About
home / about
Climate Defense Project
The climate movement needs climate lawyers. CDP fills a gap in the legal landscape by supporting front-line activists, advancing overlooked legal arguments, and connecting attorneys, experts, and community members. CDP co-founders Alex and Ted met at Harvard Law School, where they led the filing of the first fossil fuel divestment lawsuit, Harvard Climate Justice Coalition v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. Claire and Kira joined CDP in 2023, after working together to support the Line 3 resistance in Minnesota.
Meet the Team
- Staff Attorney
- Executive Director & Managing Attorney
- Staff Attorney
- Staff Attorney
Meet the Board
- Board Member
- Board Member
- Board Member
- Board Member
What We Do
Without swift and decisive action, climate change will wreak ever-greater havoc on our world. Its worst effects are felt by those least responsible for it: poor and marginalized communities.
Fifteen percent of Americans — almost fifty million people — report that they would be willing to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience to combat climate change, but many of them lack access to reliable legal support.
The movement to respond to climate change needs a movement-based model of climate lawyering. CDP offers activist-friendly legal arguments and comprehensive legal support for climate campaigns. Contact us at info@climatedefenseproject.org to learn more.
Here is CDP’s Form 1023 application for tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization and the organization’s IRS exemption letter.