussion with guests: • Manager of Fair Trade store, • Manager of East Lansing Food Cooperative, and • Professor who specializes in urban farming & local

sourcing.

Course Content

• Day #9. Building a Sustainable Business.–Discussion of Ray Anderson’s book.

• Day #10: The Energy Business.–Guest speaker: Attorney/owner of

alternative energy business.

• Day #11: Water Issues and Initiatives.–Discuss book THIRST.

Course Content

• Day #12: Hazardous Wastes: RCRA, CERCLA, & Transboundary Shipment of Wastes.–Guest speaker: From the Michigan

Attorney General’s office on Asian Carp Controversy and Invasive Species in the Great Lakes.

 

• Day #13: Pursuit of More Sustainable Businesses and Living–Brownfields– LEEDS Certification

 

Final Project

• Days #14 & #15 (Final session): Presentations based on Business Site Visit and Interview.

Examples:

Final Project

• Days #14 & #15 (Final session): Presentations based on Business Site Visit and Interview.

Examples:

Student Reactions

• Conclusions: What students say about this course. What makes it unique? Is it effective?

Student Reactions

• Conclusions: What students say about this course. –What makes it unique? – Is it effective?–How well have you learned?

For more information seewww.tradeandsustainability

.com