Overview
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is an international non-profit organisation founded in 1989. It works to advance environmental protection and human rights through the application of international law, aiming to support a just and sustainable society.
CIEL operates globally, with offices in Washington, DC and Geneva, and focuses on linking environmental challenges with legal and policy solutions grounded in justice and equity.
Mission and focus areas
CIEL’s mission is to use legal frameworks to protect the environment, promote human rights and ensure sustainable development. Its work spans key areas including climate and energy, environmental health, fossil fuel impacts, and land and resource rights.
The organisation contributes to sustainable finance and ESG by analysing financial flows, exposing risks linked to fossil fuel investments, and advocating for corporate accountability. It also develops legal strategies that connect environmental harm, human rights violations and financial decision-making.
Structure and governance
CIEL operates as a non-governmental organisation with a team of legal experts, policy specialists and researchers. Its leadership includes a President and CEO, supported by a Board of Trustees that guides governance and strategic direction.
The organisation collaborates extensively with civil society groups, international institutions and local communities. It also runs internship and fellowship programmes to build capacity in environmental law and advocacy.
Programs and offerings
CIEL delivers research, legal analysis, advocacy and capacity-building initiatives. Its outputs include reports on climate change, plastics, corporate accountability and environmental health, often used in policy debates and litigation.
The organisation also supports communities through legal tools, training and partnerships, helping them engage in environmental governance and defend their rights. These resources provide finance and sustainability professionals with insights into legal risks, regulatory trends and responsible investment considerations.
Our mission
Since 1989, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) has used the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. CIEL seeks a world where the law reflects the interconnection between humans and the environment, respects the limits of the planet, protects the dignity and equality of each person, and encourages all of earth’s inhabitants to live in balance with each other.
CIEL pursues its mission through legal research and advocacy, education and training, with a focus on connecting global challenges to the experiences of communities on the ground. In the process, we build and maintain lasting partnerships with communities and non-profit organizations around the world.
