Eighteen UK law firms are to measure and publish their carbon footprints as part of an initiative to create a commonly used benchmark for measuring emissions across the sector.
The Legal Sector Alliance (LSA) has developed the LSA Carbon Footprint Protocol in consultation with the Carbon Trust and is now trialling that standard with a number of its members.
"You can't manage what you haven't measured, so calculation of your carbon footprint is absolutely crucial before you can take action to reduce it," said Des Hudson, Law Society chief executive, announcing the protocol.
The spreadsheet tool is tailored to record emissions arising directly from law firms' activities, although it is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and calculates emissions according to commonly accepted practices.
The firms agreeing to disclose their results include Allen & Overy, Bond Pearce, Burges Salmon, Herbert Smith, Linklaters and SJ Berwin.
In the US, the American Bar Association and Meritas Leadership Institute have created similar programs and guides to educate firms and help them reduce impact.
Report shows emissions from cement production at 18 global firms are falling despite increased demand for their products 03 Jul 2009
Carnegie Mellon report claims firms failure to account for supply chain emissions means they are only measuring "carbon toeprints" 21 Aug 2008
International Maritime Organisation considers mandatory measures to help enhance fuel efficiency 18 Mar 2009
Survey of public sector IT managers reveals deep concern over ability to deliver on carbon-neutral targets 03 Jul 2009
From record-breaking solar panels to the International Renewable Energy Agency's new home, we round up the top stories from the past week 03 Jul 2009
Well, I hope they got a no win, no fee deal. I don't like being cynical (it's more of a congenital thing)... 03 Jul 2009








