Laura Clarke has been the CEO of environmental non-profit organisation ClientEarth since September 2022. 

ClientEarth works in more than 60 countries, using the law to “bring about systemic change that protects the Earth”.

It has recently been involved in high-profile climate litigation cases, such as against Brazil’s Devastation Bill, against Shell’s board of directors for “failing to move away from fossil fuels fast enough” and against Cargill for “its failure to adequately deal with its contribution to soy-driven deforestation”. 

Additionally, ClientEarth joined others in successfully taking the UK government to court in 2024, arguing that its climate strategy was “not fit-for-purpose and, therefore, breaches the UK Climate Change Act”. 

Clarke joined the organisation after spending two decades in diplomatic roles across Africa, Asia and Europe, including being British high commissioner to New Zealand, governor of the Pitcairn Islands and high commissioner to Samoa.

This conversation was recorded with Carbon Brief Editor, Leo Hickman, at Client Earth's Office in London in  September 2025. 

Our Creative Commons license: you are welcome to reproduce original material unadapted in full for non-commercial use, credited ‘Carbon Brief’ with a link to the original article. Please contact us for commercial use.

https://www.carbonbrief.org

Music credit: Into Infinity artists Unrecognisable Now, Naohito Uchiyama, Languis (CC BY-NC 3.0 US).

The Carbon Brief Interview: Laura Clarke

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi discusses subsidies for carbon capture and storage (CCS) with Sheila Olmstead, a professor at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and a senior faculty fellow at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Olmstead evaluates the complicated nature of the 45Q policy, a federal subsidy available to firms that implement CCS. While CCS subsidy programs promote the reduction of carbon emissions, Olmstead identifies these subsidies as having the potential to financially burden the federal government, discourage clean energy projects, and motivate more pollution.

References and recommendations:

“How to design better incentives for carbon capture and storage in the United States” by Sheila M. Olmstead, Benjamin D. Leibowicz, Charles F. Mason, Andrew R. Waxman, Emily Grubert, HR Huber-Rodriguez, and Joseph Stemmler; https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2404677122

“Night Watch” by Jayne Anne Phillips; https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/540650/night-watch-pulitzer-prize-winner-by-jayne-anne-phillips/

Airing New Concerns with US Carbon Capture Policies, with Sheila Olmstead

On Saturday, tens of thousands joined Make Billionaires Pay marches across the United States. As world leaders gather in New York City to discuss climate action and peace at the United Nations, the protestors called to: Shut down billionaires. Make Polluters Pay. The money to solve the climate crisis already exists — it’s just in the wrong hands. The U.S. government showers the fossil fuel industry with $35 billion in giveaways every year. In part one of our coverage, we hear from Eagle Woman (Kandi White) of the Indigenous Environmental Network; Lt. Governor Antonia Delgado; Will Reagan of Extinction Rebellion; No Data Center for Billionaires; Tom Gogan of Move the Money NYC Campaign; and Taher Dahleh of the Palestinian Youth Movement. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Make Billionaires Pay NYC March Part 1

On Saturday, tens of thousands joined Make Billionaires Pay marches across the United States. As world leaders gather at the UN in New York City to discuss climate action and peace, 20000 took to the street to call to Shut down billionaires and Make Polluters Pay. In part 2 of our coverage, we hear from Jodi Evans of Code Pink, Katie McConnell of DSA; John Hocevar, Ocean Campaign Director of Greenpeace; Leslie Cagan, Tamika Middleton of the Women’s March; Wendy Frank; and Jeff Gold of Citizen Action. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Make Billionaires Pay NYC March Part 2

Before we jump into this Gemini-generated DEEP DIVE into climate breakdown, ponderosa pine trees, and the increase of Dwarf Misteltoe infestations killing trees, here’s a little climate meditation I rehearse everyday while doing composition and photography fieldwork in the high alpine WALLOWAS; it helps me “keep WOKE”, ear widen open, so to speak, and focus my energy:

RIGHT ACTION IN THE FACE OF RUNAWAY CLIMATE CHANGE.

The root of Climate Change isn't carbon; It's the destructive nature of thought itself.

I wrongly divide myself from the world; Everything other I either ignore or fear, or seek to control or destroy.

The Geometry of Life is not two guns pointed at each other; it's a circle. 

We’re all Brothers & Sisters, you & I, the Rock, the River, the Tree, the Sky.

Our war against Nature, against ourselves, only ends with a revolution of thought and consciousness.

IMAGE: Dwarf Misteltoe infestation on Ponderosa Pine at 1300m, WALLOWAS, OREGON

Climate’s Deadly Grip, or an increase of Dwarf Misteltoe on Ponderosa Pine In the WALLOWAS

The basic idea of CLIMATE BREAKDOWN Reports is to use the power of AI to generate the kind of urgent, ethical, science-based journalism that a real climate emergency demands. 

