ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
We recognise that every person, in every country across the globe is impacted in some shape or form by climate change. Much is happening around the world; investments in renewable energy like wind and solar have soared, but more needs to be done. As a firm, we are committed to measurable environmental progress both in our environmental management and in our work towards achieving our net zero ambition.
We are fully focused on operational emissions reductions, holding ourselves accountable through a robust data driven approach. This rigour is essential in tracking and addressing all emissions, and especially Scope 3 indirect emissions across the value chain, which account for over 90% of our total carbon footprint. By linking emissions insights directly to our operations and key projects, we can truly work collaboratively with our suppliers, prioritise reductions where they are most impactful, and take decisive action on Scope 3 emissions.
Our reduction achievements
Highlights from FY 2025/26
Looking forward FY 2026/27
Memberships
UN Sustainable Development Goal
Our reduction achievements
Market-based Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduced by 49.82% since FY 2019/2020
Environmental Representatives supporting our goal to become net zero.
Business travel emissions reduced by 70.63% since FY 2019/20
Please take a look at our Environmental Emissions here.
Highlights from FY 2025/26
FY 2025/26 represented a significant shift in transparency and clarity around the route forwards to achieve net zero.
We have further strengthened our commitment to responsible, transparent and accountable environmental data and reporting by fully onboarding and embedding our new carbon accounting platform, provided by the Normative team. This investment reflects our belief that credible, real-time data is essential to meaningful climate action. We have worked closely with our Climate Strategy Advisor and the team at Normative to ensure all our data dating back to FY 2019/20 is fully captured, interrogated and reported on in line with SBTi requirements and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
Led by our Environment, Health and Safety Team, we have been re-accredited to ISO 14001, recognising that we have an effective Environmental Management System in place, providing a framework for continuous improvement in our environmental performance.
This year, we chose ‘a Just Transition’ as our theme for our annual EnviroNovember campaign, raising awareness of environmental issues and providing valuable insight into what individuals can do to adapt to more sustainable lifestyles. You can read more about the campaign and the link between environmental progress and social equity here.
Members of our Net Zero Working Group worked extensively and diligently with the data insights from our reporting platform to develop Science Based Targets (SBTs), now submitted to SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) for validation. SBTs will ensure we have a clear path to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goal (the level of decarbonisation required to keep global temperature increase within 1.5° compared to pre-industrial temperature level). Find out more about our SBTs here.
Our focus on the impact of business travel emissions led us to refresh our Travel & Expenses Policy to promote purposeful travel, prioritise lower emission options such as rail, and discourage unnecessary journeys. A key addition to the policy was the introduction of a £300 'Carbon Fee' on business class flights, which has encouraged a 30% decrease in business class flights compared with FY 2024/25. The money raised has supported the Solent Oyster Restoration Project in collaboration with GreenTheUK and Blue Marine Foundation.
FY 2025/26 was about putting the right foundations in place – strengthening our data, increasing transparency, and aligning our ambitions with climate science whilst making use of the most up to date and robust carbon emissions calculation methodology. With our Science Based Targets now submitted for validation, we’re turning our focus to building robust action plans and working closely with colleagues, suppliers and partners to drive meaningful emissions reductions, and converting insight into action as we progress towards net zero.
Mat Swift
Senior Environment, Health & Safety Manager
Looking forward - FY 2026/27
As a natural progression following our submission of climate targets for SBTi validation, and to support the achievement of SDG 13 – Climate Action, we have a new and exciting project for FY 2026/27: to design and roll-out a climate literacy training programme across the business, building on the environmental training delivered to date. Our ambition is to further embed sustainability into our everyday thinking and behaviours, bridging the gap between ‘knowing’ about climate change and ‘acting’ effectively against it.
Memberships
As part of our memberships below, over FY 2025/26:
We contributed to two guides produced by the LSA. First, we collaborated on the development and publication of the LSA Travel Guide on sustainable business travel for the sector. The guide covers varying levels of organisational maturity, ensuring it is accessible and features practical tips that are relevant for as many in the legal sector as possible. Womble Bond Dickinson team members served as sub-leads and took part in the LSA webinar launch of the guide. Our team also contributed to the LSA Sustainable Procurement Guide.
We hosted a session centred on leadership and engagement and facilitated a discussion amongst leaders in the sustainability space in Bristol as members of the Bristol Climate Leaders Group. This allowed us to share our experiences, challenges and the opportunities available to the group in engaging senior leaders in different sectors.
Legal Sustainability Alliance (LSA) – founding and active executive member
Energy and Environmental Alliance – founding member and legal counsel committee member
Team London Bridge – and signatories to the London Bridge Decarbonisation Charter
Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership – also the Climate Leaders sub-group
Hydrogen South West
Hydrogen UK
Scottish Renewables
Renewables UK – and in workings groups for Charging/Networks and Manufacturing
Regen
The Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE)
Newcastle North East Energy Trade Association (NOF)
Our priority UN Sustainable Development Goal
Goal alignment
13.3 Improve Education and Awareness
improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
