ClientEarth
An environmental law charity that uses legal action, policy work and scientific expertise to address climate change, pollution and nature loss.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
ClientEarth is an environmental law charity and public-interest environmental organization headquartered in London. It combines legal expertise, scientific analysis and policy advocacy to challenge government decisions and corporate practices that it argues are inconsistent with environmental law, climate commitments or public-health obligations. Its work is centered on the idea that effective use of existing law can accelerate environmental protection, improve public access to justice and make companies and public authorities accountable for ecological harm. The organization was founded in London by lawyer James Thornton in the late 2000s and expanded internationally soon afterward. It established a Brussels presence in 2008 and subsequently developed operations in Poland and other European countries. During the 2010s it added activities in China and Spain, created a Luxembourg entity and later established a Berlin office. In the 2020s, the broader group added a United Kingdom trading company and wholly owned subsidiaries or related operating entities in Japan and Australia. ClientEarth Group generally refers to ClientEarth UK and its branches, subsidiaries and consolidated entities; ClientEarth Americas is legally and financially independent from that group and operates as a separate United States nonprofit public-interest law firm. ClientEarth’s principal areas of work include climate change, clean air, coal and fossil-fuel transition, corporate climate-risk reporting, biodiversity, marine protection, sustainable finance and access to environmental information and justice. Rather than selling conventional consumer products, it provides litigation, legal research, strategic case support, regulatory submissions, campaigns and advice to communities, investors, civil-society organizations and public-interest partners. Its cases have addressed government air-quality plans, coal-fired power projects, mining and industrial permits, energy subsidies, corporate disclosures and the enforcement of European environmental rules. A major strand of its work concerns access to justice under the Aarhus Convention, which is intended to give members of the public and nongovernmental organizations meaningful access to environmental information, participation and legal remedies. ClientEarth has also used litigation to challenge illegal or inadequate air-pollution controls. In the United Kingdom, it secured a series of High Court rulings requiring the government to produce stronger nitrogen-dioxide plans. Across Europe, it has pursued cases involving air-quality monitoring and enforcement in Germany, Belgium and Italy. The organization has become particularly associated with strategic litigation against coal expansion. Its interventions have covered projects in several countries, including Poland, Romania and Greece. Notable cases contributed to the cancellation or suspension of proposed coal plants such as Północ in Poland, Ostrołęka C and the Meliti projects in Greece. ClientEarth also works on the financial and governance consequences of climate change, urging banks, insurers, energy companies and listed businesses to disclose material climate risks and align investment decisions with the Paris Agreement. ClientEarth has received recognition from environmental and legal-sector organizations, including BusinessGreen’s NGO of the Year award in 2012, the Law Society’s award for excellence in environmental responsibility in 2013 and recognition as a highly effective environmental group in 2017. Its present model remains that of an international environmental-law network using courts, regulators, shareholder channels and public campaigns to influence environmental outcomes.
History
ClientEarth emerged in London in 2007 under the leadership of lawyer James Thornton. Its founding premise was that environmental protection could be strengthened by combining legal practice with scientific and policy expertise. The organization began developing an international structure almost immediately, opening a Brussels presence in 2008 and building operations in Poland. Brussels provided proximity to European Union institutions, while the Polish office supported litigation involving coal, energy infrastructure and environmental enforcement. During the 2010s, ClientEarth broadened both its geographic footprint and its legal agenda. It established the European Aarhus Centre in 2011 to help citizens and nongovernmental organizations use rights to environmental information, public participation and judicial review. Its access-to-justice work included a successful United Kingdom challenge connected with implementation of the Aarhus Convention. The organization also pursued cases involving marine conservation, fisheries, biofuel transparency and government compliance with environmental obligations. Air quality became one of ClientEarth’s most visible areas of activity. Beginning in 2011, it challenged the United Kingdom’s failure to prepare sufficiently effective plans for nitrogen-dioxide pollution. The resulting litigation produced multiple High Court rulings requiring stronger government action. ClientEarth extended similar work across continental Europe, including actions concerning monitoring and enforcement in Germany and Brussels and a challenge involving air pollution in Lombardy. Coal litigation became another defining part of its history. In Poland, ClientEarth opposed the proposed Północ power station and pursued challenges connected with Ostrołęka C and the Bełchatów complex. The Północ project was ultimately stopped following a prolonged administrative-law dispute. The Ostrołęka C case focused not only on emissions but also on whether the project’s sponsors had properly considered carbon prices, cheaper renewable generation and changing European subsidy rules. In Greece, ClientEarth challenged permits for the Meliti coal plants; the Greek Council of State cancelled those permits in 2020. The organization also brought or supported cases against coal projects in Romania and other European jurisdictions. ClientEarth’s remit expanded from direct pollution and permitting disputes to corporate governance and financial-market accountability. It reported concerns about climate-risk disclosures by companies and insurers to United Kingdom regulators, corresponded with the Financial Reporting Review Panel and supported investor pressure on companies such as Glencore. It also urged financial institutions, including Barclays, to recognize the legal and financial implications of continued fossil-fuel investment. The organization expanded beyond Europe during the 2010s, adding work in China and Spain, a Luxembourg entity and later a Berlin office. In the 2020s it developed additional corporate structures in the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. The resulting ClientEarth Group includes ClientEarth UK and its consolidated branches and subsidiaries, while ClientEarth Americas remains an independent United States organization. ClientEarth continues to operate as an international environmental-law charity focused on climate change, nature loss, pollution, clean air, sustainable finance, biodiversity and public access to environmental justice.
