Description
This course examines the evolution of business responsibilities to prevent and remedy environmental harm in domestic and international law. First, the course will explore how environmental concerns, notably liability for contaminated sites and pollution, impact business transactions and operations. Consideration will be given to the role of government in regulating private sector business operations, the meaning of due diligence, and industry standards. Second, the course will explore international and transnational business and environmental issues, such as transnational environmental liability, and the implications of investor-state dispute settlement for the ability of states to effectively regulate the environment. Finally, the course will consider how international normative shifts, most recently the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, are pushing businesses to pro-actively embrace international corporate social responsibility norms, and adopt business models and financing tools that enable them to contribute positively to long-term sustainability, rather than simply reacting to fear of liability.Environmental Law Specialization: LAWS 2153: Business and Environmental Law is an elective course for the Environmental Law specialization.