We bring together the power of people and the law to compel governments and corporations to take action on climate change.
Our mission
Our mission is to change the systems that are responsible for climate change by ensuring those in power stop locking us into a high-carbon, destructive economy. We are committed to ensuring legal action can facilitate the transition to a post-carbon, regenerative society that upholds human rights and achieves climate justice. In addition to focusing on reducing climate impact, we want to ensure legal action supports a transition to a society that is democratic, cooperative and regenerative.
Our impact and global reach
Grantmaking
Global
reach
Diverse
partners
Who we are
The Foundation for International Law for the Environment (FILE) is a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation working to accelerate legal action on climate change.
Through grant-making and in-house legal expertise, we empower our partners to deliver strategic, innovative legal interventions and we support lawyers in their own countries to bring their own cases.
Legal action can unlock the systemic changes in finance, policy and social systems needed to protect all of us from climate change. The power of the law is both direct (changing policy and practice) and indirect (signalling the wider shifts taking place across these systems).
FILE is a ‘regrantor’ - this means we do not bring legal action in our own name. We receive grants from our philanthropic donors (a small group of like-minded climate foundations) and make onwards grants to partners who align with FILE’s charitable aims and purposes. We do not seek to make any profit from our activities either in a relevant financial year or in the longer term.
Images: Turpin Samuel and Karen Toro, Climate Visuals Countdown