- 2020
Coal-project litigation produces major European outcomes
[1]Funding for Ostrołęka C was suspended in Poland, while Greece’s Council of State cancelled permits for the Meliti projects.
- 2017
Recognized as a leading environmental group
[1]Green leaders named ClientEarth the most effective environmental group in their assessment.
- 2015
Major United Kingdom air-quality victory
[1]The High Court ruled in ClientEarth’s challenge to inadequate government plans for nitrogen-dioxide pollution.
- 2013
Receives Law Society environmental responsibility award
[1]The Law Society recognized ClientEarth’s work with an award for excellence in environmental responsibility.
- 2012
Named NGO of the Year
[1]BusinessGreen recognized ClientEarth as its NGO of the Year.
- 2011
European Aarhus Centre launched
[1]The centre was created to provide legal expertise supporting access to environmental information and courts.
- 2010
Aarhus-related legal challenge succeeds in the United Kingdom
[1]ClientEarth helped secure recognition of obligations intended to improve public and NGO access to environmental justice.
- 2008
Brussels operations established
[1]ClientEarth expanded into Brussels, placing part of its work close to European Union institutions.
- 2007
ClientEarth founded in London
[1]James Thornton established ClientEarth as an environmental law organization using legal action and policy work to protect the environment.
Products and positioning
A globally oriented environmental law charity that turns climate, pollution and nature concerns into legal and regulatory action. ClientEarth positions law as a practical mechanism for holding governments and companies accountable, protecting communities and reshaping investment and energy decisions.
Legal services
Strategic environmental litigation
ClientEarth brings or supports public-interest cases against governments, regulators and companies. Matters may concern unlawful permits, inadequate environmental plans, pollution limits, state aid, climate impacts, biodiversity protection or corporate duties. Litigation is used as part of broader campaigns intended to establish precedents, enforce existing rules and change institutional behavior.
Legal advocacy · 2011
Environmental access-to-justice support
Through Aarhus Convention work and related legal assistance, ClientEarth helps citizens and nongovernmental organizations obtain environmental information and challenge decisions affecting public health or ecosystems. The work focuses on removing procedural and financial barriers that can prevent environmental cases from being heard.
Corporate governance advocacy
Climate and corporate accountability interventions
ClientEarth examines whether companies, banks, insurers and investors properly account for climate-related legal, physical and transition risks. It may engage boards, regulators, reporting authorities and shareholders, seeking clearer disclosures and business strategies consistent with climate obligations.
Environmental policy · 2011
Clean air and pollution campaigns
The organization combines scientific evidence, public advocacy and litigation to press authorities to meet air-quality standards. Its work has addressed nitrogen dioxide in the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Italy, as well as wider pollution-control obligations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Bełchatów and coal-transition litigation
Poland
ClientEarth challenged the climate and environmental impacts of the Bełchatów coal complex and neighboring lignite mines.
Outcome. The litigation sought cessation of lignite burning or measures to eliminate the complex’s carbon footprint by 2035, with related claims concerning groundwater and toxic pollution.
- 2019Rovinari permit challenge
Romania
ClientEarth challenged the permit for a coal-fired power plant near Rovinari, arguing that authorities had not adequately assessed climate, health, nature and environmental impacts.
Outcome. The case became part of ClientEarth’s broader effort to prevent high-impact coal projects from proceeding without lawful assessment.
- 2019Glencore climate-alignment engagement
International
ClientEarth supported engagement by the Church Commissioners for England urging Glencore to strengthen its climate commitments.
Outcome. Glencore announced that its business and investments would be aligned with the Paris Agreement’s goals.
- 2018Corporate climate-reporting campaign
United Kingdom
ClientEarth referred several companies and insurers to United Kingdom reporting and financial regulators over alleged shortcomings in climate-risk disclosure.
Outcome. The campaign pressed regulators and companies to treat climate change as a material reporting and governance issue.
- 2018Ostrołęka C challenge
Poland
ClientEarth challenged the proposed Ostrołęka C coal plant, emphasizing investment risks from carbon prices, renewable competition and changing European rules.
