The firm commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year and to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 50% within the same timeframe

Following submission of Burges Salmon’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the firm has been assessed and approved against the Call to Action’s eligibility criteria.

The SBTi’s Target Validation team has classified Burges Salmon’s scope 1 and 2 target ambition, in line with a 1.5°C trajectory, which is currently the most ambitious designation available through the SBTi process. The latest climate science from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), described by the UN as ‘code red for humanity’, shows it is still possible to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C but that it is dangerously close to that threshold.

Burges Salmon commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year. The firm also commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 50% within the same timeframe.

Respect for the environment is integral to the firm’s responsible business commitments and part of stakeholder expectations. Burges Salmon is passionate about a Net Zero future, advocating for positive action and collaboration to make this a reality, having pledged to make the business net zero by the end of 2026. The firm has partnered with conservation charity Trees for Life and is one of the founding members of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance and the Legal Sustainability Alliance.

The firm’s multi-sector teams deliver Net Zero legal solutions through market-leading expertise and experience in the key sectors that will need to come together to decarbonise including: Transport, energy, land & food, and the built environment. With in-depth knowledge of the regulation across the four key sectors, the firm is able to facilitate cross-sector discussions and are uniquely positioned to advise on the policies, regulation, strategies and projects that will need to be developed and implemented by the private and public sector.

Roger Bull, Burges Salmon’s Managing Partner, says: “Our decision to submit to the Science Based Target initiative is about recognising and responding to the needs of our environment, in line with the firm’s belief that the scale of change required is huge wanting to help our clients rise to the challenge and benefit from the opportunities to capitalise on the technology, projects and investment that will flow into organisations addressing climate change.

“We are committed to an approach of emissions reduction first, use of renewables second and use of offsets as the last resort – we are therefore proud to have been deemed to be in conformance with the SBTi Criteria and Recommendations.”