Climate change initiative backed by HRH Prince Charles

Law firms Bond Pearce, Burges Salmon and Nicholas Moore are urging all lawyers to measure and publish their carbon footprints to encourage the legal sector to do more to prevent climate change.

His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales urged the legal profession to commit to combat global warming in his launch speech for the Legal Sector Alliance (LSA). Bond Pearce, Burges Salmon and Nicholas Moore are three of the LSA's 20 founding members who have developed the LSA's principles and aims.

Emrys Parry, Partner at Bond Pearce LLP comments: 'The sustainability agenda is a key topic in the south west and it is something Bond Pearce takes very seriously. Being a founding member of the LSA has increased our knowledge of our business and its impact on the environment which means we can take steps to improve matters. By measuring and pledging to reduce our carbon footprint we are aiming to lead by example and encourage the whole legal sector to do the same.'

'The collaborative nature of the LSA means law firms swap information and experience on how to become greener. We shared the results of our project to reduce inter-office travel by investing in video conferencing facilities.'

Guy Stobart, Managing Partner at Burges Salmon LLP said: 'Burges Salmon is very pleased to be involved in the LSA. In particular, it has taken an active role in the development of the LSA carbon footprint protocol. The measurement of a firm's carbon footprint is the first step in managing and reducing its impact on the environment, and the founding member firms have shown strong leadership in this area by calculating and agreeing to publicly disclose their footprints. The LSA protocol is available to all firms and is a perfect example of how, by working together, firms can assist each other in making a real difference.'

Nicholas Moore, Principal of Nicholas Moore specialist employment lawyers says: 'We're the only niche practice in the LSA's founder membership. We've got enormous benefit, especially in staff motivation and commitment, from embracing environmentally sensitive principles. I hope that through the LSA we've inspired other firms, of whatever size, to do the same.'

Polar Explorer Pen Hadow stressed the urgency needed referring to the Arctic Survey, a pioneering expedition which aims to result in the first accurate mapping of one of the Earth's largest and most at risk geophysical surface features: the North Pole ice cap.

The LSA is an inclusive movement of law firms and organisations committed to working collaboratively to take action on climate change by reducing their carbon footprint and adopting environmentally sustainable practices. For more information on the LSA and its principles please see www.legalsectoralliance.com

Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director, Forum for the Future said; "I think these Principles are excellent, and I am impressed to see just how comprehensive the boundary conditions are - that's really important. I look forward to seeing how the legal profession takes these principles forward into action."

The premise of the LSA is that acting on climate change is in the profession's collective interest and that greater impact can be achieved through collaborative action and the sharing of knowledge and experience than could be achieved individually. The greater the number of firms, chambers and in-house legal teams that get involved, the greater the chance of having a real influence on the way the sector does business. Firms across the south west are invited to join the LSA by signing up at www.legalsectoralliance.com