Teaching Environmental Law
and Sustainability
By: Paulette L. Stenzel
Professor of International Business law, Michigan State University
Presented: March 26, 2010
Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business, Chicago, Illinois
Course Objectives and Content:
Work as a learning community to seek understanding of:
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.
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
Specialization
Others 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 see
www.tradeandsustainability.com