ClientEarth plans to double its staff in Asia by 2028, expanding its current team of 20 in the region as part of a push to scale its capacity-building work in the region.
The United Kingdom-headquartered environmental law charity, which has about 320 employees globally, is increasing its focus on Asia, where its work includes building financial levers for the energy transition in Japan and building capacity through green legal clinics in the Philippines.
Speaking at a panel discussion in Singapore on Wednesday, chief executive Laura Clarke said the organisation was in Singapore to fundraise and forge connections with supporters “who value the power of the law to affect change.”
As part of its expansion plan for the region, ClientEarth recently hired its first dedicated fundraiser for Asia, Filipina Mirabella Pulido, a move aimed at strengthening its financial base and supporting sustained growth in its regional operations.
ClientEarth launched in Asia in 2016, focusing on training judges in China in environmental law. The organisation has taken a “tailored approach” to Asia, focusing on capacity building rather than litigating against corporate polluters.
In the United States and Europe, ClientEarth has sued the directors of Shell over the energy giant’s climate strategy, filed a complaint against BlackRock regarding investment its portfolios, and targeted consumer goods firm Danone over plastic use.
Clarke said that while litigation may generate headlines, the collaborative approach is more effective in Asia and the organisation is focused on building trusting relationships with donors.
“We always want to work in a way that will have the most impact in any given region, and culturally litigation is not the way to do that here [in Asia],” she said.
