Our client is the Earth: the natural world and all who depend on it.
We've been fighting for better #airquality across the UK for many years. Find out more about our cases, and what brought our CEO @JamesThorntonCE to London: clientearth.org/how-to-start-…
EU Parliament-approved investment agreement may be illegal
Lawyers have warned that a European investment agreement, endorsed yesterday by the EU Parliament, may not be compatible with the law.
- EU-Indonesia trade deal risks accelerating deforestation
- Lawyers sue EU Commission for information on legality of trade deal tribunals
European fisheries vote undermines sustainable fishing targets
Environmental lawyers warn that today’s European Parliament vote approving a new fisheries plan for waters off western Europe will jeopardise restoring fish stocks to sustainable levels.
UK energy transition continues with closure of 2GW coal plant in 2019
ClientEarth energy experts say UK must come good on promise to introduce coal phase-out law to ensure fair deal for workers.
Lawyers sound alarm over new Polish plans to log Bialowieza Forest
Lawyers at ClientEarth have criticised moves by the Polish state-owned forestry company to restart commercial logging in the Bialowieza Forest.
Commission sends formal warning to Denmark for failing to properly control fisheries
Environmental organisations ClientEarth and Our Fish have welcomed a decision by the European Commission to follow-up on infringement proceedings against Denmark for failing to properly control fishing practices.
How to start a revolution
Disobedient Films explores what brought environmental pioneer James Thornton to London to set up ClientEarth – and his legal team’s six-year battle to protect our lungs from air pollution.
Explore our work
People • Law • Planet
We work to protect the environment through advocacy, litigation and science. We use the best research and policy analysis when choosing our strategic direction.
Our results…
2007
ClientEarth opens its doors in London and Brussels. Legal campaigning by our Energy team is instrumental in quashing plans for a new generation of coal plants in the UK.
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ClientEarth opens its doors in London and Brussels. Legal campaigning by our energy team is instrumental in quashing plans for a new generation of coal plants in the UK.
January 2009
New Statesman names CEO James Thornton “one of ten people who could change the world.”
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New Statesman names CEO James Thornton “one of ten people who could change the world.”
May 2009
We begin work to make the UK government protect Londoners’ lungs from air pollution, a health scandal causing thousands of premature deaths every year.
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Begin air pollution work in London
November 2010
We open our Warsaw office. Our team works to ensure Poland forges a clean, modern energy infrastructure that protects people’s health and the country’s unique habitats.
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Open Warsaw office (http://www.clientearth.org/news/press-releases/warsaw-office-1173)
February 2010
In the EU we begin work on toxic chemicals, enforcing citizens’ right to know what is in the products they use.
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In the EU we begin work on toxic chemicals, enforcing citizens’ right to know what is in the products they use.
October 2010
Our advocacy and litigation strategy forces EU chemical and food safety regulators to be more transparent about how toxic substances are being used in Europe.
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ECHA forced to be more transparent http://www.clientearth.org/news/press-releases/european-chemicals-agency-1017
August 2011
We act as the voice of Europe in a critical US climate case which successfully defends the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate carbon pollution.
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amicus brief for EPA http://www.clientearth.org/eu-environmental-law/publications/european-amicus-us-epa-case-1535
April 2011
We launch the Sustainable Seafood Coalition, uniting nearly all the major UK supermarkets and seafood suppliers in a unique initiative for sustainable seas.
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SSC launch
December 2011
We force the UK government to admit it is breaching air pollution limits.
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UK gov forced to admit it is failing on air pollution http://www.clientearth.org/news/press-releases/air-pollution-uk-government-high-court-verdict-1639
April 2011
In Brussels we launch the EU Aarhus Centre, dedicated to protecting citizens’ rights to information and access to the courts.
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Aarhus Centre launch http://www.clientearth.org/news/press-releases/eu-aarhus-centre-1315
February 2012
Our Forests team significantly expands its work in Africa, building legal capacity for communities in timber-producing nations.
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Forests team expands Africa work
February 2013
In Poland we support farmers taking action against a number of planned coal power investments that breach national and EU law.
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Poland work with farmers against new cola power http://www.clientearth.org/news/press-releases/clientearth-statement-on-the-ruling-by-the-administrative-court-in-gdansk-on-the-north-power-plant-case-2114
January 2013
The Lawyer names our CEO, James Thornton, as one of the top 100 lawyers in the UK.
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James Thornton Hot 100 Lawyers
Summer 2013
The EU fisheries reform reflects all our major demands.
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CFP reform reflects demands
November 2014
EU Court backs our air pollution case, ruling the UK government must act to clean up deadly air pollution.
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EU court backs our air pollution campaign http://www.clientearth.org/news/press-releases/eu-court-rules-uk-government-must-act-to-clean-up-deadly-air-pollution-2699
September 2014
Members of our Sustainable Seafood Coalition, including nearly all UK supermarkets, agree codes on consistent environmental labelling and sourcing.
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SSC members agree codes http://www.clientearth.org/news/latest-news/seafood-brands-agree-codes-on-consistent-environmental-labelling-and-sourcing-2645
July 2014
We created a first-of-its-kind “bible for forest law” in Gabon, helping people defend their rights and livelihoods.
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Forest bible launched http://www.blog.clientearth.org/became-pocket-lawyer-protecting-forests-ghana-elvis-kuudaar/
2015
We won our first air pollution case against the UK government.
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We won our first air pollution case against the UK government.
2016
In 2016, we launched a New York office to work with US NGOs and donors.
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In 2016, we launched a New York office to work with US NGOs and donors.
2016
We began work on energy in Spain, and later we added sustainable seafood work.
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We began work on energy in Spain, and later we added sustainable seafood work.
2017
The UN upholds our access to justice complaint, telling the European Union it must let people go to court to protect the environment.
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The UN upholds our access to justice complaint, telling the European Union it must let people go to court to protect the environment.
April 2018
After three years of legal work by ClientEarth, the EU Court of Justice rules that logging in Poland's Bialowieza Forest breaks EU law.
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The UN upholds our access to justice complaint, telling the European Union it must let people go to court to protect the environment.
May 2018
By May 2018, we have trained over 300 Chinese judges and prosecutors in environmental law.
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By May 2018, we have trained over 300 Chinese judges and prosecutors in environmental law.“ClientEarth is essential to the green movement… to bring governments to account and carve out a new environmental agenda.”
Brian Eno
ClientEarth Trustee
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