This micro-credential will be of particular interest and relevance to lawyers or non-lawyers working in, or with an interest in, climate law and policy, those working in government and local government bodies and agencies, NGOs, or the private sector, and researchers.
Climate Change Law and Policy Micro-credential
Overview
| Subject Area | Law |
| Credits | 10 |
| NFQ | 9 |
| EFQ | 7 |
| Start Date | 20 January 2025 |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Time | Friday 09:00 - 10:50 (Subject to change.) |
| Mode of Delivery | Online |
| Lead Academics | (opens in a new window)Dr. Andrew Jackson and (opens in a new window)Professor Suzanne Kingston |
| Fee | Full Fee: €1575 *Subsidised Fee: €315 *80% Learner Fee Subsidy for eligible learners (Please see below) OR 20% UCD Alumni Discount |
| Application Deadline | 12 January 2025 |
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. This micro-credential critically examines the regulatory responses to climate change across the globe: internationally, at EU level, and nationally. Both mitigation and adaptation responses will be dealt with, as well as examples of climate litigation to date across the globe.
As regulatory responses can only be understood and evaluated if the complexity of the problem itself is understood, this micro-credential is interdisciplinary in nature, including seminars on (for example) the science of climate change, climate change activism and communication, and justice-based approaches to climate change. Learners will hear from a range of in-house and guest speakers. The aim is for learners to achieve a rich and evidence-based understanding of the regulatory challenges entailed by this vital issue.
Learners taking this micro-credential will have full access to all of the digital resources on the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Academy, and access to the UN SDSN Network.
Testimonial
John Doody, Sustainability Demonstrator Research Coordinator, UCD Energy Institute
"This micro-credential provided an excellent foundation on the intersection between law and policy in this rapidly changing area. The focus on recent and ongoing climate litigation was especially welcome and meant that the module closely followed emerging trends in this area. I would recommend this micro-credential to anyone who wants to explore the relationship between the courts and climate policy, both in Ireland and internationally."
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this micro-credential, you should:
- Have a good understanding of the key regulatory responses to climate change globally, within Europe and nationally.
- Have a good understanding of how the regulatory challenges in the case of climate change may be different to the challenges faced in other areas.
- Be able to critically discuss approaches to climate change from different disciplinary perspectives.
- Have gained skills and experience in developing and presenting an argument in front of others.
- Introduction to climate change science.
- Introduction to the international climate regime.
- Climate communication.
- EU climate law.
- Climate litigation.
- Irish climate law.
- Climate justice.
Individuals and their employers will benefit by way of the knowledge gained in relation to international, European and national climate regimes and the implications of those regimes for States, Local Government, businesses and citizens.
Taking this UCD micro-credential will give you the opportunity to learn from leading climate law experts, with extensive experience in academia and in practice, about cutting-edge developments in how law impacts climate issues, and how climate issues impact law.
This fully online micro-credential is delivered through the UCD online learning platform (Brightspace). The key teaching and learning approaches used in this micro-credential include lectures/seminars, group discussions, critical writing and learner presentations.
A repository of resources will be available to support your learning, and as a UCD student you will have full access to the library.
This is a 10 ECTS micro-credential and involves approximately 200-250 hours of learner effort.
Applicants must hold a degree in law or another relevant discipline, including the social and natural sciences. An upper second-class honours Level 8 degree (GPA 3.08), or international equivalent is required.
Applications will also be accepted from those with significant, relevant, practical experience or those with a graduate qualification relevant to the micro-credential.
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proof of English proficiency as per UCD's minimum English language requirements.
All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Group feedback in class regarding presentations and assignments.
- Group feedback on essays after the end of the course.
- Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
- Group/class feedback, post-assessment
This micro-credential is also a module on the UCD Sutherland School of Law’s MSc Environmental & Climate Law and the UCD MSc in Sustainable Development.
If you have any questions about this micro-credential, or would like to speak to a UCD staff member, please contact (opens in a new window)microcredentials@ucd.ie.
Please note: Learners can avail of only one form of funding per application.
Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy-Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3
The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy has been introduced to enable more learners to address critical skills gaps and engage with lifelong learning through micro-credentials. The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy is funded by Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
HCI Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidies are available on identified micro-credentials only from March 2024 until October 2025. Funded places are limited and course providers will administer the subsidy on a first come first serve basis.
Please see Eligibility Criteria for further information.