The Legal Sector Alliance
UK operations reduce CO2 emissions
2007 saw DLA Piper emit 4.30 tonnes of C02e per employee
2008 saw DLA Piper emit 4.13 tonnes of C02e per employee
As one of the world’s largest international legal practices, we believe that we have a duty to lead the legal sector on the issues that matter. This leadership has led to the creation of the UK’s Legal Sector Alliance (LSA). www.legalsectoralliance.com
Conceived in partnership Business in the Community and The Law Society of England and Wales, the principle behind the LSA is simple: working together, law firms can have a much larger impact on climate change issues than by working in isolation.
Over 140 law firms have now joined the Alliance as have a number of other organisations in the sector and all are committed to working collaboratively to take action on climate change by reducing their carbon footprints and adopting environmentally sustainable practices . The membership represents more than 20 percent of all solicitors in England and Wales.
Through the LSA we have been measuring and publically reporting our CO2 emissions since 2007, using the Legal Sector Alliance Carbon Protocol - a tool developed by the sector for the sector. This allows us to be transparent about our carbon emission and encourages others in the sector to report with confidence. Best practice and guidance is shared between firms, helping us all to improve our overall environmental performance
Our second annual LSA report has been produced that details members’ reports against the six Principles developed by the sector http://www.legalsectoralliance.org.uk
Other activities have included a Global Symposium in 2009 that allowed the LSA to share its experience with interested parties around the world. The symposium was chaired by Tony Juniper, a well-known environmental expert with contributions from David Nussbaum, chief executive of the World Wildlife Fund UK and Richard Gledhill PWC’s Global Head of Climate Change.
Chaired by our joint CEO Sir Nigel Knowles, the LSA enjoys a high profile in the media and demonstrates that the legal sector is serious about climate change and is taking real steps to reduce its environmental impact.
“The continued growth of the Legal Sector Alliance demonstrates that law firms recognise the urgency of the situation and are committed to taking a leadership position in this area. By collaborating to share best-practices in sustainable business, the legal sector can make a positive contribution to combating climate change.”
HRH The Prince of Wales
We recognise that forests are an essential part of any solution to climate change. Huge amounts of carbon are stored within them, and they have a significant influence on regional weather patterns. However, we are also keen to see them preserved for reasons of biodiversity conservation and because of the ecosystem services that they provide.
This is why we are proud to be part of The Prince’s Rainforest Project (“PRP”), which was established in October 2007 by HRH The Prince of Wales to highlight the need to reduce tropical deforestation.