The Dent Podcast 89. James Thornton on Taking on Giants
James Thornton has been named by The New Statesman as one of 10 people that could change the world and as you’ll find out during his chat with Daniel Priestley, James already is changing the world.
On The Dent Podcast, we interview key people of influence in all walks of life. We delve deep to unearth how these successful people got to where they are, their trials and tribulations, as well as their successes, and what their experiences can teach us all.
James Thornton is the founding CEO of ClientEarth, a global environmental law charity that uses the power of the law to bring about end-to-end systemic change. James has many years of experience as an environmental lawyer and has fought some tough fights that have generated real change including bringing 80 federal lawsuits against corporations to enforce the Clean Water Act after the Reagan Administration had stopped enforcing the law.
James has embraced spirituality and meditation throughout his life, eventually becoming a Zen Priest which brings balance and the mental tools to do the work he does so well.
Here’s a taste of James Thornton and Daniel’s conversation –
- James discusses some of the big cases from his early career, including his fight against environmental polluters in the 1980’s
- How James and his firm fought for the protection of thousand year old trees being logged and pulped in Alaska
- Why new laws being passed mean little unless they are being put to the test systematically and enforced
- Taking the UK government to task over air pollution and winning
- How return of investment can be measured in the work carried out by James and ClientEarth
- Taking on the coal fire power industry to protect the earth from climate change
- How James became an environmental lawyer and the pathways along the way that helped shape his direction
- James’s hope for the future and how to change the way people think about the environment
- Becoming a zen priest and embracing spirituality and meditation as a daily practice
- Using getting angry as a strategy instead of acting on impulse
- How the future of agriculture might look and why it is a key industry to look towards for protecting the environment
Links to connect with James Thornton –
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