シラバス Syllabus

授業名 Law and the Environment
Course Title Law and the Environment
担当教員 Instructor Name Anthony Townley
コード Couse Code NUC435_N22A
授業形態 Class Type 講義 Regular course
授業形式 Class Format On Campus
単位 Credits 2
言語 Language EN
科目区分 Course Category 教養教育科目 / Liberal Arts
学位 Degree BBA
開講情報 Terms / Location 2022 UG Nisshin Term2

授業の概要 Course Overview

Misson Statementとの関係性 / Connection to our Mission Statement

The "Case Method" is the principal learning methodology used in the GBBA program at NUCB. Case method is a learning methodology built on learning by doing and which aims to prepare students for strategic decision-making in companies through the practice of real situations. Case method promotes increased content knowledge and higher-order thinking skills such as critical thinking and analysis as well as positive attitudes towards learning as a critical part of the Frontier Spirit at NUCB.

授業の目的(意義) / Importance of this course

The Law and the Environment course introduces students to the legal concepts and mechanisms that are designed to protect the environment for a more sustainable future. More specifically, this course uses case methodology to examine environmental legal reform at all judicial levels, including local government, national (including constitutional) and international regulations in Japan and other countries.

到達目標 / Achievement Goal


Students will be expected to understand the legal concepts and regulatory frameworks that apply to the key environmental law issues presented in the Law and the Environment course by actively participating in case method discussions and completing written assignments.

本授業の該当ラーニングゴール Learning Goals

*本学の教育ミッションを具現化する形で設定されています。

LG1 Critical Thinking
LG2 Diversity Awareness
LG3 Ethical Decision Making
LG4 Effective Communication
LG5 Business Perspectives (BSc)
LG7 International Perspectives (BA)

受講後得られる具体的スキルや知識 Learning Outcomes


The Law and the Environment course provides students with a critical understanding of the need for legal reform to protect the environment upon which humans depend to live. As an outcome of taking this course, you will be able to identify key environmental legal issues that affect government actions, business activities, human health, and environmental resources. In addition, you will learn some legal mechanisms to oppose or promote actions that pose environmental risks or benefits and associated legal terminology.

SDGsとの関連性 Relevance to Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 4 質の高い教育をみんなに(Quality Education)

教育手法 Teaching Method

教育手法 Teaching Method % of Course Time
インプット型 Traditional 30 %
参加者中心型 Participant-Centered Learning ケースメソッド Case Method 70 %
フィールドメソッド Field Method 0 %
合計 Total 100 %

事前学修と事後学修の内容、レポート、課題に対するフィードバック方法 Pre- and Post-Course Learning, Report, Feedback methods

Case readings are assigned for each class. Students are expected to commit at least three (3) hours to carefully read the assigned material before classes and prepare to offer meaningful questions and discussion during class. Students should come to class with questions and comments already prepared in order to be best prepared to positively contribute. In addition, students should be ready to explain their ideas, and listen and respond to the ideas of others both during group work and class discussions. Active learning requires that each student be ready to articulate and support his or her own ideas.

Students will receive written feedback for all written assessment to assist students with the development of their writing skills and the coherent organization of documents. Each class will also conclude with oral feedback that reflects on student participation in group activities and class discussion.

授業スケジュール Course Schedule

第1日(Day1)

We will examine how civilization has traditionally believed that humans were given dominion over nature’s plants and animals to serve their needs, which has historically framed law-making to protect human-centered interests, or anthropocentrism. Now in this age of climate change, eco-centrism recognizes a nature-centered system of values, and extends the inherent worth to all living things. Legal systems now need to function to protect all biological life on Earth, because anthropocentric legal systems not only drastically degrade ecosystems, but also threaten human survival.

●使用するケース
"Anthropocene: the Age of Man".

SDG 1: No Poverty
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

第2日(Day2)

Scientists are now comprehensively documenting the effects of climate change, and we explore the critical aspects of an increasingly warmer planet to develop some contextual understanding of the urgent need for environmental law reform in response to powerful denial campaigns by fossil fuel lobbyists.

●使用するケース
"The Climate Crisis".

SDG 1: No Poverty
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

第3日(Day3)

We will examine the need for a coordinated approach involving local and national environmental laws and other factors to change the environmental damage caused by plastic production and consumption in the Philippines.

The local government case study forms the basis for the 10% writing assessment in the course.

●使用するケース
Local Environmental Law in the Philippines: the “Ban on Single-Use Plastic Products Act".

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

第4日(Day4)

We will examine why Japan lags behind other countries in terms of the sale and diffusion of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and the potential environmental, social and economic benefits of national legal reform of the electric vehicle industry / market in Japan.

●使用するケース
National Environmental Law in Japan: the “Eco-Car Act".

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

第5日(Day5)

Most countries now have some form of constitutional protection for the environment to prevent serious pollution and help mitigate climate change. We will examine the different types of constitutional environmental rights (CERs) and perceived operational weaknesses as courts have to deal with ambiguous legal language and competing national interests for economic development.

The CER case study forms the basis for the 15% writing assessment in the course.

●使用するケース
"Constitutional Environmental Rights (CERs) in South Africa".

