Unep Georgetown Law Global Environment And Sustainability Law

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 28, 2025, 7:41 AM

unep georgetown law global environment and sustainability law

The Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellowship is an opportunity for public sector lawyers from developing countries to earn a Georgetown LL.M. and to gain international legal experience with a posting at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, or at one of its regional offices around the world. Join environment and energy lawyers from across the globe to study in the prestigious Georgetown LL.M. program in Environmental and Energy Law. Georgetown Law offers over 60 courses in environmental and energy law and closely related disciplines ranging from core courses in environmental law, energy law and natural resources law; to specialized seminars in environmental justice,... Located in the heart of Washington, DC, Georgetown Law offers unmatched opportunities for practicum projects and externships with private firms and energy companies, government agencies, international organizations and non-governmental organizations, as well as the...

Gain valuable international environmental law and policy experience with the United Nations through a 3-month internship at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi or one of UNEP’s regional offices around the world. Launched in 2016, the UNEP – Georgetown Law Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows program has supported Fellows from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Chile, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Peru, Uganda, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe. Equipped with the knowledge and experiential training gained at Georgetown Law and UNEP, Fellows have gone on to positions in government ministries, environmental agencies and international organizations, as well as positions of traditional authority. UNEP-Georgetown Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows Program: Enhancing the capacity of environmental lawyers In 2016, UNEP and the Georgetown University Law Center partnered to develop a joint Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows Program, to train public sector lawyers from developing countries working on matters related to... Successful Fellows will receive an Environmental and Energy Law LL.M.

Degree from the Law Center. Georgetown Law offers over 60 courses in environmental and energy law and closely related disciplines ranging from core courses in environmental law, energy law and natural resources law, to specialized seminars in environmental justice,... Upon graduation, Fellows will gain international environmental legal and policy experience with the United Nations by working at UNEP’s Headquarters or regional offices for three months. In the new phase of the Fellowship, UNEP and Georgetown Law are now inviting National Focal Points (NFPs) to the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme to nominate candidates by email. The Montevideo Programme is UNEP’s flagship environmental law programme. “Inviting National Focal Points to the Montevideo Programme to nominate candidates fosters a sense of ownership and enhances the skills of experienced legal professionals.

This fellowship offers world-class academic training from one of the globe's most esteemed institutions, coupled with invaluable on-the-ground experience on environmental decision-making.” Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Director of Law Division, UNEP UNEP-Georgetown Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows Program. In 2016, UNEP and the Georgetown University Law Center partnered to develop a joint Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows Program, to train public sector lawyers from developing countries working on matters related to... Successful Fellows will receive an Environmental and Energy Law LL.M. Degree from the Law Center. Georgetown Law offers over 60 courses in environmental and energy law and closely related disciplines ranging from core courses in environmental law, energy law and natural resources law, to specialized seminars in environmental justice,...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Fellowship will cover the full cost of tuition, necessary travel, and the living stipend for the three-month period in UNEP’s Headquarters or regional offices. To be eligible for this fellowship a candidate must: Applications are open for the UNEP-Georgetown Law Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellowship 2025-2026. The Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellowship is an opportunity for public sector lawyers from developing countries to earn a Georgetown LL.M. and to gain international legal experience with a posting at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, or at one of its regional offices around the world.

Launched in 2016, the UNEP – Georgetown Law Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows program has supported Fellows from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Chile, Fiji, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Peru, Uganda, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe. Equipped with the knowledge and experiential training gained at Georgetown Law and UNEP, Fellows have gone on to positions in government ministries, environmental agencies and international organizations, as well as positions of traditional authority. The Program helps defray the costs for candidates who would not otherwise be able to cover all of the necessary costs of an LL.M. degree and professional experience including: Note that the Fellowship does not cover living expenses in Washington, D.C. Fellows must be prepared to cover the costs of housing, food and other personal expenses for the duration of the LL.M.

program. To be eligible for this Fellowship, a candidate must: The UNEP-Georgetown Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows Program was established in 2016 through a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Georgetown University Law Center. This initiative aims to equip public sector attorneys from developing nations with advanced knowledge and expertise in environmental, natural resource, and related legal disciplines, ultimately fostering adherence to the principles of environmental rule of... Participants in the program will earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Environmental and Energy Law from Georgetown Law. The institution offers a diverse selection of over 60 specialized courses, covering core topics such as environmental law, energy law, and natural resource management.

Other advanced seminars include subjects like environmental justice, water governance, wildlife conservation, food and drug regulations, energy markets, and the interplay between corporate sustainability, human rights, and environmental policy. These courses are led by an esteemed faculty comprising both academics and industry professionals. After completing their LL.M. program, fellows will participate in a three-month placement with UNEP. This component provides hands-on exposure to global environmental legal frameworks and policy-making processes at UNEP’s headquarters or regional offices. To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must meet specific requirements.

They must actively practice in the areas of environmental law, energy regulation, natural resources governance, or closely related legal fields. Candidates should be residents of developing countries, hold the necessary credentials to practice law in their home jurisdictions, and be employed by a government institution at either the national or local level. Additionally, their current professional responsibilities should align with the program’s focus areas. Scroll down below for more details and click on the official link attached to apply for this opportunity Georgetown's Environmental Law & Policy Program provides unmatched opportunities for students to pursue legal work surrounding the relationship between humans and the environment. Georgetown Law’s environmental law curriculum covers core and advanced topics in domestic and international environmental law, including climate and energy, water, wildlife and ecosystems, historic and cultural resource conservation, and environmental justice, among many...

