Sebastian Duque Rios

Sebastian Duque Rios joined the Environmental Law Institute as a Research Associate in August 2024. He is currently working on ELI’s Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN), the Global Marine Protected Areas project, and the Indoor Air Quality workshop and database. He also works to support the People Places Planet Podcast and previously contributed to the Environmental Law Reporter’s federal updates. Prior to joining ELI, Sebastian was an intern at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and an Environmental Justice Fellow at Dejusticia, where he supported performance management efforts and research regarding the use of human rights-based arguments in climate litigation in the Global South, respectively.

Sebastian was born in Pereira, Colombia but grew up in Miami, FL, where his everyday experiences led him to develop an interest and passion for both the environment and social justice. In May 2024, Sebastian earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science. As an undergrad, he was honored to be a Director’s Fellow at the Institution of Social and Policy Studies, a President’s Public Service Fellow, and a Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies Fellow. He also served as the President of the Yale Student Environmental Coalition; during his tenure, he co-led a delegation of students to COP28, supported local and campus advocacy efforts, and coordinated educational campaigns. For his senior theses, Sebastian explored the linkages between environmental justice and peacebuilding in post-Agreement Colombia as well as the geopolitical implications of Chile’s domestic lithium policies.