Graduate Spotlight: Dylan Krug, LLM Environmental and Natural Resources Law

13 Feb 2026

'I am grateful for the experience and eager to put my newfound legal expertise to use, fighting for a more sustainable world'.

Dylan Krug’s journey started with a passion for environmental science and a commitment to climate activism. At UCC, Dylan pursued the LLM Environmental and Natural Resources Law, graduating in February 2025.

''One of my very earliest memories is fear of climate change. Worry for the future. Grief knowing all wouldn’t be here forever. Out of this anxiety, a life-long commitment to climate activism and action inevitably arose. First, this took me down the path of environmental science. The what and how of climate change, mechanics behind greenhouse gas emissions, ecosystem state changes, and extinction vortices.

I cultivated an intimate comprehension of how our world was changing, but lacked the
understanding of why nothing was being done about it.

This is where my interest in law began,which led me to pursue an Environmental and Natural Resource LLM at UCC.

Here I learned from storied and insightful global experts who were eager to give me their time and entertain my curiosity. Their guidance helped me come to terms with the limited scope of international diplomacy, grapple with sticky legal questions teased out only in our highest courts, and gave me the skills necessary to not merely understand environmental policy, but shape it. I found my scientific research skills translated exceptionally well to law, allowing me to further develop my expertise in a law and policy context. UCC gave me the freedom to explore my research interest areas of disasters and ecosystem services, resulting in my first class
dissertation on the implementation of Irish flood disaster risk reduction policy.

The transition from science to law was initially intimidating, but I persevered and thrived thanks to the incredible support of the Law Faculty.

Since finishing my dissertation, I have been pursuing every opportunity available to me in my
adopted home of Cork City. I became secretary of the local cycling group “Queer Bike Rides”
and was a key author of the club’s constitution thanks to my legal knowledge. I joined a
Strategic Policy Committee for Cork City Council, where I am gaining first hand experience in
crafting local policy. I am also especially ecstatic to have joined the Board of Directors for
environmental policy NGO “The Environmental Forum”, helping to promote sustainable
development in Ireland.

My confidence in pursuing these opportunities would not be present if not for the knowledge and skills gained during my studies of environmental law at UCC. I am grateful for the experience and eager to put my newfound legal expertise to use fighting for a
more sustainable world.''