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.

We commission legal opinions from independent experts within a jurisdiction to build an authoritative evidence base on the requirements of company and trust law as it relates to the nature crises. We also work with leading academics, law firms and civil society entities to carry out our own legal research and disseminate our findings.

Our Canadian partner, the Canada Climate Law Initiative, convenes legal experts to educate Canadian boards on climate change under the Canadian Climate Governance Experts project. They also provide an online knowledge hub for climate risk and sustainable finance resources.

We are funded by environmental philanthropy and research grants. Our current major funders and the Foundation for International Law for the Environment (FILE) and ClientEarth.