Pinsent Masons adopts carbon emissions targets

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has unveiled targets to cut absolute carbon emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2030.

Verified by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), the firm’s targets commit to reducing absolute global greenhouse gas emissions by FY2030, from a base year of FY2019, and to source 100% renewable electricity across its global estate by 2030. Currently, 100% of its electricity purchased in the UK, Republic of Ireland and France is from renewable sources.

A collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature, the SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies' targets.

Pinsent Masons undertook a rigorous 12-month audit of its entire greenhouse gas inventory to calculate its global carbon footprint and science-based targets, in line with SBTi methodology. 

Prior to the pandemic it achieved a 30% reduction in energy consumption across its UK offices via the implementation of technology-backed solutions and its transformation to agile working. In 2020 it launched its Climate Change Mitigation & Sustainability platform, to coordinate initiatives in order to reduce its own environmental impacts, and also support clients and work with third parties to influence positive change. 

Managing partner John Cleland commented: "As a firm that advises on groundbreaking low carbon projects and supports clients as they navigate sustainability and climate concerns, implementing our own science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement was a natural next step for us.

"We recognise that operating a 26 office global network with a 3,600 strong workforce has significant environmental implications and want to implement real, tangible changes that have a positive impact. We are proud of the progress we have made to date, but we know we cannot become complacent, and remain committed to playing our part in mitigating climate risk. This helps us focus us efforts in order to achieve this."