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

第6日(Day6)

We will examine the effectiveness of international environmental agreements, in particular the potential for the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) embedded in the Paris Climate Agreement to interoperate with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.


●使用するケース
"Synergy between the PCA, NDCs, and UN SDGs".

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

第7日(Day7)

Based on the knowledge of environmental law activities acquired throughout the course, students will work in groups to develop a business proposal for a business idea or product or service to help fight against environmental harm and/or climate change.

●使用するケース
"Recycled Roads in Estonia".

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

成績評価方法 Evaluation Criteria

*成績は下記該当項目を基に決定されます。
*クラス貢献度合計はコールドコールと授業内での挙手発言の合算値です。
講師用内規準拠 Method of Assessment Weights
コールドコール Cold Call 0 %
授業内での挙手発言 Class Contribution 50 %
クラス貢献度合計 Class Contribution Total 50 %
予習レポート Preparation Report 25 %
小テスト Quizzes / Tests 0 %
シミュレーション成績 Simulation 0 %
ケース試験 Case Exam 0 %
最終レポート Final Report 25 %
期末試験 Final Exam 0 %
参加者による相互評価 Peer Assessment 0 %
合計 Total 100 %

評価の留意事項 Notes on Evaluation Criteria

50% of the course grade is awarded for written reports and students will receive written feedback for the 10% and 15% Preparation Reports to assist students with the development of their writing skills and the coherent organization of documents. Students will be instructed about what is expected in terms of content and rhetorical organization for all written assessment as explained in each grading rubric.

50% of the course grade is awarded for "Class Contribution", so students should be ready to explain their ideas, and listen and respond to the ideas of others both during group work and class discussions. Active learning requires that each student be ready to articulate and support his or her own ideas.

使用ケース一覧 List of Cases

    ケースは使用しません。

教科書 Textbook

  • N/A「N/A」N/A(N/A)

参考文献・資料 Additional Readings and Resource

Resource materials will be posted on Google Classroom.

授業調査に対するコメント Comment on Course Evaluation

"One of my most favourite courses, interesting topics, useful cases and in-class material, tasks develop writing skills".

"Interesting topics which raise awareness for sustainable future".

"This is a topic I'm interested in so I really enjoy being in class and I actually pay attention for most of it (I'm not used to such long classes, so this is big.) It's very interesting to hear so many perspectives. There aren't really classes like this at my home school so I'm really enjoying myself".

"Diverse group of students so we get perspectives on issues from all around the world".

"Professor helps us a lot with our assignments. Moreover, he has a great grading system".

"This class is very interesting and led by a genuine teacher that has lots of passion for the issue at hand, with strong educational skills as well as giving thorough feedback on your work, very nice course !"

担当教員のプロフィール About the Instructor 


Anthony Townley completed his Master (MA) and Doctoral (PhD) degrees in Applied Linguistics at Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia). Anthony previously completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane, Australia) and a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Asian Studies (BA) at Griffith University (Brisbane, Australia).

Anthony has accumulated 25 years of varied professional work experience, most recently as the Director of Academic Writing at at Koç University in Istanbul. He has also worked as a commercial lawyer in Sydney and as an English language instructor, in a variety of teaching and administrative roles in Australia, Turkey and Japan. His special teaching areas include: English for Specific Purposes (ESP), Academic Writing, Legal Writing and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and he is currently undertaking sociolinguistic research of legal/business discourse practices in Japan.

(実務経験 Work experience)


Professor, Nagoya University of Commerce and Business (2018 - present).

Director of Academic Writing Program, Koç University, Istanbul (2015 – 2017)

Academic Writing & Legal Writing Instructor, Koç University, Istanbul (2009 – 2017).

Academic Writing Consultant, Open Society Foundation, New York (2008 - 2017).

In-House Commercial Lawyer, TeleResources Engineering, Sydney (2006 – 2008).

EFL Language Instructor, Morioka English Academy, Iwate Japan (2002 – 2004).

Commercial Lawyer, Corrs, Chambers, Westgarth, Sydney (2000 – 2002).










Refereed Articles

  • (2024) A scaffolded speaking and writing ELP course for commercial lawyers: an action research case study from an undergraduate law school in Istanbul. Journal of English for Academic Purposes
  • (2023) International Merger and Acquisition: A Site of Interdisciplinary and Intertextual Discourse Activity. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly 2329-4906
  • (2022) The Use of a Multi-Perspectival Research Model for a Discourse Study of M&A Commercial Law Practice. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research 9(1): 2376-760X
  • (2022) The use of discourse expertise to control the provision of legal services and establish discursive hegemony in commercial law practice: a case study from Europe. International Journal of Legal Discourse 2364-883X
  • (2021) The Use of Discourse Maps to Teach Contract Negotiation Communicative Practices. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly 84(1): 2329-4906

Refereed Proceedings

  • (2019). It Doesn’t Always Pay to be Polite in Business: the Discourse Realities of Facework and Im/politeness Discourse Strategies in Contract Negotiation using Email Communication. Proceedings of the Third JALT Business Communication SIG Conference .It doesn’t always pay to be polite in business: the discourse realities of facework and im/politeness discourse strategies in contract negotiation using email communication. 1. 2. Toyo University, Tokyo






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