Legal Duo Receives Haub Climate Prize
Brownell and Zaelke honored for shaping global environmental law and securing the Kigali Amendment.
By Hugo Cook ·
Two veteran legal minds accepted a $50,000 award for their decades of work shaping international environmental rules. Alfred Brownell and Durwood Zaelke received the 2026 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy at Pace University in New York City on October 21, 2026. The ceremony recognized their distinct paths in advancing climate justice and environmental governance.
The award honors the legacy of Elisabeth Haub, a pioneer in environmental law. The school presents it to individuals who have made transformative contributions to the field. Both recipients have spent careers building legal frameworks that protect natural resources and vulnerable communities.
Brownell, a Liberian lawyer and professor, was recognized for pioneering strategies to defend environmental rights across Africa. His work focuses on protecting climate defenders and communities from resource extraction. Zaelke, founder of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development, was honored for his role in strengthening the Montreal Protocol. He led efforts to secure the Kigali Amendment, a key step in reducing potent greenhouse gases.
The event included a panel discussion titled Transforming International Law to Protect People and the Planet. The session brought together Brownell, Zaelke, and David Hunter, a Professor Emeritus at American University Washington College of Law. Camila Bustos, an Associate Professor at Haub Law, moderated the conversation about the role of international law in addressing environmental challenges.
The award presentation concluded a day of academic proceedings at Pace University. The two laureates joined faculty and students to discuss the future of environmental diplomacy. Their recognition highlights the ongoing effort to align legal standards with the urgency of climate action.
The next Haub Award ceremony is scheduled for 2027. The school will announce the recipients in early 2027. The prize continues to serve as a benchmark for excellence in environmental legal scholarship and practice.
Source: Pace University
