Laura Clarke OBE, named in the TIME100 Climate list of the most influential climate business leaders

ClientEarth’s CEO, Laura Clarke OBE, has been included in the TIME100 Climate list for 2024.   
 
This is the second year that TIME magazine has published its list of leaders around the world who are making meaningful and practical progress in addressing climate change, Laura appears alongside Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, Amy Bowers Cordalis, Founder of Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group, and Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada.  
 
See full list here.  
 
Laura joined ClientEarth in September 2022, after two decades in public policy, and in diplomatic roles across Africa, Asia and Europe. 

Since joining ClientEarth, Laura has overseen the launch of several high-profile cases, including a ground-breaking case against Shell’s Board of Directors for mismanaging climate risk, against Cargill for not addressing its links to deforestation and human rights abuses in the Amazon, and against the UK government – for the second time – over its inadequate climate plan. 

Under her leadership, the organisation has expanded its advocacy work to ensure the right legal frameworks are in place - whether the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, the EU Deforestation Regulation; or by drafting Poland’s first climate law. The organisation has also trained lawyers in the Philippines, judges in China, and supported community groups and Indigenous Peoples in using the law to protect their environment, and uphold their rights. 

Laura has also led ClientEarth’s growth in new markets, overseeing the establishment of an office in Japan, and the launch of the organisation’s litigation work in the United States. 
 
Laura Clarke OBE said:  
 
“I am humbled to be listed as one of the TIME100 Climate for 2024 among such a stellar group of climate leaders and activists. The climate and nature crises are the greatest challenges of our time, so it is heartening to have such an incredible group of people dedicating their lives to this work.  
 
ClientEarth is a remarkable organisation of creative, committed people who work day in, day out to protect the environment and hold organisations and governments to account.  
 
What excites me about ClientEarth is that we use the law – which is often seen as a tool to defend the vested interests of the status quo - in radically progressive ways, to leverage and catalyse the positive change we need. 
 
Right now, we have a team at COP29 pushing for the establishment of framework climate laws so that NDC commitments and emissions targets are operationalised and enshrined in law and not at the whim of changing governments. 
 
We need collective, co-ordinated action at scale – and pace – to protect our planet for future generations. ClientEarth is lucky to be part of a dynamic ecosystem of organisations and individuals that bolster and embolden one another.  It is this movement, which is growing by the day, that gives me the hope and determination that we will prevail.”