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The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 91��Ƶ is proud to announce that ten policy motions led by 91��Ƶ Haub Law students were officially adopted at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, held October 8–16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A cohort of four 91��Ƶ Haub Law faculty members, five students, and six alumni traveled to Abu Dhabi for the 2025 World Conservation Congress where they negotiated revisions to motions, crafted new and urgent motions, presented at sessions, addressed the IUCN President, and continued their environmental advocacy.

“These motions are a testament to 91��Ƶ Haub Law’s deep engagement with real-world environmental issues,” said Achinthi Vithanage, Professor of Law for Designated Service in Environmental Law & Executive Director of Environmental Law Programs and IUCN Faculty Lead, Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies. “Our students are not only learning about international environmental law and policy, but they are also actively participating in its progressive development. Our work may begin in the classroom, but it does not end there. Our students and alumni are helping shape the frameworks that guide environmental law and global sustainability.”

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Since 2023, Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies (GCELS) students, alumni, and faculty at 91��Ƶ Haub Environmental Law have been preparing for the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, a premier international environmental policymaking forum held every four years. Under the mentorship of Professor Achinthi Vithanage, students in Advanced International Environmental Law and subsequent Guided Research courses researched and developed their own policy proposals. Students went on to secure support for those motions among IUCN members, negotiated them during online discussions, and ran advocacy campaigns to raise awareness of the issues discussed in the motions.

“The level of commitment towards the success of these motions by these students, alumni, and faculty is exemplary,” said Professor Vithanage. “Even after graduation from 91��Ƶ Haub Law, alumni continued their advocacy and involvement, staying on as GCELS Staff Interns, while more experienced alums served as mentors. Ultimately, it was the dedication of these individuals, who worked collaboratively, that led to the successful advocacy for innovative solutions to pressing global environmental challenges.”

The successful motions address critical global issues such as combating illegal fishing, protecting Indigenous languages, conservation, restoring native grasslands, biodiversity, soil security, and more (see below for full listing). “Consistently at the forefront of environmental leadership and advocacy, these achievements represent another landmark success of the 91��Ƶ Haub Law Environmental Law Program. 91��Ƶ Haub Law’s students, alumni, and faculty continue to lead globally on environmental governance and diplomacy,” said Smita Narula, Haub Distinguished Professor of International Law and Co-Director of the Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies. “Their research, advocacy, and diplomacy in Abu Dhabi underscore the power of experiential learning and the impact that a law school community can have on shaping global policy.”

Since enrolling at 91��Ƶ Haub Law, I have been eager to not only study international environmental law, but participate in the endless opportunities that the Law School has for student advocacy and real-world impact.

—Harrison Bench '27, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 91��Ƶ student

91��Ƶ Haub Law students who traveled to Abu Dhabi for the Congress described the experience as transformative. “I have seen firsthand how influential citizen advocacy can be,” said student participant Harrison Bench ‘27. “Since enrolling at 91��Ƶ Haub Law, I have been eager to not only study international environmental law, but participate in the endless opportunities that the Law School has for student advocacy and real-world impact. Participating in the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi allowed us to give a voice to those that are most impacted by environmental policies. I feel fortunate to be at a law school that creates life-changing opportunities like this.” Isabella Mazzei, a 2024 LLM graduate, shared a similar sentiment of her experience. “While I was an LLM student, my research on land conservation in Guatemala, a country home to 22 Indigenous languages, sparked my interest about the connection between language and environmental conservation practices, leading me to explore how Indigenous languages serve as vessels of ecological knowledge. I quickly realized the importance of protecting those languages as a way to promote conservation. Being able to advocate for protecting Indigenous languages at the Congress, and seeing our motion adopted, was an extraordinary privilege.”

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91��Ƶ Haub Law faculty also held a prominent role during the Congress, presenting on several panels.

