Elisabeth Haub School of Law Award Medal with a wooden backdrop

2024 Laureates

Ambassador Rena Lee (Singapore), 2024 Laureate, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy

Ambassador Rena Lee (Singapore)

For her instrumental role in the 2023 UN Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)

Kristina Maria Gjerde, 2024 Laureate, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy

Kristina Maria Gjerde (USA)

For her instrumental role in the 2023 UN Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)

2023 Laureates

Marja Lehto, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy winner

Ambassador Marja Lehto (Finland)

In recognition of her contributions to the protection of the environment in times of armed conflict.

Marie Jacobsson, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy winner

Marie Jacobsson (Sweden)

In recognition of their contributions to the protection of the environment in times of armed conflict.

2022 Laureate

Paulo Bessa, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy award winner

Professor Paulo de Bessa Antunes (Brazil)

In recognition of his tireless advocacy to support the development and implementation of laws protecting the environment in Brazil.

2021 Laureates

Vanessa Nakate, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy winner

Vanessa Nakate (Uganda)

In recognition of her work as a citizen diplomat inspiring climate activism in Uganda and beyond

Wang Xi, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy winner

Professor Wang Xi (China)

For his contributions to the formulation of environmental laws in China

2020 Laureates

Gold medal with blue ribbon and brown background

In memoriam to Environmental Defenders (Globally)

In recognition of those who lost their lives defending their land and the environment from destructive industries

2018 Laureate

Stephen McCaffrey, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy winner

Stephen C. McCaffrey (USA)

As Special Rapporteur of the UN Convention on International Water Courses and Sustained Leadership Building International Environmental Law

2017 Laureate

Reinhard Josef Krapp, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy award winner

Reinhard Josef Krapp (Germany)

For exceptional and sustained commitment to advancing multilateral policy to further sustainable development and environmental values globally

2016 Laureate

Christina Figueres, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy winner

Christiana Figueres (Costa Rica)

In Recognition of her Remarkable Diplomatic Achievements as the Architect of the Paris Climate Accords

2015 Laureates

Antonio Herman Benjamin, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy winner

Antonio Herman Benjamin (Brazil)

For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

Luis Alberto Figueiredo, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy winner

Luis Alberto Figueiredo (Brazil)

For his service to biodiversity when he served as Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs

Macharia Kamau, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy award winner

Macharia Kamau (Kenya)

For his contribution to the development of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in his capacity as the co-chair of the UN Opening Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

Csaba Korosi, Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy winner

Csaba Korosi (Hungary)

For his contribution to the development of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in his capacity as the co-chair of the UN Opening Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

  •  

    2014

    • Richard Macrory (United Kingdom)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2013

    • Marc Pallemaerts (Belgium)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2012

    • Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi
      For Sustained and Innovative Leadership Establishing the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
    • Koh Kheng Lian (Singapore)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2011

    • Alan Boyle (Scotland)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2010

    • Biliana Cicin-Sain
      For her outstanding contributions to the international efforts to preserve the world’s oceans and several international agreements related to them

    2009

    • Julio Barboza
      For his outstanding service to international environmental governance
    • Donald Kaniaru (Kenya)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2008

    • Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (Switzerland)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Hilario G. Davide, Jr. (Philippines)
      For his exceptional leadership in building consensus for the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations General Assembly

    2007

    • Françoise Burhenne-Guilmin (Belgium)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • David Freestone (United Kingdom)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Mohamed A. Sahnoun (Algeria)
      For His Role in the Negotiation of Agreements Crucial to Sustainable Development

    2006

    • Dinah Shelton (USA)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Thomas A. Mensah (Ghana)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Klaus Töpfer (Germany)
      For excellence in leading UNEP and advancing global environmental stewardship

    2005

    • James MacNeill (Canada)
      For facilitating “Our Common Future” leading the United Nations to convene the 1992 Earth Summit
    • Phillippe Sands (United Kingdom)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2004

    • Mohamed El-Ashry (Egypt)
      In recognition of his extraordinary service to the Global Environment Fund
    • Ramón Ojeda Mestre (Mexico)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2003

    • Peter H. Sand (Germany)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2002

    • Askar Akaev (Kyrgyzstan)
      For initiating and inspiring the United Nations Year of the Mountains
    • Mohamed Ali Mekouar (Morocco)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2001

    • Bagher Asadi (Iran)
      For distinguished accomplishments in securing developing Nations’ support for UNEP, the Kyoto Protocol and establishment of the United Nations Forest Forum
    • Ludwig Krämer (Germany)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    2000

    • Veit Koester (Denmark)
      For extraordinary contributions to negotiation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other multilateral environmental agreements
    • Akio Morishima (Japan)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Tuiloma Neroni Slade (Samoa)
      For inspired leadership of the United Nations Initiative for Small Island Developing States

    1999

    • Johan Gerrit Lammers (Netherlands)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Bo John Kjellen (Sweden)
      For distinguished service leading negotiations of the Convention on Desertification<
    • Tan Sri Razali Ismail (Malaysia)
      For his initiatives in the Special Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development with positive participation by Civil Society

    1998

    • Parvez Hassan (Pakistan)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1997

    • Günther Handl (Austria)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1996

    • Tommy Thong-Bee Koh (Singapore)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1995

    • Patrick Széll (United Kingdom)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1994

    • Edith Brown-Weiss (USA)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1993

    • Winfried Lang (Austria)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1992

    • Nicholas A. Robinson (USA)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1991

    • Hubert Bocken (Belgium)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1990

    • Andronico Oduogo Adede (Kenya)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1989

    • Zdenek Madar (Czechoslovakia)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1988

    • Cyrille de Klemm (France)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1987

    • Reinhard Ganten (Germany)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1986

    • Michael Bothe (Germany)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1985

    • Paulo Affonso Leme Machado (Brazil)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1984

    • Charles Okidi (Kenya)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1983

    • Heribert Rausch (Switzerland)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1982

    • Louis-Paul Suetens (Belgium)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1981

    • Mateo J. Magarinos de Mello (Uruguay)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1980

    • Russell Train (USA)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1979

    • Alexandre-Charles Kiss (Hungary)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Oleg Stepanovitch Kolbasov (USSR)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1978

    • Guillermo Cano (Argentina)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Eckhard Rehbinder (Germany)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1977

    • Joseph L. Sax (USA)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Henri Smets (Belgium)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1976

    • Jacques Hoeffler (Belgium)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Michel Prieur (France)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1975

    • Wolfgang Burhenne (Germany)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Waclaw Brzezinski (Poland)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Michel Despax (France)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law

    1974

    • Michel Carpentier (France)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Jean-Paul Harroy (Belgium)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law
    • Jean Lamarque (France)
      For outstanding and sustained contributions to Environmental Law