The first module of the course aims to address environmental protection through the lens of the Constitution. It begins with an interpretation of the Constitution regarding environmental protection following the amendments to Articles 9 and 41. The course reconstructs the overall framework of environmental protection as outlined by the framers. It then traces the evolution through the Constitutional Court’s interpretations, leading to the most recent constitutional amendments. Additionally, a supranational perspective will be provided, showing how these principles align with EU treaties, especially concerning collective environmental defense.
The second objective is to provide knowledge of the competencies within the Italian and European systems regarding environmental and health protection, focusing on their interconnections. This involves understanding the legal sources and the organizational structure of the State and its relationship with the EU system, enabling the identification of the legal value of individual norms or administrative acts.
Finally, the course aims to illustrate the sources from independent administrative authorities and their impact on the legal system.
The second module’s objective is to provide students with the necessary skills to understand the technical-scientific and bio-medico-legal aspects regulated by the system concerning environmental and health protection. The definition of risk related to environment and health will be studied in the framework of Seveso directives and other Europena regulation of interest.
Students must approach the course ‘Principles of Environmental and Health Protection’ with the prerequisite of exploring and study the topic of ‘Environmental and Health Protection’ from a legal and forensic medicine perspective. Thus, the prerequisite for studying this subject is the willingness to adopt a multidisciplinary approach in their course of study.
The course will include lectures with slide presentations. There will also be opportunities for group discussions on topics proposed by the students.
The oral exam will assess the level of understanding of the legal, medical, and scientific aspects regulated by the legal system.
The course will cover topics regarding the constitutional protection of the environment and the health. Here is a list of the subjects that will be addressed:
• Evolution of environmental protection and its relationship with health.
• Sources of environmental law: international, EU, and national.
• Constitutional principles and norms.
• The environment as a legal asset.
• Competences of the State, Region, Province, and Municipality.
• Roles of independent administrative authorities in environmental protection and the positioning of their acts within the legal system.
• Constitutional jurisprudence on environmental protection.
• Interpretation by supranational courts, particularly European ones, on environmental protection.
• Sources of law from independent authorities and their role in environmental protection.
• Waste production and management: risks to the environment and health.
• Prevention and control of accident risks (Seveso Directives).
• Protection of human health and the environment from risks posed by chemicals (REACH regulation).
• Communication of chemical risks to workers and consumers (CLP regulation).
Attendance at lectures is recommended.
Scientific Disciplinary Sectors GIUR-05 and MEDS-25.
If the course is delivered in a hybrid or remote format, modifications may be made to the syllabus to ensure that the course and exams are accessible in these modes.
