Race to net zero: tools to support your business

Tools
28 Oct 2021
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Below are tools, initiatives and programmes to help you get started as you incorporate net zero considerations into your law firm’s practice.
Join the Race to Zero: target-setting and pledges
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Find out the minimum criteria required for participation in the Race to Zero campaign

The small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) Climate Hub supports SMEs to meet international climate targets — halving their emissions by 2030 and providing climate solutions which cut emissions more widely across society.

Make the SME climate commitment

The SME Climate Hub opens the doors for small and medium-sized businesses to join the globally recognised United Nations’ Race to Zero campaign.

Every SME that makes the SME climate commitment will have its name/logo featured on the SME Climate Hub and be recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign.

Make the SME climate commitment today

You must commit to:

  • halve your greenhouse gas emissions before 2030
  • achieve net zero emissions before 2050
  • disclose progress on an annual basis

Measure and report your emissions

Use the SME Climate Hub's free carbon calculator to measure your firm's footprint to get clear, actionable insights on your emissions.

This includes providing detail on your electricity, heating and fuel use, as well as how much you spend on things like:

  • travel
  • computers, or
  • furniture

Set a strategy and move to action

The 1.5°C business playbook provides guidelines for how to set a climate strategy and move to action in reducing and offsetting your emissions.

The playbook highlights key actions to reduce your own emissions and those from your value chain. It also discusses how to integrate climate in your business strategy and contribute to climate action in society.

The Exponential Roadmap Initiative is for innovators, transformers and disruptors taking action in line with 1.5°C, with the mission to halve emissions before 2030 through exponential climate action and solutions.

The Roadmap contains a number of reports providing frameworks and solutions to reach net zero targets.

The Planet Mark business certification is a recognised symbol of sustainability progress.

It demonstrates a business’ commitment to measuring and reducing their carbon emissions, ultimately contributing to their environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.

The certification means that you can report your progress to stakeholders with confidence.

The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) challenges business leaders to:

  • commit – submit a letter establishing your intent to set a science-based target
  • develop – work on an emissions reduction target in line with the SBTi’s criteria
  • submit – present your target to the SBTi for official validation
  • communicate – announce your target and inform your stakeholders
  • disclose – report company-wide emissions and track target progress annually
  • gain recognition from the United Nations Race to Zero campaign

The Climate Pledge calls on companies and organisations to be net zero carbon across their businesses by 2040.

Signatories of the Pledge commit to three principal areas of action:

  • regular reporting
  • carbon elimination, and
  • credible off-setting

Read a quick overview of the Climate Pledge

Contracts, clauses and support for legal professionals
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The Chancery Lane Project allows you to access the tools you need for drafting net zero clauses.

  • Climate clauses – a set of practical tools to help professionals implement climate-conscious clauses in their organisation
  • The Chancery Lane Project net zero toolkit – this toolkit enables lawyers to use climate and net zero aligned clauses in their contracts; it provides tools to help you review your own drafting and contracts against a net zero dashboard
  • Glossary – Standard climate-related definitions to help you draft climate-aligned contracts

Sign the Greener Litigation Pledge to commit to the most environmentally sustainable options in litigation.

  • Use the Legal Sustainability Alliance's carbon footprint calculator, designed with law firms in mind, to measure your carbon emissions and set targets in line with national and international legislative targets
  • The Legal Sustainability Alliance provides members with resources ranging from guides on the task force on climate-related financial disclosures (TFCD), to practical toolkits for embedding sustainability practices for law firms
  • Publish your firm's annual carbon footprint on their website
  • Work with their partner, Carbon Intelligence, to get support from their expert team on setting science-based targets
  • Join their Legal Renewables Initiative and make the commitment to get to 100% renewable energy by 2025