Thom Wetzer, Associate Professor of Law and Finance and Director of the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme, guest edited the European Corporate Governance Institute’s latest Blog Review. Titled “Governance & Climate Change,” the Review explores the “pivotal questions that boardrooms across the globe will have to address in the years ahead.” 

Dr Thom Wetzer commented on the rise of climate lawsuits and the risks these post to investors in The National. "The more money that flows in, the more likely the litigation is to be professionally organised and the more likely it will succeed. And the more these cases succeed, the more money comes in … It’s a flywheel,” he said.  

Investors will be increasingly subject to direct climate litigation risk in 2024, reports ESG investor. The article cites research by Associate Professor Thom Wetzer and the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme, which found that investors are largely "flying blind" to the increasing risks. 

Research by the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme (SLP) found that investors and regulators have seriously overlooked the risk of potential climate lawsuits. "The research is relevant to all investors, including the University of Oxford," said Associate Professor Thom Wetzer. 

Failing to assess legal risks could lead investors and regulators to back the wrong projects, according to research by the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme. Associate Professor Thom Wetzer told Politico that it was "shock to realise" that these risks are largely missing from climate risk estimates.

Dr Ben Franta writes on how, according to a report by Greenpeace Italy and advocacy group ReCommon, Italian oil major Eni knew of the climate impacts of fossil fuel extraction since 1970.

A group of 16 youth climate activists won a remarkable victory in court against the state of Montana in the United States this week. “As other branches of government continue to show inadequate action, the judiciary offers glimmers of hope for those seeking to halt the climate catastrophe unfolding before us,” said Dr Benjamin Franta.