Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative

The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) is a United Kingdom-based nonprofit organization dedicated to examining and clarifying the legal responsibilities of company directors, trustees, and fiduciaries in relation to climate change and environmental risks. Registered as a charity with the number 1203501, CCLI provides authoritative legal research, opinions, and practical tools to support responsible corporate governance with respect to climate-related and biodiversity-related issues.

Mission and Objectives

CCLI's core mission is to connect climate science, economics, and existing laws to guide how directors and trustees should consider, manage, and report on climate change and broader environmental risks and opportunities within their corporate and investment governance frameworks. By doing so, the initiative aims to minimize directors’ and officers’ personal legal liability while promoting sustainable economic transition efforts.

Activities and Outputs

• Research and Legal Analysis: CCLI undertakes comprehensive legal analysis on how prevailing statutory and common law in Commonwealth countries applies to environmental and climate-related decision-making by company leadership.

• Practical Tools and Guidance: The organization produces practical resources such as the Directors’ Duties Navigator: Climate Risk and Sustainability Disclosures, a comprehensive tool that explains directors’ legal duties regarding climate risk across 34 jurisdictions. Developed with the Climate Governance Initiative and over 80 legal experts, this navigator helps directors and their advisors understand their obligations.

• Legal Opinions and Handbooks: CCLI issues independent and authoritative legal opinions and handbooks to promote responsible conduct by empowering directors and trustees to act on climate and nature-related risks, dependencies, and impacts.

Partnerships and Support

The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative was founded in collaboration with prominent partners including the University of Oxford's Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, ClientEarth, and Accounting for Sustainability. It has strong partnerships with organizations such as the Climate Governance Initiative, and its work is supported by funding from foundations such as the KR Foundation and the IVEY Foundation, which focus on climate change and sustainable economic transition respectively.

Geographic Focus

While focused primarily within Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, and others, CCLI’s legal research and tools have broad relevance, addressing global climate governance challenges through the lens of common law and statutory frameworks in these jurisdictions.

Impact and Recognition

CCLI is recognized as a leading entity in clarifying and advancing the legal duties of corporate directors regarding environmental stewardship. Its work helps boards navigate the complex regulatory and legal landscape related to climate accountability and sustainable governance, enhancing corporate resilience and compliance with emerging climate disclosure standards.

The initiative continues to collaborate with legal experts, academics, and governance bodies to refine and expand its resources, contributing to climate accountability in the corporate sector across the Commonwealth and beyond.

[1] https://commonwealthclimatelaw.org [2] https://www.worldbenchmarkingalliance.org/wba-allies/commonwealth-climate-and-law-initiative/ [3] https://www.commonwealthlawyers.com/cla/the-commonwealth-climate-and-law-initiative-ccli-and-pollination-share-a-landmark-new-legal-opinion-nature-related-risks-and-directors-duties-under-the-law-of-england-and-wales/ [4] https://altiorem.org/organisation/commonwealth-climate-and-law-initiative/ [5] https://hub.climate-governance.org/collection/principle-1