As Victoria Lichet neared graduation from CWRU's School of Law, the increasing urgency of threats from climate change prompted her to seek work helping to preserve the environment for future generations.
Today, as executive director of the advocacy organization, Global Pact for the Environment, Lichet pursues her passion by urging governments to adopt laws to protect and foster healthy environments. "Our overarching goal is to build a global movement for the recognition of the rights to a healthy environment." said Lichet, who lives in New York City.
Last year, the nonprofit was among those advocating for a United Nations (UN) resolution recognizing the right to a healthy environment. The UN General Assembly adopted it in the summer of 2022.
"It's a great first step," Lichet said, “but now we need states to implement the resolution; we need real laws to protect the environment."
Her advocacy organization and others are now urging thal a protocol for the right to a healthy environment be added to the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty among 47 states that are members of the Council of Europe.
This piece, written by Steven Neumann, originally appeared in the Fall 2023 issue of Think Magazine.