Pace University student developing environmental policies for reducing Delhi’s pollution

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Maria Jovita Lambert, an international exchange student at Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law, is working to develop policies to address Delhi’s climate crisis. Delhi is a unique case study for her, Jovita says.

Jovita holds a five year law degree from Delhi based O.P. Jindal Global University and is currently studying at Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law (EHSL) under a partnership program between the two universities. EHSL is considered one of the best schools in environmental law by US News.

According to a press release from Pace University, during her time here, Jovita is focusing on global climate challenges and promoting human rights. Jovita is excited about the opportunity to work on environmental issues at EHSL.

India has many problems, including the increasing size of its population, and environmental issues have been taking a back seat in budgeting and planning. Jovita belongs to the young population who has new ideas, want to bring about a change and make a difference. She is not happy with the situation regarding environmental issues in India.

“The elements are changing, yet there isn’t enough conversation about it. Even in recent events like the general elections and budget discussions in India, climate change hasn’t received the attention it deserves,” she says.

Feeling that Delhi’s pollution crisis needs immediate work on reducing it, Jovita aims to facilitate conversations between different legal and regulatory spheres. Her goal is to develop multidisciplinary policies to address this climate crisis, making sure Delhi remains habitable and sustainable.

“My mission is to bring the stories of India to international platforms, focusing on climate change and human rights,” Jovita says. Pace is helping her do just that, she says. “At Pace, I see a pathway to make my dreams of contributing to global environmental and human rights solutions a reality,”  Jovita says.

Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), the university from which she holds her Law degree, is a private university based in Delhi, and is recognized by the central governing body of universities in India, the University Grants Commission. Jovita is part of its collaboration, exchange and research partnership with top universities including Harvard, Yale, NYU, and more.

Delhi has been listed by environmental agencies as the most polluted metro city. According to Urban Emissions, a non-governmental research institute based in Goa, India, Delhi’s pollution crisis is caused by emissions from vehicles and household fuels including firewood. Pollution in Delhi is not limited to just the winter months, but prevails round the year. Besides air pollution, Delhi also faces water pollution, loss of biodiversity, municipal waste and noise pollution.

Global climate change has become a challenge in recent years, leading to hotter temperatures, more severe storms, increased drought, loss of species, food scarcity, more health risks, poverty and displacement.

In an effort to deal with these, major member countries of the United Nations have pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2030, which involves cutting on carbon emissions, leaving zero in the atmosphere. A hundred and forty countries including China, United States, India and European Union are part of this pledge. More than 9,000 companies, over 1000 cities, more than 1000 educational institutions, and over 600 financial institutions have joined the Race to Zero.