Climate cases have direct and indirect impacts on decision making at board, policy, judicial and government level. The fallout from this litigation can result in shifts in approach and financial and reputational damage even when cases are unsuccessful. More cases are being filed against corporate actors, litigation about investment decisions are increasing and there has been a growth in ‘climate-washing’ cases according to the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, Global trends in climate change litigation: 2023 snapshot, with litigants challenging the responsibilities and actions of those failing to mitigate climate risks through their operational and funding decisions.
The UK B Corp finance and investment group recently got together to discuss the rise of environmental litigation and the threat it poses to financial institutions and corporations. The panel included Alice Garton (The LenaLaine Project), Katrina Walter (WWF UK), Amy Clarke (Tribe Impact Capital) and Leticia Jennings (Bates Wells).
This article, written by Angela Monaghan, shares some of the insights raised at the event.