As nationally prominent scholars and practitioners, our environmental faculty provide critical legal knowledge and real-world experience to prepare our students for success. Students can learn practical skills through an array of experiential learning opportunities including practica in environment and natural resources law, international environmental law and climate change law, as well as clinic opportunities through the... The Georgetown Climate Center (GCC) is a leading resource for state and federal government officials, academics, and stakeholders. Students working with the GCC collaborate with faculty, staff attorneys, and outside clients on questions of climate change, energy, transportation and adaptation. Georgetown Law offers a one-year specialized LL.M. degree in Environmental and Energy Law.

Georgetown J.D. candidates can obtain the LL.M. by completing 12 additional credit hours, through a joint J.D./LL.M. in Environmental Law. Public sector lawyers from developing countries can apply for the UNEP-Georgetown Global Environment & Sustainability Law Fellowship, which covers the full cost of tuition and travel for the Georgetown Environment and Energy Law LL.M.,... Our students go on to work for Congress, courts and administrative law judges, governmental agencies, international organizations, non-profits, energy companies, trade associations, and more.

To learn more about potential careers in Environmental Law, visit our Career Exploration page. In 2017 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Georgetown University Law Center partnered in 2017 to roll out a joint Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows Program. The objective is to train public sector lawyers from developing countries working on matters related to environmental law, natural resources law, or associated fields of law. Successful fellows are accorded an Environmental and Energy Law LL.M. Degree from the Law Center. Upon graduation, the fellows gain international environmental legal and policy experience with UNEP’s Law Division for up to three months.

The fellowship gives the lawyers an opportunity to learn and to share their expertise, as well as to transfer the knowledge gained during the fellowship upon return to their respective countries and public sector... UNEP, being a co-sponsor in the fellowship programme has so far supported three candidates, from different regions, enhancing their knowledge on international environmental law and policy. Chifundo Michael Chinyama is from Malawi and was the 2018 UNEP-Georgetown Global Environmental and Sustainability Law fellow. As part of the fellowship, Mr Chinyama was awarded a scholarship to earn a Master’s degree in Environmental and Energy Law at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Chifundo works as an environmental lawyer for the Environmental Affairs Department in Malawi and has a background in civil ligation and legislative drafting. Following completion of his fellowship, Chifundo shared some of his experiences and reflections.

What inspired you to apply for the Georgetown Fellowship Program? I became a lawyer almost by accident. I was actually a geography teacher in a secondary school, but I felt the need to do something more than just teaching, and so I started this movement called the Youth Empowerment Initiative, where... I was basically just trying to motivate people to fulfil their career goals. What I didn’t realize at the time is that I was also motivating myself. Environmental laws are laws that protect the environment.[1] The term "environmental law" encompasses treaties, statutes, regulations, conventions, and policies designed to protect the natural environment and manage the impact of human activities on ecosystems...

It addresses issues such as pollution control, resource conservation, biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. As part of both national and international legal frameworks, environmental law seeks to balance environmental preservation with economic and social needs, often through regulatory mechanisms, enforcement measures, and incentives for compliance. The field emerged prominently in the mid-20th century as industrialization and environmental degradation spurred global awareness, culminating in landmark agreements like the 1972 Stockholm Conference and the 1992 Rio Declaration. Key principles include the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principle, and intergenerational equity. Modern environmental law intersects with human rights, international trade, and energy policy. Internationally, treaties such as the Paris Agreement (2015), the Kyoto Protocol (1997), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) establish cooperative frameworks for addressing transboundary issues.

Nationally, laws like the UK's Clean Air Act 1956 and the US Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 establish regulations to limit pollution and manage chemical safety. Enforcement varies by jurisdiction, often involving governmental agencies, judicial systems, and international organizations. Environmental impact assessments are a common way to enforce environmental law. Challenges in environmental law include reconciling economic growth with sustainability, determining adequate levels of compensation, and addressing enforcement gaps in international contexts. The field continues to evolve in response to emerging crises such as biodiversity loss, plastic pollution in oceans, and climate change. Examples of laws designed to preserve the environment for its own sake or for human enjoyment are found throughout history.

In the common law, the primary protection was found in the law of nuisance, but this only allowed for private actions for damages or injunctions if there was harm to land. Thus, smells emanating from pigsties,[2] strict liability against dumping rubbish,[3] or damage from exploding dams.[4] Private enforcement, however, was limited and found to be woefully inadequate to deal with major environmental threats, particularly threats... During the "Great Stink" of 1858, the dumping of sewerage into the River Thames began to smell so ghastly in the summer heat that Parliament had to be evacuated. Ironically, the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers Act 1848 had allowed the Metropolitan Commission for Sewers to close cesspits around the city in an attempt to "clean up" but this simply led people to pollute... In 19 days, Parliament passed a further Act to build the London sewerage system. London also suffered from terrible air pollution, and this culminated in the "Great Smog" of 1952, which in turn triggered its own legislative response: the Clean Air Act 1956.

Unep Georgetown Law Global Environment And Sustainability Law

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