Matheson is delighted to have signed up to the Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) Low Carbon Pledge, which sees the firm committing to set science-based emission reduction targets by 2024, including measuring and reducing the entire carbon footprint (Scope 1, 2 and 3) of the business in line with the Paris Agreement and the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings.
The goal of the Low Carbon Pledge is to achieve carbon neutrality and a net zero world by 2050. All signatory companies commit to:
- Record their entire Carbon Footprint, both direct (Scope 1 & 2) and indirect (Scope 3) carbon emissions.
- Reduce carbon emissions that they are directly responsible for (Scope 1 & 2), as well as play their part in reducing emissions across their supply chain (Scope 3).
- Report publicly their individual progress, as well as collectively through the annual BITCI Low Carbon Report.
- Regularly review their carbon reduction targets (SBTs) to align to the latest Climate Science.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael Jackson, Matheson’s Managing Partner said:
"Signing up to the Low Carbon Pledge demonstrates our commitment to taking action and leading on the transition to a low carbon economy. As a business, Matheson is committed to environmental, social and governance standards as implemented through our Impactful Business Programme – a dedicated programme combining our Diversity and Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility and Arts initiatives, supplemented by our pro bono work and employee wellness activities.
Matheson's Environmental Sustainability Committee is tasked with implementing initiatives and setting targets, to ensure the firm meets and continuously improves its sustainability objectives. We have already made significant progress in the area of energy consumption, waste management and carbon footprint. We are committed to promoting environmental sustainability and awareness at all levels of the firm and in particular through minimising energy usage and maximising recycling. In 2020 and 2021, we engaged a number of environmental consultants to advise us on a number of aspects of our sustainability initiatives, including the measurement of the firm’s scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 emissions, and our Environmental Sustainability Committee is now implementing a number of measures across the firm in order to further reduce our carbon footprint."
Also commenting on the announcement, Garret Farrelly, chair of Matheson's ESG Advisory Group, said:
"Matheson's contribution to a green transition from a client facing perspective extends to the work of our multidisciplinary ESG Advisory Group – a team of highly experienced lawyers at the forefront of supporting our clients in responding to legislative and regulatory change; delivering on their own ESG goals; and meeting the challenges and opportunities in doing so. As a signatory to the Low Carbon Pledge, we are proud to continue our commitment to keep sustainability at the core of our business."
Tomás Sercovich, CEO of Business in the Community Ireland, commented:
“Our carbon emissions are continuing to rise, and the collective role of business in addressing this urgency is clear. BITCI are thrilled to welcome Matheson as a signatory to our Low Carbon Pledge – the first dedicated pledge by Irish business to set science based targets and commit to disclosing their trajectory of emissions in direct pursuit of reducing carbon usage. This now brings the Pledge to 71 businesses across Ireland committing to undertake the collaboration and change on carbon emissions and more, which is imperative to reach the global commitments of the Paris Agreement. We look forward to supporting Matheson to delivering change within their business.”
Signing the Low Carbon Pledge builds on Matheson's range of sustainability initiatives, including the firm's recently launched carbon footprint tracker app, CarbonCal, which allows employees to calculate their carbon footprint, find out achievable ways of cutting carbon, and measure their carbon footprint reduction progress over time. Developed in collaboration with Matheson's Digital Services Group, the app – one of the first of its kind to be developed by an Irish law firm (or any other Irish professional services firm) – is a key step in furthering the firm's sustainability goals and making it easier for employees to live and work in a greener way.
The Low Carbon Pledge is the first dedicated pledge generated by Irish business to set industry standards on sustainability and reduce carbon usage. Powered by the Leaders’ Group on Sustainability - a coalition of Ireland’s leading organisations that is striving to improve the sustainability of the Irish business sector through sharing best practice and creating new ways of doing business - the Pledge calls on businesses to work towards setting science-based emission reduction targets necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2024 at the latest.
