Two Cambridge partners have announced the launch of a new open access journal focused on corporate climate governance. The Cambridge Forum on Corporate Climate Governance aims to bring together academic research and practical perspectives, connecting insights from various disciplines with policy and business practice.
The journal is a collaboration between Cambridge University Press and the Centre for Climate Engagement at Hughes Hall. It will feature contributions from academics and expert practitioners, seeking to advance understanding and solutions in climate finance and governance.
The first issue, scheduled for next year, will focus on "Making Climate Finance Work – Insights from Ethics, Economics and Law." This edition will examine how public and private financial sources can interact, how risks are allocated, and how governance structures can align incentives with climate goals. Authors are invited to contribute articles reflecting on these topics through the lenses of ethics, economics, and law. Guest editors for this issue are based at the University of Groningen and the University of Illinois.
Future issues of the journal will address themes such as global trade, nature and biodiversity, human rights, family-owned businesses, European regulation and its global impacts, new business models, and cognitive diversity in boardrooms. The editorial team includes experts in climate governance from institutions such as Penn Carey Law; University of Pennsylvania; The American University in Cairo; Harvard Kennedy School’s Corporate Responsibility Initiative; Singapore Management University’s Centre for Commercial Law in Asia; as well as the Centre for Climate Engagement at Hughes Hall.
One challenge identified by organizers is attracting high-quality submissions early on, particularly from underrepresented researchers or regions. Planned next steps include broad dissemination of calls for papers, mentoring potential authors, strengthening peer review processes, and organizing a workshop to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration.
"Yet critical questions remain: who should shoulder the risks, and who should design and deliver effective incentives?"
"How can governance frameworks, regulatory systems, and corporate decision-making ensure that climate finance not only drives meaningful action but also remains fair, transparent, and aligned with long-term sustainability goals?"