As global attention turns to COP30 in Brazil, the Law & Climate Atlas has been expanded to provide clear, accessible insights into how climate change is influencing different areas of law in Brazil, and how legal frameworks can help drive climate action.
Developed by the Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, and the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance (NZLA), the Law & Climate Atlas is a free online tool for anyone wishing to understand the impact of climate change on specific practice areas.
The Atlas draws on hundreds of cases, laws, and research papers to produce succinct overviews that illustrate how climate issues are reshaping legal practice and highlights the vital role of lawyers in supporting the transition to a net zero and climate-resilient economy. Available at lawclimateatlas.org, the Atlas explores key fields, such as human rights, securities and finance, tort, contract, international trade, taxation, supply chain considerations, and now covers three jurisdictions: the United Kingdom, the United States, and Brazil.
Climate-aligned law is crucial in Brazil, where the legal system underpins efforts to balance development, conservation, and indigenous rights. As guardian of the Amazon, Brazil’s federal courts play a growing role in enforcing environmental protections and constitutional rights. Climate litigation has surged, with civil society, prosecutors, and indigenous groups challenging deforestation, policy rollbacks, and failures to meet international commitments. Recent rulings—such as restoring the Climate Fund and halting illegal forest clearance—highlight how the judiciary is shaping Brazil’s climate action. This evolving legal landscape makes the rule of law a cornerstone of the country’s contribution to global sustainability.
The Brazilian edition of the Atlas includes chapters on the following areas of law:
Administrative law
Antitrust law
Climate change litigation
Company Law (coming soon)
Consumer law
Energy law
Environmental law (coming soon)
Public international law (coming soon)
Tax law (coming soon)
Trade law
This edition has been developed in collaboration with two leading Brazilian law firms — Mattos Filho and Trench Rossi Watanabe. Each section was reviewed by an academic with subject matter expertise, representing institutions including the Federal University of Ceará, University of Caxias do Sul, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, and University of São Paulo in Brazil, and the University of Cambridge and University College London in the UK.
The CCE and NZLA will hold a free webinar in December 2025 to discuss the relevance of climate change to law in Brazil, and explore how lawyers can navigate critical changes in their clients’ operating environment, playing and active and enabling role in the transition to net zero. The Atlas will also be discussed at the Climate Law and Governance Day on Friday 15 November 2025, by CCE’s Nick Scott, who will speak at the session Building Capacity for High Ambition NDC Implementation.
Alessandra Lehmen – a Brazilian and New York-qualified Lawyer, Law Professor, and Co-Chair of the Climate Law and Governance Initiative (CLGI) – said:
“The Law & Climate Atlas is an invaluable resource for those who want to better understand how climate change influences different areas of law, and it is with great enthusiasm that I welcome the publication of its Brazilian edition. The Atlas explores the transversal features of Climate Law in a way that allows the reader to grasp how it influences, and is influenced by, different fields of law: from Environmental Law to Corporate Law; from Trade Law to Insurance Law; and many more. It’s a must-read for practitioners and academics alike.”
Alessandra Lehmen
About the Law and Climate Atlas
The Atlas launched in Summer 2022, with 16 chapters focused on the UK. Since then, the Atlas has expanded to include more practice areas and additional jurisdictions, as well as globally significant developments. The Atlas now includes 50 chapters across the UK, US and Brazil, with additional chapters focused on the EU launching later in 2025.
The Atlas has been showcased at leading climate and legal events, including COP27, COP28, London Climate Action Week, New York Climate Week, IBA Annual Conferences, COP29, and the UNFCCC SB62 in Bonn. Panels have been hosted by the International Bar Association, UNFCCC, American Bar Association, Brazilian Bar Association, CISDL Secretariat, and King’s College London.
It has over 25,000 views from users across 100+ countries. In addition to being used in day-to-day practice, the Atlas is frequently used to build the climate change capability of legal professionals. For example, the Atlas is:
- used to inform practitioner-focused networks and resources including the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance and LexisNexis
- actively used in teaching at the University of Cambridge and other academic institutions
- an input into The Chancery Lane Project’s practical training
- used to build capacity within law firms’ internal training
- featured in CPD-accredited sessions with bar associations worldwide.
Cited in 10+ academic journals, listed on the IBA Climate Registry and featured in professional publications, the Atlas is a trusted, authoritative resource advancing climate-competent legal practice globally.
The CCE plans to expand the Atlas to other regions in the future and welcomes expressions of interest from possible international collaborators.
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