Our environment
Our commitment
Speechly Bircham recognises it has an impact on the local and global environment and has made a commitment to improve our environmental performance by adopting an Environmental Policy. We ensure all employees and visitors undertake all their activities at the lowest energy cost and with the lowest possible environmental impact. The challenges surrounding climate change and how we tackle this problem are reflected in our environmental targets set out for 2009/10. We are committed to maintaining and developing our environmental policy and management strategy to ensure the firm meets the objectives and targets set.
Environmental reporting
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact which human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. It is meant to be useful for individuals, nations and organisations to conceptualise their personal (or organisational) impact in contributing to global warming.
The firm’s carbon footprint results 2008/09
Our drive to measure and reduce the firm’s carbon footprint has scored a notable success, recording a 41% reduction in carbon emissions for the period May 2008/09. This equates to 722 tonnes of CO2, therefore reducing each employee’s footprint from 5.5 to 3.3 tCO2, which in comparison to other firms of a similar size, puts us well below average. Our report uses the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, scope 3 which is the highest level.
The move to our new sustainably designed offices in the New Street Square development in May 2008 has had a huge impact on our annual carbon footprint measure, reducing our premises-related emissions by 50%.
Environmental policy and strategic issues
We are active committee members of the Aldersgate Group: a coalition of businesses, environmental groups and policy experts which promotes the case that strong environmental policy can boost competitiveness. The group has been campaigning on a number of strategic environmental issues by launching reports, hosting high profile events, engaging parliamentarians and holding meetings with key decision makers.
The Aldersgate Group's latest reports
Mind the Gap: Skills for the transition to a low carbon economy
Launched 19 November 2009
Financing the Transition: A Strategy to Deliver Carbon Targets
Launched 15 October 2009
We are also members of the Legal Sector Alliance (LSA): an inclusive movement of law firms and organisations committed to working collaboratively to act on climate change by reducing their carbon footprint and adopting environmentally sustainable practices.
Sustainable development
Our Real Estate team has shown a strong commitment to the sustainability agenda and has experienced a growing demand from clients to advise on sustainability issues including Energy Performance Certificates, ‘green leases’ and Carbon Reduction Commitment. They have also sponsored the Estates Gazette's new and unique Green Awards designed to highlight and reward excellence in sustainable development and to raise environmental awareness.