Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Law held a special conversation on January 19, 2023, with Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the newly appointed Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Mrema, who previously served as Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Director of the Law Division at UNEP, held a wide-ranging discussion spanning issues including environmental law, climate change, biological diversity, and sustainability. She also delved into the impact of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) held December 2022 under the leadership of the CBD, through the Chinese Presidency and hosted by Canada, which resulted in path-breaking agreements on the adoption of a new global biodiversity framework and its components. 

In his capacity as HBKU United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, Dr. Damilola Olawuyi invited the members of the HBKU community to attend the conversation and hear from Mrema first-hand.  “This session allowed our HBKU colleagues, faculty and students to meet with and learn from one of the world’s luminaries in international environmental law. Herdedication to addressing some of the most pressing problems that threaten the future of the planet is an inspiration to us all,” said Dr. Olawuyi.

Established in 2022, the HBKU UNESCO Chair plays a pivotal role in fostering research, training, and cooperation on environmental law as a tool for advancing sustainable development in Qatar and the MENA region. It collaborates with both HBKU and UNESCO to strengthen partnerships with academic institutions across the world to organize conferences, fellowships and lecture series aimed at developing a new generation of sustainability minded policymakers.

For more on the research initiatives and programs offered by the College of Law at HBKU, which are open for 2023 admissions, please visit cl.hbku.edu.qa.