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Improving governance on nature-related risks and opportunities

The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) has partnered with the Climate Governance Initiative and the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), to publish a briefing for board directors on the Climate Governance Hub.   This briefing explores how companies are currently integrating nature considerations into their strategies by analysing six of the Nature Benchmark indicators (a 2022 – 2023 study assessing 769 companies),…

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Company directors should consider company’s nature-related risks (including climate risks): landmark English law legal opinion

Directors should consider their company’s nature-related risks as part of their duties to promote the success of the company and act with reasonable care, skill and diligence, according to an independent legal opinion dated 11 March 2024, commissioned by the CCLI and Pollination. A team of corporate and financial law barristers (high-ranking silks Sharif Shivji…

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Australian company directors exposed to nature-related risk: new legal opinion

Under the Australian Corporations Act, nature-related risks are within the scope of directors’ duties to act with care and diligence, according to a new legal opinion dated 24 October 2023.  Authored by Sebastian Hartford-Davis and Zoe Bush, the opinion ‘Nature-related risks and directors' duties’ concluded that nature-related risks to a company should be regarded as…

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New legal opinion cautions Philippine company directors to take climate change seriously or risk liability for gross negligence

28 November 2022, London – Directors of Philippine for-profit corporations must take into consideration climate change-related risks in the discharge of their fiduciary duties of obedience and diligence to fulfil their companies’ long-term legal, economic, moral and social obligations towards their shareholders and other stakeholders. Directors must do so in order to abide by the…

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Malaysian company directors warned of legal liability if they fail to consider climate issues

26 July 2022 - Directors of Malaysian companies are legally required to incorporate climate change considerations into their decision-making processes, according to a legal opinion released on 26 July 2022. A failure to do so may be a breach of a director’s legal duties and could expose them to litigation from shareholders or enforcement action from the regulatory authorities.  Tan…

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As climate crisis reshapes business, board directors must rethink legal duties – New Legal Primer examines 20 jurisdictions and European Union

24 June 2021 – A new legal Primer produced jointly by the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative and the Climate Governance Initiative (CGI), examines the fast-changing landscape of climate risks and opportunities for business, and the implications for board directors’ legal obligations. The Primer on Climate Change: Directors’ Duties and Disclosure Obligations, which examines 20…

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National inquiry into the human rights impacts of climate change hears evidence on the legal obligations of directors

CCLI Canadian Convenor Professor Cynthia Williams has given evidence at the New York hearing of the world’s first national inquiry into the human rights impacts of climate change. The fact-finding inquiry by the Philippines Commission on Human Rights is investigating the potential human rights impacts on Filipino citizens of the carbon-intensive businesses of 47 multinational…

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Companies should be disclosing in line with the TCFD recommendations, writes the CCLI on the Harvard Corporate Governance Forum

To avoid the risk of inadequate disclosures which capture the attention of regulators and potential litigants, companies should be disclosing in accordance with the recommendations of the G20 Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, argue CCLI Canada convenor Professor Cynthia Williams and Director Ellie Mulholland in a post on the Harvard Law…

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CCLI Country Report Launch and Reception | London, 17 April 2018

To coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London in April 2018, the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) launched and published a series of research reports, including an actionable framework for directors to integrate climate change issues into governance practice and policy recommendations for directors’ associations and financial regulators.

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Ceres joins the CCLI as a partner

We are excited to announce that Ceres, a sustainability organization working with influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy, has joined the CCLI in December 2017.

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New reports by CCLI partner ClientEarth

ClientEarth, one of the founding partners of the CCLI has released three new reports bringing to light climate liability risks facing pensions advisers and the professional liability risks for auditors in the context of climate change.

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These publications are provided for educational purposes only. They are not, and are not intended to be, legal advice. The CCLI, its founders, and partner organisations make no representations and provide no warranties in relation to any aspect of these publications, including regarding the advisability of investing in any particular company or investment fund or other vehicle. While we have obtained information believed to be reliable, we shall not be liable for any claims or losses of any nature in connection with information contained in these publications, including but not limited to, lost profits or punitive or consequential damages. While efforts have been made to ensure that these materials are accurate and free from errors and omissions, they should not be, and are not intended to be, relied upon for any purpose and readers are advised to conduct their own research and analysis and obtain their own legal advice.

Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative
The CCLI examines the legal basis for directors and trustees to consider, manage, and report on climate change and broader environmental risks, opportunities and impacts, and the circumstances in which there may be liability for failing to do so. We also work to advance knowledge on effective sustainable governance practice.
Contact

The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 11813153, REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1203501 and with registered office at 128 City Road, London, United Kingdom EC1V 2NX.

Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative

The CCLI examines the legal basis for directors and trustees to consider, manage, and report on climate change and broader environmental risks, opportunities and impacts, and the circumstances in which there may be liability for failing to do so. We also work to advance knowledge on effective sustainable governance practice.

Contact

The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 11813153, REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1203501 and with registered office at 128 City Road, London, United Kingdom EC1V 2NX.

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