Outcome. Courts found that the decision to proceed was invalid and required disclosure of relevant profitability documents; funding was later suspended.
- 2017Lombardy clean-air action
Italy
ClientEarth challenged Lombardy authorities over persistent air pollution and argued that urgent measures were required.
Outcome. The action formed part of ClientEarth’s wider European air-quality enforcement program.
- 2016Brussels air-quality access case
Belgium
ClientEarth brought a case on behalf of Brussels residents concerning the regional government’s response to illegal air pollution.
Outcome. The European Court of Justice confirmed that Brussels residents could bring proceedings concerning the way air pollution was monitored.
- 2015Munich air-pollution litigation
Germany
With Deutsche Umwelthilfe, ClientEarth pursued legal action over excessive nitrogen-dioxide levels in Munich.
Outcome. European legal enforcement led to repeated financial penalties against Bavarian authorities for failing to comply with court orders.
- 2011European Aarhus Centre
European Union
ClientEarth created a legal-support initiative focused on improving public and NGO access to environmental information, participation and judicial remedies.
Outcome. The initiative became part of ClientEarth’s continuing access-to-justice work.
- 2011UK clean-air litigation
United Kingdom
ClientEarth challenged government plans that it considered inadequate for meeting legal nitrogen-dioxide limits.
Outcome. The organization won multiple High Court rulings requiring stronger air-quality plans.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Brand decisions
2020
Press financial institutions on fossil-fuel exposureStrategyBackground
ClientEarth argued that banks should account for legal, transition and financial risks associated with continued fossil-fuel finance.
Action taken
James Thornton wrote to Barclays’ chair urging tougher policies for the energy sector.
Aftermath
The intervention illustrated ClientEarth’s use of board-level engagement alongside court proceedings and regulatory complaints.
2018
Expand corporate climate-risk accountability workStrategyBackground
ClientEarth argued that annual reports and financial disclosures often failed to explain material environmental and climate risks.
Action taken
It referred companies and insurers to United Kingdom regulators and urged stronger enforcement of reporting duties.
Aftermath
The campaign broadened ClientEarth’s work from environmental permitting into corporate governance and financial regulation.
2015
Challenge EU approval of Hinkley Point C state aidStrategyBackground
ClientEarth supported Greenpeace Energy’s challenge to European Commission approval of state aid for the Hinkley Point C nuclear project.
Action taken
The case argued that the approval affected competition and should be reviewed under European rules.
Aftermath
The European Court of Justice rejected Greenpeace Energy’s request as inadmissible in 2017.
2010
Use litigation to advance environmental transparencyStrategyBackground
ClientEarth and partner groups argued that European biofuel policy documents should be disclosed so that environmental assumptions and impacts could be scrutinized.
Action taken
The groups filed legal actions against the European Commission seeking access to relevant documents.
Aftermath
The actions reinforced ClientEarth’s strategy of combining transparency rights with environmental advocacy.
Recent events
- 2020
Poland suspends funding for Ostrołęka C[1]
Other · Regulation
Polish authorities announced the suspension of funding for the country’s last planned new coal plant after prolonged legal and financial challenges.
- 2020
Greek courts cancel permits for Meliti coal plants[1]
Other · Regulation
The Greek Council of State cancelled permits for the Meliti I and Meliti II coal projects after ClientEarth challenged the absence of adequate environmental, climate and health assessments.
- 2020
ClientEarth urges Barclays to strengthen fossil-fuel policies[1]
Campaign · Other
Chief executive James Thornton wrote to Barclays’ chair warning of risks associated with continued fossil-fuel financing and calling for stronger energy-sector restrictions.
- 2018
Ostrołęka C coal project decision challenged[1]
Other · Regulation
ClientEarth challenged the Polish Ostrołęka C project on financial and climate-risk grounds, contributing to court findings that the decision to proceed was invalid and that project sponsors should disclose supporting documents.
- 2018
ClientEarth reports companies over climate-risk disclosures[1]
Other · Regulation
ClientEarth referred EasyJet, Balfour Beatty, EnQuest and Bodycote to the Financial Reporting Council, and separately raised concerns with the Financial Conduct Authority about climate-risk reporting by insurers.
- 2015
ClientEarth wins UK air-quality litigation[1]
Other · Regulation
ClientEarth succeeded in legal action arguing that the United Kingdom had failed to produce adequate plans for meeting legal nitrogen-dioxide limits.
- 2010
ClientEarth challenges European coal expansion[1]
Other · Regulation
The organization expanded a series of legal interventions against coal projects and permits across Europe, including cases in Poland, Romania and Greece.
- 2010
Environmental groups challenge EU biofuel transparency[1]
Lawsuit · Regulation
ClientEarth and partner organizations brought actions seeking disclosure of European Commission documents concerning biofuel policy and its environmental impacts.
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