News: Academy of Social Sciences publishes CCE ‘Empowering Communities’ blog
13 Jun 2024
The Academy of Social Science (ACSS) has been running an Election 24 project which foregrounds social science perspectives on key policy issues ahead of this year’s UK General Election. This recently featured a blog written by Senior Researcher, Sophy Bristow, on Empowering communities: the importance of local action in the transition to net zero. More →
Press release: Launch of Law & Climate Atlas US helps lawyers drive transition to net zero
29 May 2024
The Law & Climate Atlas US is a free online resource which shows how climate change is shaping different areas of law, and how these areas might help drive climate action. Developed by the Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) based at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, in partnership with the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance (NZLA), the US Atlas covers multiple areas of the law, including human rights, securities and finance, tort, contract, international trade, taxation and supply chain considerations. More →
Directors’ Duties and Climate Change
20 May 2024
Climate change poses financial and liability risks to companies. By addressing these risks, businesses can find opportunities to grow and adapt. Nick Scott’s leadership insight links climate change to directors’ duties and examines how English courts have responded. It summarises direct litigation risks and related legal and non-legal threats and suggests how understanding this issue could help businesses implement effective climate strategies. More →
Blog: Boards can, and must, account for climate change
16 May 2024
Accounting may not seem the most obvious arena for ambitious climate action, but a recent legal opinion highlights real opportunities for boards to drive sustainability through the company accounts. Nick Scott, Manager of the Law for Climate Action programme at… More →
Legal insight: A case note on ClientEarth v Shell Plc
14 May 2024
On 9 February 2023, ClientEarth, a non-profit environmental law organisation and UK registered charity, brought a claim against the directors of Shell plc before the High Court of England and Wales, alleging breaches of their duties as directors for failing to take certain steps to protect Shell against climate-change related risks. This case note gives an insight into the claim, the decision of the High Court and implications for the future. More →
Summary report: Green Taxonomies – Global guidelines for the green transition?
08 May 2024
This consideration of green taxonomies draws on a roundtable held by the Centre for Climate Engagement in partnership with Clyde & Co, the first in a series of three discussions on legal aspects of sustainable finance. The event brought together academics and legal practitioners to discuss challenges and opportunities presented by green taxonomies, the direction of travel for these mechanisms, and how they might impact the way that businesses and investors operate. More →
Press release: Call out for expert collaborators for local net zero project
25 Apr 2024
The Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE), based at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, is seeking expert collaborators to contribute to a local net zero project funded by Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme. Experts working in research and industry on… More →
Leadership insight: Theories of change for corporate climate action
23 Apr 2024
This leadership insight with Simon Glynn provides an in-depth analysis of why, and how, companies and boards should use a theory of change approach to drive meaningful climate and sustainability impact for their stakeholders. He argues that a focus on risk management alone is insufficient, and that boards must grasp the essence of impact to navigate the uncertainties of climate action to ensure a sustainable and resilient business model. More →
CCE launches expanded Summer Internship Programme 2024
16 Apr 2024
The Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) at Hughes Hall is pleased to invite applications for its summer internship programme, expanded this year to offer a wider range of opportunities. The CCE summer Internship programme is open to undergraduate and postgraduate… More →
The Centre for Climate Engagement launches quarterly newsletter
26 Mar 2024
The Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) has unveiled its first quarterly newsletter, which celebrates excellence in climate, law and governance-related research and shares our latest insights and expert briefings. In this debut spring issue, readers can expect a curated selection… More →
Summary report: Legal considerations for the transition to net zero, a series with Freshfields and Chapter Zero
12 Mar 2024
In 2023/2024, the Centre was delighted to partner with Freshfields and Chapter Zero to run a series of events focused on the intricate legal aspects of transitioning to net zero. The pivotal shift towards corporate sustainability is set to introduce a myriad of legal challenges and opportunities for organisations across various sectors. Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) stand at the forefront of guiding corporate boards through this complex legal terrain. More →
Expert Briefing: Digitalisation and climate risk
05 Mar 2024
This briefing, with Dr Daoping Wang, explores how digital technologies can help to understand and mitigate climate risk. More →
Expert Briefing: Sustainable Corporate Governance
08 Jan 2024
This briefing explores, with Professor Michael Hilb, the role of board directors in the governance of sustainability. More →
Expert Briefing: Tackling Sustainability in the finance sector
18 Dec 2023
This expert briefing is based on a discussion with David Rouch, a Partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and author of The Social Licence for Financial Markets (Palgrave Macmillan 2020). More →
Róisin Finnegan, Intern: Law and Climate Atlas, University of Cambridge
13 Dec 2023
As we launch our updated Law and Climate Atlas 2023, we talk to one student intern who worked on the project about her research and why the Atlas is an indispensable tool for lawyers and law firms. Róisin Finnegan joined… More →
Press Release: The Centre for Climate Engagement launches new Law and Climate Atlas for COP28
12 Dec 2023
The Centre for Climate Change Engagement (CCE), based at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, launched its Law and Climate Atlas during COP27 last year. Now in time for COP28, it is releasing an updated and expanded version: https://lawclimateatlas.org. More →
Policy Insight: the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
04 Dec 2023
Dr Samuel Ruiz-Tagle, Research By-Fellow at Hughes Hall and Senior Researcher in Law at the Centre for Climate Engagement, worked in partnership with independent cross-party parliamentary group Peers for the Planet to propose amendments to the then Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. These amendments aimed to empower local authorities to deliver climate action. More →
Video: Professor Robert Eccles on the Politicisation of ESG
10 Nov 2023
The Centre had the honour of hosting Professor Robert Eccles and welcoming over 100 academics, practitioners, and students in attendance for a public lecture on the politicisation of ESG. More →
Expert Briefing: Air pollution, health risks and climate change
14 Sep 2023
Air pollution is estimated to be responsible for around 28,000 premature deaths in the UK each year. Extreme heat associated with climate change can increase pollution levels and exacerbates the health effects of breathing polluted air. This briefing explores the links between climate change, air pollution and health and the need for a holistic approach to policy development. More →
Expert Briefing: Planning law, levelling-up, and net zero
07 Jul 2023
Policy Briefing by Dr Samuel Ruiz-Tagle on Planning Law, Levelling-up and Net Zero: Empowering planning authorities to combat climate change More →
Normative accounting for intangibles – a briefing for board directors from Rethinking Capital
05 Jul 2023
A briefing note for non-executive directors and boards on applying normative accounting for intangibles in net zero transition decision governance and reporting More →
Summary Report: International Conference on ESG and Climate Governance
30 Jun 2023
The International Conference on ESG and Climate Governance – a collaboration between Sim Kee Boon Institute (SKBI) for Financial Economics at Singapore Management University, the Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, and the Climate Governance… More →
Press Release: Inaugural International Conference on ESG and Climate Governance
06 Jun 2023
Joint-Media Release The inaugural International Conference on ESG and Climate Governance, bringing together academic experts, practitioners and board directors, will take place at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, between 26 and 28 June 2023. The conference is a global collaboration between… More →
Darwin College/Cambridge Zero David MacKay Research Associates 2023
15 May 2023
As part of the Secretariat for the Cambridge Zero Policy Form, the Centre for Climate Engagement is pleased to support the recruitment of non-stipendiary Research Associate positions for early career postdoctoral students. Darwin College and Cambridge Zero intend to appoint… More →
Slingshot