Forsters LLP commits to a science-based emission reduction target
Forsters, one of the leading Real Estate and Private Wealth law firms, announces today a commitment to a science-based emission reduction target. As part of its sustainability commitments, Forsters has set a target of reducing its absolute scope 1,2 and 3 emissions by 50% by 2030, starting from a baseline year of 2019.
At the same time, the firm has joined the Business Declares movement, cementing its formal recognition of the Climate Emergency and the role it wants to play in tackling climate change. These two developments coincide with the impending climate discussions taking place in November 2021 at COP26. Forsters recognises the importance of businesses taking action to tackle climate change and looks forward to the outcome of these discussions.
Forsters has been a carbon neutral firm since 2007 but has a desire to do more in tackling the climate crisis beyond offsetting its own emissions. With today’s announcement, Forsters becomes one of the first law firms among its peer group to make a formal commitment to science-based targets. The firm is working with the Achilles Carbon Reduce Programme and will be submitting its target to the Science Based Target initiative for validation. In addition to emission reduction, Forsters will continue to offset its emissions each year as it works towards its stated target.
The firm’s commitment to the Business Declares movement is therefore aligned with its own sustainability commitments and reflects its longer-term ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, in accordance with UK Government goals.
Kelly Noel-Smith, CSR Partner at Forsters, said: “We feel passionately as a firm that collaboration with our immediate stakeholders and the wider business community is fundamental to bringing the necessary change to limit the worst effects of global warming. We understand the importance of businesses of all sizes taking action to address climate change, and we are proud to be one of the first law firms of our size to commit to these ambitious science-based targets.
We look forward to working alongside members of Business Declares, our clients, intermediaries and others, as well as continuing to work with other law firms in the Legal Sustainability Alliance and Sustainable Recruitment Alliance.”
Our Sustainability Hub
We are committed to running a business that is environmentally sustainable. Not only do we continually strive to minimise our impact on the environment, but we have years of experience of incorporating sustainability considerations into the legal advice that we provide to our clients. Our sustainability hub brings together the team’s insights and legal expertise on a broad range of environmental matters that affect our clients’ business and personal affairs. This is a rapidly evolving and wide-ranging area of law and we will continue to share our insights about related legal developments on this hub.