Overview
Our Vision
A fair, effective and accessible system of international law that protects the global environment and promotes sustainable development.
Our Mission
We contribute to this through:
-
Advocacy for broader access to environmental justice and fairer international laws and institutions
International laws and institutions have an increasing impact on countries, communities and people. It can be very difficult to understand complicated international processes, let alone influence them. We work to level the playing field and help those at risk to make their voices heard.
-
Advice and capacity building for groups ranging from poor communities to senior government officials.
FIELD works to empower others and build their capacity long term. We help community groups, advise NGOs, and train government officials in international negotiations.
-
Research on international law, policy and national practice
The international negotiations that we are engaged in, for example on climate change and biodiversity, aim to tackle unprecedented threats, so require unprecedented responses. FIELD is proud to be contributing to the solutions through our research.
Overview
FIELD’s work is part campaigning, part research, and part the work of a conventional law firm. We work alongside local partners, national and international NGOs and institutions.
FIELD has charitable (not for profit) status. Our registered charity number is 802 934 we are also a Company Limited by Guarantee and Incorporated in England and Wales Reg. No 2463462
FIELD History
Created back in 1989, FIELD has over twenty years of strong expertise and unique experience in international environmental law. In 1990 FIELD lawyers helped form the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS), a coalition of small island states and low-lying countries, which has given these countries a much stronger voice in the international climate change negotiations.
To hear more about the historic developments and early years of our organisation, watch five short videos from the FIELD founders James Cameron and Philippe Sands.
FIELD and IIED – complementing each other
In 2005, FIELD became an independent subsidiary of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). FIELD and IIED share offices and a Board of Trustees.
This institutional alliance brings together our legal expertise and IIED's expertise in social, political and economic sciences. FIELD remains an independent charitable organisation and we are responsible for raising our own funds.
More about at IIED at www.iied.org
What we do
Amplifying voices
International environmental law sets minimum standards for countries to manage their forests, land areas and marine environments. The problem is that international environmental negotiations have become very complicated to understand, let alone influence. FIELD helps developing countries, civil society organisations and indigenous peoples groups.
A fair deal for developing countries
FIELD specialises in international environmental law, in particular ‘public international law’, which deals with relations between states. FIELD wants international environmental law to be fair and to give developing countries a fair deal.
Law in practice
FIELD is also concerned with how international environmental law works when it is put in practice in countries. FIELD wants implementation to be effective and fair to people and communities, for example to indigenous peoples.
Defending rights
FIELD recognises that international environmental law can be an important tool to help people defend their rights. For example, it can help communities to be more involved in decision making that affects their environment.
Pro Bono
Whenever possible we provide our services on a pro bono basis, using funding from foundation grants, governmental institutions and our fee income.
Fee-paying
We also take on fee-paying work. For example, we advise other NGOs on the legal aspects of international campaign strategies and governmental agencies on issues related to international treaties.
To contact FIELD with an enquiry regarding our services, please email field@field.org.uk.
Work areas
We can undertake work on a broad range of environment and sustainable development-related issues, but we focus on three core work areas:
-
Climate change and energy
-
Biodiversity and marine environments
-
Trade, investment and sustainable development
FIELD's funders
FIELD receives funding from a range of donors, including government departments, intergovernmental organisations, international institutions and foundations.
FIELD is grateful to the Rufford Foundation and to The Christensen Fund, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for their support.
FIELD would also like to thank its individual donors.
If you have comments on our work, please feel free to email field@field.org.uk
Printer-friendly version
Copyright ©2008