Paola Villavicencio Calzadilla, legal scholar and environmental law researcher

I am a Bolivian legal scholar specializing in environmental and climate change law, climate justice and environmental governance at the intersection of law, policy, and human rights. I hold a PhD in International Climate Change Law and a Master’s in Environmental Law from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Spain. I have conducted postdoctoral research at North-West University (South Africa) and at the Tarragona Centre for Environmental Law Studies (CEDAT-URV).

I have collaborated with international research institutions and worked as a legal consultant, supporting public bodies, NGOs, and grassroots organizations in Spain and Latin America on rights-based environmental initiatives. I am a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL), the UN Knowledge Network on Harmony with Nature, and The Climate Reality Project, where I contribute as a Leader and Mentor.

My work focuses on climate change law and governance, climate justice, energy justice, human rights and climate change, and the Rights of Nature. I have contributed to projects on climate governance, migration, and just transitions, and I regularly publish and present my research internationally. I am currently a Research Associate at North-West University and CEDAT, and a researcher and consultant with INSTA, a cooperative specializing in environmental law.