In the summer of 2024 I did a bike-hiking tour of Idaho that lasted 120 days with 80 different camps. I was especially interested in exploring the Snake River, Clearwater & Salmon River watersheds. On the ground from the climate breakdown perspective, the effects of a hotter drier climate can be seen everywhere, noticeably with declining snowpack—down 50% since 1950–together with declining mountain forest health. This is especially self-evident when you travel at a slow, natural, I would say more human pace from Mount Borah—at 3859 meters, the highest point of Idaho—on around to the West through the magnificent Craters of the Moon National Park, and then up North again along the Big Wood River into the world-famous Sun Valley. 

I was especially struck by the barren general aspect of Mount Baldy, at 2800 meters the center of Sun Valley‘s ski industry. It has an historical reputation of being an anomalously rich snowfall area. But one glance to it’s south facing aspect is enough to convince an over-the-hill mountaineering skier like me that this can’t possibly be the case, at least not in the new hotter drier climate. (Its more recent wildfire history would also confirm this view, but that is the subject of another report… ) interviews with local skiers revealed that Baldy is now sustained by more than 900 snow cannons, a figure almost twice as high as that cited in the GEMINI-generated AI audio clip below. But that’s just a detail. The fact that commercial media does not want us to see is that commercial skiing is now unsustainable. With great emphasis, I would like to add that this deception—whether deliberate or not—is in “perfect harmony“ with the nonstop undeniably  objective reality of Hydrocarbon Man Car-Culture that roars 24-7 along the still beautiful, eminently bike-friendly, State Highway 75.

So with this as background, let us listen to our Deep Dive about engineering our way out of the snow pack decline problem not just with snow cannons, but now with larger scale cloud seeding weather modification techniques.  

CLOUD SEEDING, or when the ILLUSION OF CONTROL becomes reality…

This week we are on the ground in New York to cover the 80th United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week. 

Our discussion breaks down President Donald Trump’s address at the summit, where he called climate change a hoax, denounced Europe’s energy policies, and focused on the urgent need to address uncontrolled migration.

The global drive for emissions reduction is moving forward despite the Trump administration's stance on climate action, with high emitters, including China, submitting their Nationally Determined Contributions, or their climate action plans to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To dig into these stories and catch up on what’s happening at UNGA80, senior editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with senior global reporter Colum Lynch and global development reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. 

Note on episode: David Lammy’s current title is deputy prime minister, not prime minister as mentioned in the episode.

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters:
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This Week in Global Dev: #114: UNGA80: Trump, climate, and the biggest headlines from the summit

A satirical eco-anthem blending electronica with a punchy rock edge. Sung by Delphine Music “Whatever Happened to Life” is a tongue-in-cheek but heartfelt call to save our planet before it’s too late.
Lyrics
Every thing today is so stereotyped
Every thing you hear is so super hyped
Every where you go things are the same.
It one long systematic game.

Every town you go to are the same shops
On the shelves their selling all the same props
There’s no longer service with a smile,
I really wonder if it all worth while

Whatever happened to originality?
Whatever happened to life?
Whatever happened to you & me?
Whatever happened to life?

They’re churning it all out in the factories
They’re burning up our oil and chopping down our trees.
There’s nothing left for our children to find
They’re using it all up leaving nothing behind

And just so that they can make more from sales
They’re killing of our tigers and killing our whales
Soon all the animals will be extinct.
Why can’t we follow our own instincts?

Whatever happened to our earth?
Whatever happened to life?
Whatever happened to Mother Nature?
Whatever happened to life?

Now someone has build the ultimate bomb
Every thing we know now has gone
Were we so very blind?
We couldn’t see the end mankind

Whatever happened to our world?
Whatever happened to life?
Whatever happened to the human race?
Whatever happened to life?

Download Here

What ever happened to life

On Saturday September 20, an estimated twenty thousand activists marched down Park Avenue and turned down Billionaires' Row toward Trump Tower to “Make Billionaires Pay,” calling for climate justice, democracy, free speech, gender equality, a stop to the Trump's immigration crackdown and a ceasefire in Gaza. A common theme was that a small, elite class of the wealthy and powerful consistently prioritized profits over people's lives. Demonstrations took place around the world ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week. Ten years after the Paris climate accords, countries have continued to increase their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, fueling more frequent extreme weather events. The Trump administration has been rolling back critical environmental rules, seeking to allow oil and coal industries to pollute even more. He has sought to impose authoritarian rule, while massively increasing funding for ICE as it kidnaps immigrants across the country. In part 3 of our coverage, we hear from Pat Almarode of Third Act New York City; and Marlena Fontes of Climate Defenders. We also hear from the press conference before the march, starting with Tamika Middleton of the Women’s March, who was the emcee, followed, through interpreters, Consuelo Ramirez of the Fort Bend Coalition for Justice and Bangladesh immigrant Hasan Bechu of Drum Rising Up and Moving, concluding with Taher Dehleh of the Palestinian Youth Movement. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Make Billionaires Pay NYC March Part 3

“Compost Capital” is a dark industrial techno-rap protest anthem that takes aim at capitalism’s destruction of the earth. With pounding bass, distorted synths, and chantable hooks, it calls out oceans choking on plastic, skies bleeding smoke, and forests falling to greed. Raw, rebellious, and eco-political, the track tears down profit-driven systems and reclaims the soil with fire, roots, and resistance. Compost the system and let something real grow!

