News LAW
11 FIRMS
COMMIT TO CUTS
A group of law fi rms in the UK have publicly committed to slashing their carbon emissions.
The law fi rms involved have agreed to adopt and pursue challenging emissions reduction targets to drive change in the legal sector.
The Legal Sector Alliance said its carbon target announcement is unique as it is the fi rst time any sector has publicly committed to collectively reduce carbon emissions. The LSA said: “Our executive members recognize the
importance of driving continued improvement, particularly
following the UK government’s announcement the UK is now committed to even tougher
national carbon reduction targets.” The implementation of targets has been agreed by the 20
executive members of the LSA, an “inclusive movement of law fi rms and organizations committed to working collaboratively to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt environmentally sustainable practices”. All LSA members will now be encouraged to commit to carbon targets by signing up to a new LSA principle.
Members have calculated their
organization’s carbon footprint using the LSA Carbon Protocol, a bespoke carbon measurement tool for law fi rms, intended to improve transparency, consistency and comparability within the sector. Chairman Sir Nigel Knowles said:
“LSA members have consistently taken a leadership position on climate change and we recognize
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McMahon joins Carbon War Room
by publicly committing to carbon
reduction targets we are continuing to drive change and real carbon reduction across the profession. “Meeting our
climate change obligations will be increasingly
challenging, but our members recognize the
increasing moral and business imperative for doing so.”
Law Society president John
Wotton said: “Just a few years ago, the idea that law fi rms would regularly report on their carbon footprint seemed far-fetched. “However, now that climate change is fi rmly on the business agenda, this kind of data is being demanded by an increasing number of clients as evidence industry is taking this issue seriously. As an increasing number of our members publicly report their carbon emissions we are able to provide a valuable picture of climate change performance in the legal sector. “By measuring and managing their carbon footprints on a regular basis, fi rms can achieve ongoing carbon reduction in the long term. LSA members are making signifi cant energy reductions through behavioural changes and investment in effi cient technology - generating quick payback, particularly in relation to improved metering and measurement. Reducing costs from energy use and business travel is a key driver for strategy and behavioural change.”
Hilary McMahon has joined the Carbon War Room from the United Nations in New York, where she worked as an advisor on climate change and technology issues. Previously, McMahon spent four years as senior
associate on the energy and climate team at the World Resources Institute, leading its work in support of low-carbon development plans in many developing countries and managing a team of ten people and a budget of $6m. McMahon also led the WRI’s work in support of the
UNFCCC’s climate negotiations. She has published extensively on issues relating to climate mitigation in developing countries, mitigation technologies and energy access. She recently acted as a reviewer for the World Energy Outlook and managed a climate change-related program at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in Geneva. She also worked on environmental issues in Brussels for industry association, UNIFE, followed by teaching in Spain, setting up the climate group for the Institute of European Aff airs, and researching policy for the Institute for International Integration Studies. McMahon received her degree in politics and
French from University College Dublin and a master’s in politics from the College of Europe in Bruges.
ISSUE 04. SEPTEMBER 2011
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