Anna Storgaard
March 12, 2025
Promoting equitable environmental justice
The 2024 Ramboll Foundation Award has been awarded to Doctor of Law and Senior Lecturer of the University of Malawi, Dr. Ngcimezile Mweso, for her research on environmental justice in carbon sequestration projects in Malawi. Dr. Mweso’s work stands out for integrating social equity into climate action.
Dr. Mweso’s current research focus is on the justice implications of climate action, specifically targeting forest-based carbon sequestration projects. Her research aims at ensuring that these projects are equitable and inclusive, particularly for women and other marginalised groups who often bear the burden of climate change impacts.
Equality and climate resilience
Climate change burdens and vulnerabilities are reaching unprecedented levels with increasing climate extremes including heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones. Climate change is gendered, and its impact is extremely unequal with girls and women among those impacted excessively.
Dr. Mweso’s research highlights the critical need for a gendered and intersectional perspective in climate action within the forest sector. Her work entails a comprehensive examination of existing laws and policies, their implementation, and the roles of women in carbon sequestration projects. It aims to establish principles of environmental justice that account for the unique vulnerabilities and contributions of girls and women.
Climate change poses unprecedented challenges, disproportionately affecting women and marginalised communities. Effective strategies must recognise and encompass these intersections of identity and vulnerability.
Her studies further advocate for the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, ensuring that marginalised groups participate meaningfully in decision-making processes.
Empowering change through research
Malawi’s launch of the "Malawi Carbon Market Initiative" in 2023 underscores the relevance of Dr. Mweso’s research. With initiatives like REDD+ aiming to curb emissions from deforestation and enhance socio-economic opportunities, her findings are essential for promoting equitable and sustainable development. "Without environmental justice, efforts to mitigate climate change risk perpetuating existing inequalities," Dr. Mweso adds.
The Ramboll Foundation Award consists of a research grant to support Dr. Mweso’s ongoing research work. This funding will facilitate further exploration into legal frameworks and field studies, ensuring that her work can continue to influence both policy and practice - locally and globally.
We are thrilled to recognise Dr. Ngcimezile Mweso. Her research is not only innovative but vital for ensuring that climate action is just and inclusive. Dr. Mweso’s work further exemplifies our commitment to supporting research that enhances societal and environmental well-being.
Looking ahead
Dr. Mweso is excited to continue her research journey, highlighting the Ramboll Foundation Award’s importance for her research and the broader fight against climate inequality. "This recognition validates the importance of addressing environmental justice and supports the ongoing efforts to ensure that climate action benefits all, especially the most vulnerable," she concludes.
About Dr. Ngcimezile Mweso
Dr. Ngcimezile Mbano-Mweso is a senior lecturer in law at the University of Malawi, where she has significantly contributed to academic and research progress since 2009. Born on April 28, 1982, Dr. Mweso's impressive educational background includes a Doctor of Law (LLD) from the University of the Western Cape, focusing on gender and water governance, a Master of Law (LLM) in human rights and democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria, and a Bachelor of Law (LLB Hons) from the University of Malawi.
In her current role, Dr. Mweso teaches courses in Gender and Law, Environmental Law, and Water Resource Management, while also engaging in extensive research and consultancies. Her work spans various areas, including gender and environmental governance, climate change, and women's rights.
Dr. Mweso has also served as the Head of Public Law and Clinical Legal Education and coordinates the Gender Justice Clinic at the University of Malawi, which provides education, research, and legal services to promote gender equality and justice.
Prior to her academic career, Dr. Mweso worked as a Senior State Advocate at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in Malawi, representing the state in legal proceedings, and providing legal counsel to government agencies. She has also held a research position at the Dullah Omar Institute at the University of the Western Cape, focusing on socio-economic rights for vulnerable communities in South Africa and across the African region.
Dr. Mweso's dedication to advancing environmental justice and gender equality has led her to engage in numerous significant research projects and consultancy roles with organisations such as the International Labour Organisation, UNHCR, and UNICEF. Her scholarly work includes publications on climate justice, gender governance, and human rights, making her a key figure in shaping policies and practices that ensure equitable and inclusive climate action.
About the Ramboll Foundation Award
The Ramboll Foundation Award is an annual research award of DKK 500,000 (EUR/USD 67,000) awarded to a young scientist to support a particular field of research. The award is given to an individual scientist with a university affiliation. Institutions or projects are excluded, as are Ramboll’s own employees.
This year, the subject of the award is “environmental justice”.
Candidates for the Ramboll Foundation Award are identified by Ramboll experts and invited to submit a proposal. The award decision will be taken by an evaluation committee consisting of representatives from the Ramboll Foundation and Ramboll experts within the subject.
The Ramboll Foundation Award was previously known as the Flemming Bligaard Award, which was named in honour of former Ramboll CEO and chairman of the Ramboll Foundation.
The 2023 award was given to biologist and researcher Leonardo De Sousa Miranda for his research in bridging the gap between biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.
Want to know more?
Neel Strøbæk
Deputy Chair of the Ramboll Foundation, Former Senior Group Director, Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility, Ramboll Group
+45 51 61 86 41
Søren Staugaard Nielsen
Managing Director, Ramboll Foundation
+45 51 61 78 86