Paulina Slawek (she/her) is a Polish ocean and environmental activist, born & raised in the Middle East and currently studying at Leiden University College The Hague in the Netherlands. Her passion for climate and ocean justice began at 14 years old, after earning her Open Water PADI certification. This passion quickly expanded, and she went on to become the second PADI Junior DiveMaster in the Middle East. This allowed her to organize and take on various projects such as underwater & beach clean ups as well as mangrove and coral reef conservation in Abu Dhabi. Through such activities, she was able to acquire hands-on experience, which she intends to expand on a larger scale, focusing on global sustainability measures as well as climate justice.
Pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges, with a major in Governance, Economics, and Development, Paulina integrates climate and ocean conservation across numerous fields. Her interests lie at the intersection of international politics of climate change, climate justice, and environmental governance; advocating for a multidisciplinary approach that includes both scientific advancements and political advocacy.
Therefore, Paulina collaborates with various NGOs and initiatives focused on brining climate justice and youth representation to the highest courts and institutions. One of her key roles is with Stop Ecocide International, where Paulina actively campaigns for the recognition of ‘Ecocide’—defined as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment”—at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Additionally, she is a campaigner with WY4CJ, supporting the European Front and working to mobilize and empower motivated youth for environmental action.
Living in The Hague, city of ‘Peace and Justice’ where both the ICC and International Court of Justice (ICJ) are situated, gives her the opportunity to closely follow and contribute the exciting developments in climate justice currently taking place. These include the ICJ’s advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change as well as the ICC’s ongoing evaluation of the crime of Ecocide under the Rome Statute, proposed by Pacific Island Sates.
Regarding her home country, Poland, Paulina interned at the Centre of International Relations, where she gained experience by working on Polish and international political developments. During her time there, she recognized that Poland is less responsive to ocean and environmental protection than the climate crisis demands. Consequently, as she begins to closely collaborate with the NGO, she is committed to advancing environmental politics and climate justice within the Eastern European and Polish political & non-governmental spheres.
