London Climate Action Week: Banks on trial

Join ClientEarth and a panel of legal experts to explore an emerging area of tort law: can banks be held liable for financing harmful new fossil fuel projects?

• Date: Tuesday 23rd June 2026
• Time: 8am - 10am
  • 8am: Breakfast
  • 8:45am: Panel and Q&A
  • 9:45am: Networking
• Venue: Blackstone Chambers, Blackstone House, Temple, London, EC4Y 9BW

Banks have channelled $8 trillion in finance to the fossil fuel industry since the Paris Agreement, enabling projects that contribute to dangerous climate change, pollute ecosystems and undermine the rights of Indigenous communities. Holding banks responsible for the negative impacts of their financing is a new frontier in climate and environmental litigation.

This event examines the potential for climate litigation against banks through the lens of a thought experiment: a ‘mock’ judgment written by senior English law barristers. The mock judgment illustrates how the English Court of Appeal could uphold claims by affected communities against a bank financing fossil fuel expansion in the Brazilian Amazon.

The panel will combine first-hand experience of litigation directly challenging fossil fuel expansion in Brazil, with legal analysis on how transnational liability for banks could be established. The panellists will consider arguments for establishing a novel climate duty in tort law, as well as addressing the potential legal hurdles to claims.

Panellists:

• Zoe Leventhal KC: Barrister, Matrix Chambers
• Andrew George KC: Barrister, Blackstone Chambers
• Kate Cook: Barrister, Matrix Chambers
• Renata Prata: Project and Advocacy Manager, ARAYARA International Institute
• Dan Eziefula: Lawyer, ClientEarth

RSVP