• Professor Achinthi Vithanage was invited to present on a panel on the Rights of Nature; she spoke on the topic “Utilizing Artificial Intelligence-Driven Digital Twins to Support Rights of Nature.”
• Adjunct Professor & Associate Director of Graduate Admissions and International Affairs, Maria Lambert, presented insights from her LLM Thesis topic, “Climate Adaptation as Reparation: Addressing Colonial Legacies and Racial Capitalism in U.S. Territories” during a panel event on Countering the Colonial Legacies of Conservation at the IUCN Forum.
• During the Congress, Michael Hamersky, Executive Director of the 91��Ƶ Energy & Climate Center & Adjunct Professor, moderated a virtual exchange between Hunter Lovins, CEO of COPx, 91��Ƶ Haub Law Dean Emeritus Richard Ottinger, and GCELS students and alumni at Congress. They discussed how 91��Ƶ’s efforts on the international stage could complement the important work that COPx is doing. COPx is a global movement enabling people everywhere to solve the climate crisis and is working closely with the 91��Ƶ Energy and Climate Center to involve 91��Ƶ Haub Law students in their efforts to find solutions to the climate crisis.
• Professor Nicholas Robinson contributed to the Contact Group on the motion to implement the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change and provided comments on proposed amendments to IUCN Statutes and Regulations.
• Adjunct Professor Dr. Victor M. Tafur, contributed to Contact Groups on motions relating to rights of nature and worked alongside environmental scholar Tony Oposa, towards the development of other impactful eco-diplomacy initiatives.
• Adjunct Professor Shakeel Kazmi led meetings with 91��Ƶ Haub Law faculty and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a long-time partner of the 91��Ƶ Energy and Climate Center and the latest organization to sign an MOU with the IUCN. He also met with H.E. Justice Shamlan Al Sawalehi, Senior Judge Dubai Court of Appeal & Judge in Charge of Arbitration Division at DIFC Courts, and H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zaoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and former UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, to discuss potential 91��Ƶ collaborations to further climate goals and obligations.

Additionally, during the Congress, GCELS hosted a Learning Zone Deep Dive Session on the topic . The session brought together educators and young professionals passionate about empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. Led by Professor , the session featured insights from Professor (University of Hawaii) and CEO of World Future Council . “This was a very hands on session, where youth facilitators, including GCELS students and alumni from the , guided participants through the process of drafting motions in a classroom setting to attending Congress,” shared Professor Vithanage. “These discussions not only deepened understanding of international environmental governance, but also sparked meaningful conversations about youth participation in decision making and the role of educators in enabling those spaces for participation.”

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The 91��Ƶ Haub Law delegation included a mix of current students, alumni, and faculty representing the Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies (GCELS). Students attending in person were Nicole Trent, Harrison Bench, Lara O’Callaghan, Victoria Sawchuk, and Francesca Gugino. Alumni attending in person included Samuel Carvalho, Isabella Mazzei, Morgan Martin, Justyna Maksimiuk, and Madison Routledge-Pettus, while Séverine Ginot participated virtually. Additional student delegates joining virtually were Kiran Chahal, Aubrey Welsh, Jake Firestein, Ashley Gentile, Karina Krul, Sara Curran, Joseph Mason, and Leonore Gaboardi Carandell; student Juliette Planes worked diligently on a motion leading up to the Congress, which ultimately passed. Together, these participants collaborated with faculty members Achinthi Vithanage, Nicholas Robinson, Victor Tafur, Shakeel Kazmi, Maria Lambert, and Michael Hamersky, contributing research, policy drafting, advocacy, and presentation support throughout the Congress.

This extraordinary experience was made possible through the generous support of the and the Haub family, whose continued commitment empowers 91��Ƶ Haub Law students to engage in global environmental leadership.

Adopted Motions Spearheaded by 91��Ƶ Haub Law’s GCELS Team:

1. Motion 005: Protection and restoration of diverse native grasslands
2. Motion 051: Mainstreaming gender equality in biodiversity policies, programmes, actions, and funding
3. Motion 098: Advancing the One Health approach for biodiversity, health, and global cooperation
4. Motion 099: Implementation of the One Health approach, from global to local
5. Motion 132: Strengthening business engagement in climate adaptation for preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems
6. Motion 033: Port State Measures for IUU Fishing
7. Motion 094: Recognizing the importance of Indigenous and local languages, knowledge and cultural heritage in biodiversity conservation
8. New and Urgent Motion 141: Welcoming the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on climate change
9. Motion 007: Soil Security Law
10. Motion 061: Recognizing the Crime of Ecocide to Protect Nature

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