Bio
Randall S. Abate is a law professor and scholar dedicated to shaping the next generation of legal minds with a primary focus on environmental, climate change, and animal law and justice.
He is a Visiting Professor of Law at Florida State University College of Law and Collaborating Professor at Ocean Nexus. In spring 2026, Professor Abate taught Environmental Law at the University of Maryland College Park and Animal Law at the University of Miami School of Law (online); co-taught Envisioning a Compassionate Food System for Humans, Animals, and the Environment at the George Washington University; and served as a Haub Visiting Scholar at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.
Previously, he served as Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies at the George Washington University Law School and held full-time law teaching positions at six U.S. law schools and one university.
Professor Abate has lectured and taught courses in more than twenty-five countries on six continents and has published six books and more than 40 law journal articles and book chapters. He is the author of Climate Change and the Voiceless: Protecting Future Generations, Wildlife, and Natural Resources (Cambridge University Press, 2d ed. 2026), the editor of What Can Animal Law Learn from Environmental Law? (ELI Press, 2d ed. 2020), Climate Justice: Case Studies in Global and Regional Governance Challenges (ELI Press, 2016), and Climate Change Impacts on Ocean and Coastal Law: U.S. and International Perspectives (Oxford University Press, 2015); and co-editor of Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples: The Search for Legal Remedies (Edward Elgar, 2013).
Early in his career, Professor Abate handled environmental law matters at two law firms in Manhattan. He holds a B.A. from the University of Rochester and a J.D. and M.S.L. (Environmental Law and Policy) from Vermont Law School.
My career has been focused on environmental law and social justice education, advocacy, and academic program management.