Lyrics:
All your profit? Trash.
Compost that.

yeah

Oceans choking, plastic veins,
Skyline bleeding toxic rains.
You sell the world, but the bill won’t clear,
Compost capital, the end is near.

No barcode, no brand, no lie to sell,
We'll grow our freedom from the soil of your hell!

Compost capital.
Rot it down.
From the ashes, we break this crown.
Compost capital
Earth reborn.
We rise with fire from the corporate storm.

Compost Capital

Air is burning, lungs on loan,
Forests falling, roots ungrown.
You can’t drink gold, can’t eat your greed,
We plant the future and nourish the seed!

No barcode, no brand, no lie to sell,
We'll grow our freedom from the soil of your hell!

Compost capital.
Rot it down.
From the ashes, we break this crown.
Compost capital
Earth reborn.
We rise with fire from the corporate storm.

Trash your plastic, break your chains.
Seeds are power, not your gains.
Oceans screaming, forests cry.
Compost capital
Let it die!

Compost capital.

Capital
Rot it down.
From the ashes, we break this crown.
Capital
Earth reborn.
We rise with fire from the corporate storm.

Compost Capital

Compost capital

Rot 

Rot

Rot 

Compost Capital

Carbon Brief reports on the latest developments and media coverage of climate science and energy policy, with a particular focus on the UK. We produce news coverage, analysis and factchecks, and publish a daily and weekly email briefing. 

~  ROYALTY FREE MUSIC - SUPPORTING CHARITIES ~ 
Based in Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales,
Eirianlys Music is a Small, Personal Independent Studio that Writes, Records & Produces a Myriad of Unique & Different ROYALTY FREE Albums Supporting Children's Charities.

*** MAIN Charity: Supporting Hope House/Tŷ Gobaith Hospices ***
https://www.hopehouse.org.uk/
https://www.hopehouse.org.uk/ty-gobaith
Twitter X : @HHTGhospices

Second Charity: BBC CHILDREN IN NEED
Twitter X: @BBCCiN

Composer. Writer. Photographer. Former conductor & founder of the ASKO ensemble.

On a bike/ski/hike trek of the Pacific Northwest studying native plants & climate breakdown 🌲 from sagebrush sea to whitebark pine. Composing off-grid the whole way.

#Sun2Sound 🌕 on Bluesky

THINKING LIKE A STONEPINE, a soundpoem manifesto https://vimeo.com/844665859

“LOVE & WATER, three thought poems w/ coda, PHAROS for small orchestra, “Nightwind”” https://vimeo.com/847079690 

CURRENTLY on mt bike/ski/climbing trek through Pacific Northwest, working on a photobook about WHITEBARK PINE COLLAPSE and CLIMATE CRISIS. BASES in the WALLOWAS | AMSTERDAM | ALPS. 

WEEKLY photo/poetry updates at www.picture-poems.com & THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE new music, poetry & dance performance project at www.cs-music.com

ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT for progressive, tech-savy, instrumental virtuosi interested in dialogue & collaborative undertakings.

CONTACT cliff@picture-opoems.com
Or on SKYPE or FACETIME @cliffcrego

MUSIC? The one thing humans do,
that makes the rest of nature jealous.

Dream Christine is the voice of ethereal rebellion and ritual awakening—a creator weaving together darkwave, gothic ballads, cinematic soundscapes, and industrial grit. Her music is a journey through shadow and light, fusing ancient themes of surrender and power with modern dystopian visions.

Drawing from personal experiences of grief, loss, resilience, and spiritual transformation, Dream Christine’s songs are intimate, raw, and unflinching—blending haunting vocals, tribal drums, and layered synths to create immersive sonic rituals.

She embraces both organic and digital tools—integrating AI-assisted production techniques as a modern instrument, while remaining the primary producer, writer, and creative force behind every track. From the cyberpunk streets of Neon God to the ritual chambers of her ballads, Dream Christine stands at the crossroads of past and future, crafting music that ignites the soul and challenges the system.

🔥 Welcome to the threshold. The light, the dark, and everything between. 🔥

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Thanks to listeners like you, the Sanctuary is able to use art and participatory action to promote social and environmental justice and freedom of creative expression.

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Resources Radio is a weekly podcast by Resources for the Future. Each week we talk to leading experts about climate change, electricity, ecosystems, and more, making the latest research accessible to everyone.

New tracks tagged #Climate