ClientEarth Investor Briefing

The document argues that a shift in US climate policy under Donald Trump increases financial risks for investors and businesses, regardless of whether the US formally withdraws from the Paris Agreement. It identifies three primary risk categories: physical risks from increased global emissions, transition risks as the global shift to a low-carbon economy continues, and policy/legal risks including unpredictable litigation. The briefing concludes by recommending that the business community publicly pressure the US administration to maintain its climate commitments and stay in the Paris Agreement.

• A US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement or a reduction in climate ambition would increase the necessity for businesses and investors to manage physical climate change risks to their activities and supply chains, as the US is a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions.
• The transition to a low-carbon economy is viewed as inevitable and will continue regardless of US participation in the Paris Agreement, driven by actions from other countries like China, US states and cities, and market trends in renewables and electric vehicles.
• Changes in US climate and energy policy create significant uncertainty and increase the likelihood of unpredictable litigation risks against businesses and government bodies, citing examples such as a shareholder class action against Exxon Mobil and a claim by children against the US government.

APA

ClientEarth (2016). ClientEarth Investor Briefing. https://www.clientearth.org/media/0rzf0ytb/clientearth-investor-briefing-trump-and-climate-risk-ext-en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. ClientEarth Investor Briefing. 2016. https://www.clientearth.org/media/0rzf0ytb/clientearth-investor-briefing-trump-and-climate-risk-ext-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=ClientEarth Investor Briefing |date=11 November 2016 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/0rzf0ytb/clientearth-investor-briefing-trump-and-climate-risk-ext-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2016clientearth, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{ClientEarth Investor Briefing}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2016}, month = nov, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/0rzf0ytb/clientearth-investor-briefing-trump-and-climate-risk-ext-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }