Client Earth

‘[A] great book about how to save the planet using the long arm of the law.’

* Coldplay *

‘A hopeful book about the environment and a page-turner about the law.’

* The Guardian *

‘This book is an inspiration for those of us trying to build a sustainable future – and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to know how and why we must deploy and enforce the law in the fight against ecological destruction.’

-- Caroline Lucas

‘ClientEarth have been pioneers in using the tool of environmental legislation to tackle the modern scourge of air pollution. This is the story of how they're doing it.’

-- Ed Miliband

‘Client Earth provides a tantalizing glimpse of how a variety of strategies can converge to create a global environmental enforcement effort.’

* Nature *

‘When compassion for life on Earth, or call it fury at the everyday and casual destruction of our stunning biosphere, when these two powers are honed by these exceptional environmental lawyers to a fierce and fine point, change happens, and the world is a better place for it. Humanity's grace and dignity are restored each time a case is successfully brought and won — it is truly a global battle fought between the mindless proponents of tragedy, and the (sometimes extremely) courageous proponents of hope.

Read this book.’

-- Emily Young

'This excellent book shows how it is possible to use the law to hold politicians to the promises that they make when they sign agreements on environmental and climate change.’

-- Peter Wadhams, Professor of Ocean Physics, University of Cambridge

‘The story of ClientEarth – and of its charismatic Founder, James Thornton – is truly inspirational. His only client is our battered, abused planet, and his favoured arsenal is the rule of law in defense of public interest. The hard-fought victories that you’ll hear about are all important, but more important still are the vision, values and gritty dedication of an amazing group of lawyers and campaigners to whom we owe a very great deal.’

-- Jonathon Porritt

‘Can lawyers save the planet?  Musty court rooms may be less romantic than hugging trees and less dramatic than accosting whalers on the high seas, but the answer may be yes.  And guess what, lawyers can hug trees and have a lyrical turn of phrase, too.’

-- Fred Pearce
‘Really inspirational.' * Anthony Giddens *

‘For an inspiring account of how social entrepreneurialism and ingenuity can make great strides in holding governments to account, this volume is well worth reading.’

* Hackney Citizen *

‘An inspiring read. It shows how the law is not just within the gift of the authorities to wield. Engaged citizens can do it too.’

* E&T *

‘The book is inspirational in a hard headed, let's go to work-and-get-real-results sort of way … There's a global vision. It's quietly amazing. One of the more significant books of the year.’

* Oxford Today *

‘When Ronald Reagan appointed Anne Gorsuch (mother of the newest Supreme Court justice, Neil Gorsuch) to head the EPA, he asked if she was willing to ‘bring it to its knees’. She slashed its budget and, as the New York Times put it, ‘sabotaged the agency’s enforcement effort’. In response, James Thornton, a crusading lawyer, brought private actions to hold polluters to account. In 1982, while the EPA brought 14 cases against industries under the Clean Water Act, Thornton brought sixty.’

* Frederick Wilmot-Smith *

‘Anyone with an interest in environmental activism and environmental law will take pleasure in this vigorous account of justice in the making.’

* Kirk