Top law firms cut carbon emissions to lead the profession in tackling climate change

9 March 2010

In a unique synchronised move, 32 law firms and the Law Society of England and Wales are today unveiling their individual carbon footprints.

The results reveal an overall reduction in absolute carbon emissions of 4% among the LSA Executive members' since the first public report in December 2008, demonstrating that carbon management remains a key priority for members, despite the economic downturn.

The Legal Sector Alliance is an inclusive movement of law firms and organisations committed to working collaboratively to take action on climate change by reducing their carbon footprint and adopting environmentally sustainable practices. Sharing the results amongst the participating firms and with the legal profession more widely helps members to understand their own emissions performance and provide an opportunity to share good practice in reducing their emissions.

The firms and Law Society are publicly reporting their results simultaneously using the same methodology, having measured their carbon footprint using the Legal Sector Alliance [LSA] Protocol*. Significantly, the drop in overall emissions is substantial as it was achieved in spite of considerable adverse business impacts associated with the macro-level economic downturn. Members reported that their reductions largely resulted from capturing efficiency gains associated with an improved knowledge of their firm's carbon and energy footprint, which consequently saved them money during the recession.

The annual average carbon emitted per employee also decreased slightly (0.14%) against a backdrop of significant headcount reductions amongst LSA members in 2009. The alliance has now grown to over 150 members, representing more than a quarter of solicitors in private practice.

The LSA Carbon Footprint Report contains a summary of the carbon footprint for each Executive member firm. To improve transparency and gain further knowledge of the carbon performance of its members, the 2009 LSA Carbon Protocol report also includes carbon footprint data from additional member firms that agreed to publicly disclose their footprint.

As LSA members report on carbon performance going forward, their ability to capture more data is continuing to advance as their data gathering mechanisms improve and they gain a greater knowledge of their operational carbon footprint. Law firms' data capturing processes are becoming increasingly robust and thorough, which can lead to recorded energy increases and accompanying carbon increases in the short term. By measuring and managing their carbon footprints on a regular basis firms can achieve ongoing carbon reduction in the long term.

Law Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson said; "While emissions vary due to the size and business models of each firm, sharing the results will help the firms to better benchmark their own environmental performance, identify areas for possible improvement and share ideas for carbon reduction. The process that LSA members have gone through to report these emissions, together with a commitment to reduce and report on them, is crucial."

The LSA Protocol, which is freely available on the LSA's website, is the first carbon footprint protocol developed by a sector for a sector. It consists of a spreadsheet-based measurement tool and step-by-step practical guidance, uniquely produced for profession.

View full report: http://www.legalsectoralliance.org.uk/files/lsa-carbon-report-2009.pdf