In this episode, I caught up with an old friend James Thornton – an Environmental lawyer, TED speaker, and the CEO and Founder of ClientEarth, a global non-profit environmental law organisation.

James’s legal strategies have led to groundbreaking legal victories in the fight against climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. His work at ClientEarth focuses on holding governments and corporations accountable for environmental harm.

He’s also an ordained Zen Buddhist priest and a prolific writer, and his new book, Nature My Teacher, is a collection of essays about our connection with the natural world.

Takeaways

• China’s ultra fast approach to environmental law
• Enforcing change through the law
• Reconnecting with nature to overcome climate anxiety

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(00:26) Inspiration for Client Earth

(03:55) Balancing law and compassion

(05:18) Dealing with anxiety and taking action

(09:40) Taking care of oneself: The Donkey

(13:09) Proudest cases at Client Earth

(17:10) Sources of cases

(18:58) Client Earth's work in china

(22:23) Using the law to enforce change

(25:02) Exploring the flow of money

(27:41) Message: Nature, My Teacher

Links:

Nature, My Teacher book

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nature-My-Teacher-Alive-Threat/dp/1909954934

Visit Client Earth's Website

https://www.clientearth.org/

Visit Ben’s Website:

https://bensaunders.com/

Subscribe to the New Frontiers Newsletter:

https://bensaunders.substack.com/podcast

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