Peter 

BARNETT

Peter Barnett is a Programme Lead at Quadrature Climate Foundation, helping direct science-led investments to unlock critical climate solutions. QCF seeks to avert and manage the worst impacts of climate change, particularly for those people and ecosystems most vulnerable.

Peter works with partners across sectors on bold, solution-focused legal and financial strategies to mitigate climate risk and drive value and impact in our transition to a climate-resilient future. He frequently speaks and write on the role of corporate law in driving sustainability in business and investment decisions.

Before joining QCF, Peter was Associate Director, Japan and Southeast Asia at international environmental NGO ClientEarth. He led a team of law and policy experts working with governments, the private sector and civil society to address climate change, accelerate the shift to clean and accessible energy and protect nature in the region. Peter earlier specialised in international arbitration and litigation at US disputes firm Boies Schiller Flexner in London and Russell McVeagh in New Zealand.

Peter holds an LLM from Harvard Law School and an LLB (Hons) and BCom (Finance) from the University of Otago. He is admitted as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand (non-practising) and a solicitor in England and Wales.

Publications

 Articles

• Barnett, P., ‘Shareholder Litigation as the Next Frontier in Shareholder Climate Action’, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (25 June 2019) https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/shareholder-litigation-as-the-next-frontier-in-shareholder-climate-action/
• Getz, M. and Barnett, P., ‘Collective Action and Securities Law in the UK: Recent and Anticipated Developments and International Trends’ (2017) 32 (2) Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law 299 https://www.bsfllp.com/images/content/2/5/v2/2528/2017-05-01-Getz-and-Barnett-Collective-Action-and-Securities-Law.pdf

 Book chapters

• Barnett, P. and Stein, M. ‘Strategic Litigation and Inclusive Education’ in de Beco, G. and others (eds), The Right to Inclusive Education in International Human Rights Law (Cambridge University Press 2019), 241-268

Presentations

• Panellist, Towards Net Zero Conference: Legal Aspects of Corporate Climate Action in Asia, 17 Oct 2024

• Climate change
• Climate finance
• Climate change and fiduciary duties
• Climate-related financial disclosure
• Climate change and financial stability

Projects

Climate change and corporate and financial law and regulation

Climate change poses material financial risks and opportunities. Climate-related financial risks have important consequences for corporate and financial law and regulation – such as directors’ and investors’ fiduciary duties, securities law disclosure obligations and regulatory and supervisory mandates. Governments, central banks, financial regulators and institutional investors are acting increasingly robustly to drive better disclosure and management of such risks. This can act in turn to accelerate the transition to a net zero carbon economy.

Peter’s research addresses this intersection between climate change and corporate and financial law and regulation. It focuses on the role such law can play in driving greenhouse gas emissions reduction and broader sustainability in selected jurisdictions in Asia.