Pace University awards $50,000 grant to two environmental legal leaders

Alfred Brownell and Durwood Zaelke each received a share of the 2026 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy. The Pace University law school presented the honor on October 21 in New York City. The recognition includes a $50,000 grant for their respective research or educational initiatives.

Brownell is a Liberian lawyer and professor. The school cited his work in creating legal strategies to protect natural resources and climate defenders. His efforts have focused on advancing environmental rights and climate justice across Africa and in global forums. Zaelke founded the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development. He was recognized for his role in strengthening the Montreal Protocol. His leadership helped secure the Kigali Amendment, which aims to reduce potent greenhouse gases.

The ceremony included a panel discussion titled Transforming International Law to Protect People and the Planet. Brownell and Zaelke joined David Hunter, a professor emeritus at American University Washington College of Law, for the conversation. Camila Bustos, an associate professor at the Haub School of Law, moderated the session. The group discussed how international law addresses environmental challenges and advances global protection standards.

The award was established to honor individuals who have made transformative contributions to the development of environmental law. It also recognizes leadership in environmental justice and governance. The 2026 recipients were selected for their decades of work in these fields. Brownell and Zaelke are among the latest recipients of the prize, which supports the continued growth of legal frameworks for environmental issues.