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It might be cold today, but if COP29's spotlight on climate accountability doesn't convince you that sustainability is a business imperative, the European Union’s space programme found that it is now 'virtually certain' that 2024 will be the hottest year on record. So, despite geopolitical developments, the drive for sustainability remains firmly at the top of the agenda.
The LSA is here to support you as you embed sustainable practices and engage colleagues - in fact there is still time to sign up to our event about the basics of measuring carbon at 12pm today. More info in the events section of this newsletter.
Other bulletin highlights include:
- COP 29 - What will ensure genuine commitment, specific action and measured progress? An insightful blog from Kirsty Rogers, Chief Sustainability Officer, DWF
- Industry news - update on the annual Lamphouse Strategy Report
- News from the LSA including a membership offer
- News from LSA members
- LSA schedule of events with registration links
- Sustainability dates for your diary
Please encourage everyone to sign up to this bulletin here. |
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COP 29 – How to ensure commitment, action and progress? |
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Expectations are set for COP29 and behind the detail surrounding the desired outcomes, what the negotiations are ultimately aiming to achieve is international progress on the legally binding commitments made by signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement. This is to ensure alignment of global efforts to urgently limit global warming and significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. But what will ensure commitment, action and progress? Kirsty Rogers, Chief Sustainability Officer at DWF explores the issues in this guest blog.
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Lamphouse Strategy 2024 reveals leading firms in responsible business...
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...and it is a clean sweep for the LSA! Lamphouse Strategy's annual report is well worth a read, packed with data to inform your responsible business agenda. The deep dive into the strategies across 215 leading law firms covers:
• The leading firms in each category
• The most commonly communicated strategies across the market
• The main approaches across the UK and the US markets
Congratulations to overall leader DWF. Representing the rest of the top 5% in the overall analysis are: Linklaters, DLA Piper, Pinsent Masons, Clifford Chance, Burges Salmon, Freshfields, Charles Russell Speechlys, Clyde & Co, Simmons & Simmons and Herbert Smith Freehills. We are proud to claim all of these firms as LSA members. |
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Renew now for 2025 and save |
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Commit to 2025 membership before the end of 2024 and get 10% off your membership fee! Just let us know that you're definitely renewing and we will send you a reduced invoice in January.
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Not yet a member? Any firm that joins us between now and 31st December 2024 will be able to enjoy all the benefits of membership from the day their membership is confirmed until the end of 2025 for the price of one year.
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Meeting firms in Manchester and Edinburgh |
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The LSA team travelled to Manchester and Edinburgh to host events in partnership with the Manchester Law Society and Law Society of Scotland, sharing best practice and taking part in a collaborative workshop exploring how to embed sustainable practice.
We were delighted to see a mixture of new and familiar faces. In Manchester we heard from Kirsty Rogers, Chief Sustainability Officer at DWF and Keith Davidson, Partner at Irwin Mitchell, who gave us an insight into the Law Society's guidance on climate change. Our speakers were then joined by Fran Eccles-Bech from Manchester Law Society, Fiona Nicholls from Gowling WLG and Mikey Bloxham from Freshfields for an interesting panel discussion addressing challenges and successes on the road to net zero.
In Edinburgh, at the Law Society of Scotland's offices, speakers Lindsay Duncan and Maggie Stewart from Burness Paull and Michael Watson, Partner at Pinsent Masons, took part in informative discussions around how to get the data needed to measure their carbon footprint, as well the challenges of offsetting.
Huge thanks to all involved for their support. |
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Member News
Please get in touch with your stories so we can feature them here. |
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A big welcome to RPC Law. The international law firm is eager to support, learn and share best practices. We are delighted to have them on board.
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| | Alex Rhodes and Dan Gray of Mishcon de Reya explore the Earth Commission's ground-breaking report highlighting the jeopardy for those failing to take sustainable transformation seriously. |
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| | Sandy Hall, partner at Clifford Chance explores what can be achieved at COP29, realistically, against a backdrop of geopolitical complexity. |
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Upcoming Events and Webinars
Please click the links to find out more and register, we look forward to seeing you! |
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| | Getting Ready to Measure Your Carbon Emissions
12pm, Today - 19 November 2024 Understanding your firm’s carbon impact is a key step toward achieving net zero. Jim Haywood explores what factors contribute to your footprint, how to get the data you need to measure them and clever ways to fill gaps when you don't have all of the information. This session forms the basis for future webinars which will focus on what we do with the data and how to set and achieve carbon reduction targets. |
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| | Outcomes and Impact - Takeaways from COP29
12pm - 1pm, 26 November 2024 Join us to explore the outcomes and impacts of COP29, the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference with Emma Lecavalier, Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Net Zero Regulation and Policy Hub, who attended in person. As the impacts of climate change rapidly escalate, ambition for COP29 included finalising a more ambitious climate finance goal, enhanced transparency, further action on a loss and damage fund and movement on regulating a workable carbon market. And the big question remains - did countries finally commit to transition away from fossil fuels? |
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| | The How, Why and When of Regulatory Frameworks
12.30pm, 3 December 2024
Sustainability consultant Stan Rayfield explores the benefits from reporting frameworks; such as ESOS, SECR, PPN 0621 and how these align with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Protocol. He’ll go through some of the benefits to law firms from the reporting frameworks and reveal the main challenges to successful compliance such as how firms can ensure accuracy, transparency and consistency, as well as enhance your firm's reputation, strengthen client relationships and improve operational efficiency. |
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Watch two recent events: 'Labour’s 100 Days - What does it mean for policy?' with Karla Hill of E3G and Sophia Adams Bhatti and 'The Global Goals in Action' with Matt Sparkes, Sustainability Director at Linklaters and Mike Harvey, Head of Responsible Business at Pinsent Masons.
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Sustainability Dates for Your Diary |
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This isn't a comprehensive list, but these are the dates that have caught our attention:
COP 29 - 11 - 22 November 2024
This year the UN Climate Change Conference will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
National Tree Week - 23 November - 1 December
Raising awareness about the importance of trees for clean air, wildlife habitats, and carbon storage. It also aims to encourage people to get involved in planting and caring for trees in their local communities.
World Soil Day - 5 December
A campaign aim to raise awareness of the importance and relationship between soil and water in achieving sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.
Veganuary – 1 - 31 January
Try going vegan for a month and reduce your carbon impact while you are at it! Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 - 24 - 26 January
Encourage all to register and join the hundreds of thousands of people who spend an hour watching the birds in gardens, from balconies or in local parks, and reporting what they've seen, contributing to valuable data for the RSPB. World Wetlands Day - 2 February Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s. Take part in World Wetlands Day to raise awareness about the vital role wetlands play as critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more. Helpful resources on the website.
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