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Why is China appointing judges to combat climate change?

1,779,506 views |

James K. Thornton |

Countdown Summit

• October 2021

Why is China appointing thousands of judges to environmental courts and training prosecutors to bring cases to them, even if it means suing the government? Eco-lawyer James Thornton takes us inside the country's growing effort to use the power of the courts to address environmental problems -- a little-known story that indicates China could become a champion of legal action on climate.

Why is China appointing thousands of judges to environmental courts and training prosecutors to bring cases to them, even if it means suing the government? Eco-lawyer James Thornton takes us inside the country's growing effort to use the power of the courts to address environmental problems -- a little-known story that indicates China could become a champion of legal action on climate.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Follow ClientEarth to see how they reform, shape and implement the law to better protect the environment.

About the speaker

James Thornton

Eco-lawyer and author

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James Thornton is an authority on the power of the law to create change and the founder of ClientEarth, a nonprofit law firm using advocacy and litigation to address the climate crisis.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Follow ClientEarth to see how they reform, shape and implement the law to better protect the environment.