ClientEarth
Impact Sector
Restoring Nature
Type of Strategy
Influence
Project Location
Europe
In a nutshell
What we eat, where it comes from and how it arrives on our plates lies right at the heart of tackling the climate crisis. The global food system is destructive by design, using up land and ocean on an immense scale. Change begins with reforming the legal systems that govern it – and doing this in the right way will have a lasting impact on our planet and our health. ClientEarth uses the power of the law to bring systemic change to Europe’s food system: to ensure that everyone can access safe, nutritious and sustainable food, that doesn’t come at a cost to nature or our climate.
Climate Problem
“Food systems” create over one fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and are an urgent priority when it comes to climate mitigation. The over-exploitation of land and sea for food production causes biodiversity loss, and puts pressure on Europe’s soils and waters.
Pesticides, fertilisers and plastics are huge drivers of pollution that are also linked to health issues, such as cancer, diabetes and infertility. There is no easy fix: food systems are a complex web of production, transport, manufacturing, retailing, consumption and waste of food.
The EU is one of the biggest global importers and exporters of food. In 2020, the EU agri-food trade reached a total value of €306 billion. As one of the biggest players in the global market, the EU should set high standards that will revolutionise its food systems, and have global impact.
Some EU countries are making efforts towards regulating food systems, but it’s one thing to make legislation and another to see it enforced. ClientEarth pushes for laws that are comprehensive, effective, and enforceable. This means smart legislative design, and holding governments to account.
Project Solution
Transforming our food systems is key to fighting climate change, safeguarding biodiversity and protecting human health. ClientEarth is working towards legal frameworks in the EU that will guarantee all food is produced through sustainable, transparent and traceable supply chains.
This project will help to shape, implement, and enforce those necessary laws. As a result, products such as agricultural crops, meat, seafood and forest commodities (e.g., soy and coffee) will be produced through environmentally sustainable methods.
To increase the laws’ impact and resilience, ClientEarth will build and contribute to effective environmental governance.
With your support the organisation will be able to recruit a new lawyer for its agriculture team and develop and implement litigation strategies across Spain, France and Italy, while ensuring that its work has the most profound impact possible.
“ClientEarth’s approach is all about finding leverage points – where a small group of determined people trigger broad and lasting change. With limited resources but abundant expertise, knowledge and creativity.”
- Operational since 2007
- Team of 230 employees globally
- Headquarters in London, UK
About the organisation
ClientEarth’s mission is to use the power of law to protect life on earth, through bringing about systemic change. To do so, they work in partnerships across borders, systems and sectors. They ensure that environmental laws are implemented and enforced, and make the law more accessible for those who would benefit from its protection. ClientEarth also advises decision-makers on policy development, and provides training to legal and judicial professionals.
How your donation helps
ClientEarth is ready to launch a new strategy that will drive fundamental change in Europe’s food systems through its innovative and strategic use of the law. Your support will fund the legal experts putting this into action, helping them to design and push for the reforms needed to strengthen legal frameworks across all stages of food production and consumption.
In doing so, you can help Europe to embrace a model of sustainable food production that works for the long-term. The end goal is to see European residents accessing safe, nutritious and sustainable food without damaging nature and our climate.
Food production compatible with a healthy planet: ClientEarth develops robust and ambitious cross-sectoral legal frameworks, which support rather than hinder the transition to a sustainable food system.
The EU enforces effective measures that will obligate companies to mitigate adverse impacts on human rights, health and environment throughout their value chain. Companies are prohibited from making vague claims about environmental performance.
ClientEarth holds corporations and public authorities accountable for the full life cycle impacts of their activities and their green claims. They will file lawsuits on soil, air and water pollution caused by agricultural activities not complying with EU standards.
Why we chose the project
"ClientEarth is determined to see Europe’s agricultural and commercial practices transformed, by making them transparent and sustainable at all stages of production. With over 14 years of experience and successes, the organisation is uniquely placed to hold governments and businesses accountable."
Dr. Johannes Lundershausen
Senior Climate Advisor, Active Philanthropy
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KEY SUPPORTER
Grow
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Flourish
CLIMATE CHAMPION
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Meet the people behind the project, ask your questions, and build connection (online)
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ClientEarth
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