Course: Public participation in environmental and climate protection

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Course title Public participation in environmental and climate protection
Course code VPK/UUŽP
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction eLearning
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Melotíková Petra, Mgr. Ph.D.
  • Balounová Eva, JUDr. LL.M., Ph.D.
Course content
1. Theory I ? Basic Political and Related Rights 2. Theory II ? Introduction to Participation in Public Administration 3. Theory III ? Participation in Public Administration in Environmental Protection 4. Theory IV ? Introduction to the History of the Environmental and Climate Movement 5. Freedom of Expression 6. Right to information 7. Right to petition, association, and assembly 8. Right to vote and right to resistance 9. Public participation in administrative proceedings and other processes in public administration I: Overview of legal regulations and principles. 10. Public participation in administrative proceedings and other public administration processes II: Analysis of specific cases. 11. Judicial protection I: Overview of basic legal principles and provisions. 12. Judicial protection II: Analysis of specific cases.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Group work
Learning outcomes
The subject of this elective course is participation as involvement in the administration of public affairs, which is an essential part of a democratic constitutional state, in a broad sense ranging from theoretical foundations dealing with the theory of political rights to practical application and current issues (e.g., SLAPPs lawsuits against public participation, attacks on social networks, hate speech, etc.). Examples will be drawn primarily from environmental law and climate protection.
After completing the course, students will be able to: 1. Identify, apply, and respect the fundamental rights and principles of participation, contributing to the fulfillment of SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. 2. Understand the basic principles of participation in the field of the environment and be able to apply them in practice, leading to the achievement of SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities. 3. Develop active citizenship skills in addressing complex legal situations related to sustainability, supporting SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. 4. Link the principles of civic participation with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG: 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Action. 5. Analyze and address legal dilemmas in the context of legal practice focused on sustainability, in line with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. 6. Prepare legal strategies that support sustainable goals contributing to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 3, SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 12, and SDG 13.
Prerequisites
The completion of this course is not conditioned upon completion of any other courses

Assessment methods and criteria
Student performance, Seminar Work, Written exam

Active participation in discussions and webinars (20%), independent written assignments and ongoing tests (40%), final legal analysis (40%)
Recommended literature
  • Balounová, E. (2024). Limity právní ochrany environmentálních aktivistů. Právník, 163..
  • Bartoň, M., Kratochvíl, J., Kopa, M., Tomoszek, M., Jirásek, J., & Svaček, O. (2016). Základní práva.
  • Hák, J., & Vícha, O. (2020). Právo na informace o životním prostředí ve středoevropském kontextu. Praha.
  • Chaloupková, A. (2023). Výročí Aarhuské úmluvy v mezinárodním kontextu i v České republice. České právo životního prostředí, 69..
  • Jančářová, I., et al. (2016). Právo životního prostředí: Obecná část (1. vyd.). Brno.
  • Jelínková, J. (2017). Občan, spolek, obec a úřad v ochraně životního prostředí: praktický průvodce.. Praha.
  • Linek, L., Císař, O., Petrúšek, I., & Vráblíková, K. (2017). Občanství a politická participace v České republice. Praha.
  • Müllerová, H. (2022). Klimatické právo. Praha.
  • Tomoszková, V. (2024). Zástupce veřejnosti a námitky v územním plánování ? úvaha nad důsledky jejich absence v novém stavebním zákoně. České právo životního prostředí, 72..
  • Vícha, O. (2020). K omezení svobody projevu v důsledku předběžného opatření zakazujícího environmentální parodii. České právo životního prostředí, 57..
  • Vícha, O. (2021). Úhrada za mimořádně rozsáhlé vyhledávání informací nesmí být podle Ústavního soudu zneužita ke znemožnění přístupu k informacím. České právo životního prostředí, 60..
  • Vomáčka, V. (2024). Ekologický aktivismus z pohledu ochrany lidských práv (nad rozsudkem ESLP ve věci Friedrich a ostatní proti Polsku a nálezem ÚS I. ÚS 2956/23). České právo životního prostředí, 73..


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): Law and sustainability (2025) Category: Law, legal and public administration proceeding 3 Recommended year of study:3, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): Law and sustainability (2025) Category: Law, legal and public administration proceeding 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: -