The law is vital to tackling climate change. Ambitious legislation sets a framework through which the public and private sectors can help drive the net zero transition, and there are a growing number of paths to holding these actors to account through climate litigation. These steps are crucial but can have long timescales, so it is also important to understand how to leverage existing legislation and use other legal tools such as contracts to address the climate crisis.
Despite far-reaching impacts on every area of law, many lawyers are unaware of how their practice may change during the climate transition, or still treat climate change as an issue for environmental legal specialists. The Centre’s ‘Law for Climate Action’ programme aims to grow and disseminate expertise in the University of Cambridge and beyond to help all lawyers navigate the net zero transition.
Law and Climate Atlas
An online resource to help lawyers drive the transition to net zero.

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