As well as urging solicitors to take the lead in developing a climate-conscious approach to their daily practice, the resolution also committed the Law Society to develop plans and take rapid action to reduce global warming by adopting science-based targets for its operations.
The commitment follows the launch of its Climate Change Resolution in October 2021 and milestone guidance on the impact of climate change on solicitors in April this year.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson, who spoke about the guidance at the annual conference of the International Bar Association this week, said:
“It is important that as well as providing guidance for the profession, the Law Society demonstrates what we are doing to reduce carbon emissions in our own operations. We are setting this ambitious net zero target despite Chancery Lane being a listed building.
“We are committed to becoming net zero by 2030 and plans to reduce our direct and indirect emissions are already underway. We have already begun to drive down energy usage across the business and the net zero target will be at the heart of all our decision-making.”
Emmerson added that Chancery Lane gets all its electricity directly from verified renewable sources via a power purchase agreement and the Law Society is ‘exploring further innovative options to retrofit the building to reduce carbon emissions’.
To view details of the Climate Change Resolution, click here.