As a firm, we are committed to reducing our own environmental impact, in line with our Science-Based Targets (SBT), to drive sustainability, and we are continuously reviewing and improving the environmental performance of our own operations as well as that of our value chain.

We report to EcoVadis and, for the first time, in the 2024 disclosure cycle, we obtained a CDP “B” rating.

All offices contribute towards meeting our carbon reduction and environmental targets and are actively engaged in operational management projects. We work together across our firm to identify and implement innovative solutions and projects that address our environmental impacts. We are facing the challenges of the climate and nature emergencies, while ensuring our actions do not harm vulnerable communities.

Our work

As advisors, we play a vital role in addressing the diverse and evolving demands of the energy market, working with clients across the energy spectrum.

Our goals and FY25 highlights

In May 2021, we set certified science-based targets to halve our global direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 against the 2019 baseline. Our science-based carbon reduction target is underpinned by a global decarbonization program that focuses on our own operations and our value chain.

This year, we have gained further stabilization of our emissions following the Covid-19 slump and rapid recovery during 2021 and 2022.

At the end of the past financial year, our emissions were:

• Scope 1 (our direct emissions as a business from fuel, company vehicles and fugitive emissions): 1,901 tCO2e
• Scope 2 (indirect location-based emissions – average emissions where energy is consumed ): 8,041 tCO2e
• Scope 2 (indirect market-based emissions from the specific energy sources purchased by the firm): 2,541 tCO2e
• Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions from the firm’s value chain): 98,462 tCO2e

Programs

• Extensive supply chain engagement is the key to effective decarbonization. We are now in Stage 2 of our global responsible supply chain program and have started rolling out EcoVadis across pilot offices across the network.
• Disclosure and ratings help us identify gaps in how we deliver sustainability and how we demonstrate our credentials to our clients and society. We obtained our first EcoVadis scorecard and are working through the Effective Sustainability Disclosure Programme to better align with the market requirements.
• Offsetting does not replace emissions reductions, but it creates additional positive impact. Since 2016 we have offset more than 120,000 tons of carbon and we now only invest in removal projects.

Emissions

Our carbon footprint now benefits from methodological improvements – we now use a better and more reliable spend-based model for our purchased goods and services calculations, moving at pace towards primary data.

Certified environmental management systems

Our approach is underpinned by our ISO 14001 (U.K. and Netherlands) certified environmental management systems. The scope of our management systems comprises:

• UK – The provision of buildings engineering, facilities management and front of house services at A&O Shearman in London and Belfast.
• Netherlands - The provision of business services in the areas of catering, cleaning, security, reception, document management and reproduction, and building management at A&O Shearman in Amsterdam.

We are also expanding the coverage of our ISO 14001 with further offices to be certified over the next two years.