Menu Clyde & Co. Search through site content What are you looking for? Global ▾ English ▾ Expertise Climate Change Risk Practice Clyde & Co has long been aware of the threats posed by climate change to our modern life. We’re here to help clients assess and manage the particular risks they face and successfully manage the transition to a low-carbon economy. Climate change is changing the rules of business. Traditional ways of determining the risks faced by a business are no longer adequate. Risk management tools and techniques may also no longer be fit for purpose. Companies need to re-think their entire approach to how they operate, and we are ideally placed to provide them with objective guidance. We specialise in reviewing long-term strategic objectives and assessing likely areas of risk. With our commitment to understanding the impact of climate change, this means we can help businesses to identify and quantify the threats it brings while incorporating business resilience into their corporate strategies. We can also help them understand the characteristics of a low carbon economy and grasp the opportunities it provides. Leading the response to climate change We are at the forefront of the climate change conversation because we have devoted energy and resources to the issue for many years. We correctly anticipated that climate change would be of paramount importance to our clients' businesses, and we have invested significantly in building a cross-disciplinary and cross-jurisdictional team with knowledge of climate change risks. We are an international full-service legal firm devoted to the sectors that build, move, power and protect our connected world, such as construction, aviation, energy, insurance and trade. That means we are focused on helping companies to understand and mitigate climate risks across industries, supply chains, and regions in a way other firms can't match. Three-tiered response to climate change When considering the risks facing a business as a consequence of climate change, we have a three-stage approach: Understand: we explain the risks you face today Prepare: we prepare you for the risks of tomorrow Evolve: we help your company evolve to capitalise on the opportunities created by the transition to a low-carbon economy. More specifically, our in-depth knowledge of climate risk can assist with: assisting with the production of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) or the completion of climate risk stress-testing mandated by regulators assessing and advising on exposure to liability under a changing regulatory landscape, including liability under financial services regulations, corporations law, financial disclosures, risk management, directors’ duties, environment and work health and safety supporting compliance, including with environmental regulation and disclosure requirements and assisting with crisis management in the event of breach developing due diligence frameworks, and reviewing policies and procedures, for assessing climate change risks to workforce, assets, operations and transactions advising on insurance coverage issues in light of climate-related exposure advising on litigation risks and acting in proceedings helping to identify opportunities for growth. We are also at the forefront of the renewable energy market, advising both companies and financiers across the renewable energy spectrum, including more traditional companies who are looking at growth in the renewables area. We have handled a range of global projects, from solar projects in Africa and offshore wind farms across Northern Europe, to gas fired projects in Asia Pacific and biomass in the UK. We have been involved in all aspects of the project lifecycle, from the initial regulatory and project planning phase, throughout financing, development and construction, and then into the O&M phase. For more information on this practice, please see here. Given the wide range of risks associated with climate change, there is no simple ‘one size fits all’ solution for companies. Law firms can play a vital role in creating a coherent long-term strategy to understand, mitigate and deal with these risks. Our knowledge, preparedness, strategic skills, networks and international experience can assist businesses to manage the risks they are facing today and prepare for the risks of tomorrow, while keeping sight of the opportunities created by the transition to a low-carbon economy. In the area of climate change liability and resilience, Clyde and Co are so far ahead of any other comparable firm. There are one or other climate liability specialists at other firms, but no organisation has Clyde’s collective and sustained focus, world-wide platform, research, thought leadership and practical, industry involvement. Client quote Clyde and Co has taken a notable lead among law firms in terms of highlighting the role of legal and regulatory approaches to increase the level of resilience across institutions and wider society and are now well placed as these issues enter mainstream focus with Covid-19 and a string of climate related events since 2017 including wildfires, hurricanes and floods. Client quote Our Climate Change Risk Work All Africa Americas Asia Pacific UK & Europe Australian bushfire rebuilding Advising a multinational construction company in regards to clean-up efforts for the 2019/2020 Australia bushfires, the