A new research hub of the Canada Climate Law Initiative will provide guidance to corporate and pension boards on effective climate governance.
A new research hub housed at the Centre for Business Law at the Allard School of Law is working in cooperation with Osgoode Hall Law School at York University and Oxford University to provide organizations with timely and critical guidance on effective climate governance.
The Canada Climate Law Initiative (CCLI) Knowledge Mobilization and Policy Hub will build on the research and knowledge strengths of the CCLI to scale up work with corporate and pension boards, and support further research on fiduciary obligation and the duties of care and prudence. The Hub will also hold timely and relevant webinars to advance climate governance and will meet with federal and provincial policymakers and regulators to advance policy that will help Canada’s economy transition to net zero emissions.
“At this critically important stage, when there is an urgent need to tackle climate change, reduce Canada’s carbon emissions to net zero and move towards a circular economy, it is also essential to work in partnership with other universities and networks to embed effective climate governance in law, policy, and board practice,” says Dr. Janis Sarra, Allard School of Law.
Dr. Sarra, along with Dr. Carol Liao, Allard School of Law and Director of the Centre for Business Law, and Professor Cynthia Williams, Osgoode Hall Law School, are the Principal co-Investigators for this research hub.
CCLI’s expanded mandate will allow it to become fully bilingual, bringing both a Director and Communication Manager on board full-time. The new Hub will work to create a coordinated strategy among organizations working in climate governance, providing the needed legal expertise within this space.
Read the announcement.
About the CCLI
The CCLI is a cooperative initiative between the law and business faculties of UBC, York University, and Oxford University that examines the legal basis for corporate directors, officers and pension fiduciaries to consider, manage, and report on climate-related financial risks and opportunities, exploring the scope of fiduciary obligation. CCLI works with lawyers, economists, scholars, directors, pension trustees, asset managers and other institutional investors to share knowledge about best oversight practices that can guide boards in effectively managing the move towards a sustainable net zero carbon economy. The initiative has also contributed to policy development over the past three years, including having some of its recommendations adopted by the Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance.
CCLI’s flagship initiative is the Canadian Climate Governance Experts program, offering pro bono sessions to corporate and pension boards on effective governance to address climate-related financial risks and opportunities. CCLI’s 55 Canadian Climate Governance Experts include lawyers, accountants, capital markets experts, company executives, and others volunteering their time to give directors, officers and pension fiduciaries the most helpful information regarding how the current state of climate science relates to their sector and to their legal duties.
CCLI is the Canadian partner of the global Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative, Oxford University, UK, aimed at expanding knowledge on climate change and effective governance globally. The CCLI is generously funded by UBC and York University, and The McConnell Foundation, The Jarislowsky Foundation, Ivey Foundation, Trottier Family Foundation, and North Family Foundation, under the auspices of the Clean Economy Fund.
