Special Lecture on Global Society IV

The following schedule is subject to change. Week 1: Course management and introduction (1) How does law connect with the environment? How does science connect with the law? How does environmental protection accommodate the economy? How does the environment connect with civil society and the government? Week 2: Introduction (2) Overview of Japan’s environmental law Overview of Japan’s history and legal system Source of Japanese law Week 3: Japan’s experiences (1): Minamata---Mercury poisoning Science and the law: Causation in torts and injunction Development of Japanese environmental law: from damages to regulation Week 4: Japan’s experiences (2): Fukushima Dealing with nuclear power plants and energy policy: Interdisciplinary issues and a nexus approach Is nuclear energy a good source? Answer yes or no with reasons. What kind of impacts do nuclear power plant accidents have on global society? What kind of regulatory schemes exist in both domestic and international jurisdictions? How do our everyday lives, industry, energy, and climate change connect with each other? Week 5: Principles of environmental law (1) PPP/EPR principles and cost-sharing Week 6: Principles of environmental law (2) The precautionary principle and evidence-based regulation Week 7: Principles of environmental law (3) Sustainable development and environmental justice Week 8: Principles of environmental law (4) Rio 10 principle: Transparency, public participation, and access to information and remedies Connection of legislation and judicial review Week 9: Environmental impact assessment Week 10: Climate change, Paris Agreement, and climate change litigation Week 11: Energy transition and local community Week 12: In-class presentations (1) Week 13: In-class presentations (2), Wrap-up

Students are expected to participate in class discussions and presentations, having read the assigned materials before class.

Grading will be based on class participation, including an in-class presentation (50%), and a 6,000-word term paper and slides used in the in-class presentation, due on 31 January 2026 (50%).

Reading materials will be posted at the UTOL. Please refer to the separate paper for the reading assignment and references.

References will be suggested in classes.

This course will be conducted in English. All classes, including the first class, will be conducted in person, on campus. However, classes on 29 October and 10 December will be conducted online due to the instructors being out of the country. Additionally, depending on students' preferences, the 24 December class and subsequent classes may be conducted online.