Vice President and Co-Founder - In Memoriam

Co-Founder Richard L. Ottinger (1929-2026)

Professor Richard L. Ottinger was Dean Emeritus of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and one of the most consequential environmental law legislators in United States history. He served eight terms in the House of Representatives (1965-1971 and 1975-1984), founded the Pace Energy and Climate  Center, and co-founded the Consortium for Ecological Law.

Professor Ottinger served as Vice President of the Consortium for Ecological Law until his passing on February 16, 2026, at the age of 98. Just months before his death, he delivered a spirited call for
energy law reform and climate sanity at the Consortium for Ecological Law’s conference in Belem for COP30.

The Consortium for Ecological Law rededicates itself to carrying on his mission.

He was one of the earliest environmentalists in Congress in 1965. As chairman of the Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee of the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, he was instrumental in adopting key energy and environmental legislation. Dean Emeritus Ottinger was a founding staff member of the Peace Corps, serving it during 1961–1964.
 

The Consortium for Ecological Law pays tribute to Prof. Richard L. Ottinger, who founded the Consortium and served as its Vice President until his death in his 98th year, on 16 February 2026. We invite you to visit Pace University as it celebrates his life at this website: https://www.pace.edu/law/dean-emeritus-richard-l-ottinger-1929-2026.

The Consortium organized a conference in Belem for the UN Climate Summit, COP30, last October. There, online, Dick Ottinger delivered a spirited call for energy law reform and climate sanity. This Pace website provides the link to his message. His years at Pace University’s Haub Law School followed his election to serve in the US House of Representatives, repeatedly for 16 years. His legislation helped provide the foundations for Ecological Law. The Consortium rededicates itself to carrying on his mission. We extend our condolences to the Ottinger family. We are inspired by his exemplary lifetime of care and concern for our shared future.

The Consortium for Ecological Law inaugurated its first newsletter with tribute to Prof. Richard L. Ottinger. See:
https://ecologicalaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CELnewsletterVol1Issue1Spring2-17-2026.pdf
 

Honors & Awards:
Founder and Chair Emeritus, Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Founding Board Member of Friends of the Earth
Editor-in-Chief, UNEP Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Laws
Award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy, American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy and Resources, 1974

Education:
BA, Cornell University
LLB, Harvard Law School