extent of which is largely considered to have been exacerbated by climate change. We are advising on the planning approvals and environmental legislation relevant to carrying out the demolition and disposal works, and the way in which rebuilding efforts are carried out will have a long-term effect on the resiliency of communities. Australia Biomass power plant Advising a client on various legal issues relating to plans to build one of the world's largest biomass power plants United Kingdom Climate change coverage Helping a leading insurance company in reviewing its energy book in regards to the adequacy of existing wordings and the boundaries of existing products in regards to its future abilities to cover and insure climate change related risks. United Kingdom Climate resilience project Creating the UK legal structure to house the a unique industry led, public-private-partnership between the United Nations, the World Bank and industry that applies the capabilities of the insurance sector to address the climate resilience protection gap and wider objectives of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. United Kingdom Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment Engaged in the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investments (CCRI) with the UK Government & the World Economic Forum; backed by the Insurance Development Forum (IDF). The project has a financial, risk-pricing and global focus, and stresses the challenge in driving capital to most vulnerable contexts United Kingdom Construction defects Advising underwriters on flood damage to the insured's residential construction project in Texas. The matter addresses the liabilities of construction professionals for failure to adapt the design for climate change. United States COP25 pro bono As part of our climate change pro bono initiative, a Clyde & Co team of volunteers provided counsel and assistance to a legal charity focused on climate change during the 25th Conference of Parties (COP25) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Our volunteers manned the situation room in London and addressed a variety of enquiries, mostly from Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Issues addressed included the immunity and privileges of international organisations, long-term... United Kingdom Eco-development claims Advising on insurance claims regarding an "eco-development" that unfortunately wasn't as eco-friendly as expected. United Kingdom Expansion of electronic fleet Advising a global delivery and logistics company on the expansion of their electronic driverless fleet, demonstrating the legal input required to guide clients towards a lower carbon business model United Kingdom IMO2020 project Advising a global LNG company in a sizeable instruction regarding an engine conversion project in response to IMO2020 regulations, which change the types of fuels ships are allowed to use due to climate change considerations. We are providing guidance on how the client can adapt its business to the new regulations and advice in regards to this specific project. United Kingdom Load More Climate Change Risk insights Climate Change | Climate Change Risk Practice COP26 Summary report 30 November 2021 Report Climate Change | Climate Change Risk Practice Building Better Resilience: A Climate Change Guide for the Built Environment in the UK 30 November 2021 Report Projects & Construction Procurement in the Green Economy - Takeaways from the Webinar 26 November 2021 Resilience | Climate Change Risk Practice COP26 Briefing | Spotlight on transport at COP26 – Perspectives on key developments 18 November 2021 Resilience | Climate Change Risk Practice Greenwashing - The Real Risk to Companies’ Net Zero Commitments 18 November 2021 Resilience | Climate Change Risk Practice COP26 Briefing | Post-summit analysis: How successful has COP26 been in stepping up the fight again 17 November 2021 Resilience | Corporate Assessing modern governance with emerging ESG factors: Green targets and ‘greenwashing’ 15 November 2021 Climate Change: Managing the risks and regulation facing Australian Superannuation Funds Resilience Climate Change: Managing the risks and regulation facing Australian Superannuation Funds 12 November 2021 COP26 Briefing | Spotlight on climate change legislation and litigation during COP26 Podcast Resilience | Climate Change Risk Practice COP26 Briefing | Spotlight on climate change legislation and litigation during COP26 10 November 2021 COP26 Briefing | Spotlight on finance at COP26 – Perspectives on the key developments Podcast Resilience | Climate Change Risk Practice COP26 Briefing | Spotlight on finance at COP26 – Perspectives on the key developments 08 November 2021 View all Climate Change Risk insights Our Climate Change Risk team Franco Acchiardo Franco Acchiardo Partner Emma Ager Emma Ager Partner Lee Astfalck Lee Astfalck Partner Nicholas Bathurst Nicholas Bathurst Partner Neil Beresford Neil Beresford Partner Nigel Brook Nigel Brook Partner Jonathan Brown Jonathan Brown Partner Dean Carrigan Dean Carrigan Partner Bruce Celebrezze Bruce Celebrezze Partner Clare Hatcher Clare Hatcher Consultant Simon McConnell Simon McConnell Managing Partner Show more View all Climate Change lawyers Show more Clyde & Co LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales. 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