When it comes to climate policy, it’s quite apparent that the power of critical decision-making lies primarily with those who hold a unique position of power in local, national, or global governance. For Gustė Gurčinaitė, a student from Lithuania who has been named one of two United Arab Emirates Rhodes Scholars for 2022, her academic experience in political science at NYU Abu Dhabi has influenced her to endeavor to challenge this process, by incorporating a social justice perspective to the climate change conversation.

Ubah posing with her degree from University of Stirling in Scotland.