Gelya Porsunkinova

Gelya was born and raised in Moscow. However, her parents are from Kalmykia—a small region in the south of Russia that has been suffering from desertification for years. She has maintained a close connection with her roots and traveled there every summer to visit her grandparents and friends. Seeing how the beautiful vast steppes of her homeland turned into sand prompted her interest in environmental protection.  

Gelya earned her Bachelor's Degree in Public International Law from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Directly after completing her degree, she came to the U.S. to pursue a Master's Degree at UC Berkeley and graduated in May 2024 with a specialization in Environmental Law.  

While pursuing her bachelor's degree, Gelya competed in the Jessup Moot Court, which focuses on international legal disputes between states. There, she researched and wrote memorials on various public interest cases, such as the transportation of hazardous waste to developing countries and later interned at Greenpeace Russia, where she worked on protecting nature reserves. That experience solidified her determination to use the power of law to prevent and mitigate harmful environmental impacts and preserve nature for future generations.   

Gelya admires that Our Children's Trust's work is not limited to the U.S. and supports climate litigation in numerous other countries and actively participates in legal proceedings before international bodies such as the ICJ, ECtHR, and IACtHT. After completing her master's program, Gelya was eager to gain skills and experience in the field. The opportunity to assist attorneys around the country and the world in their legal efforts and learn from them is precisely what Gelya has been looking for. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, top rope climbing, playing volleyball, and doing yoga.