We take responsibility for the green transition

We will measure, track, and manage our climate footprint. Our climate footprint is not just an internal responsibility – it is also a benchmark for how we contribute to the green transition. Our footprint reflects the way we organize our activities, prioritize our efforts, and understand our role in society. Since 2019, we have been working actively and systematically to measure, track, and manage our carbon footprint. We do this to establish a solid data foundation for our reduction targets and initiatives and to ensure transparency regarding our climate efforts.

The climate report has been prepared in accordance with the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG). It ensures consistent and reliable reporting of all seven greenhouse gases, converted to CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e), broken down into Scope 1 (our own direct emissions), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from the energy we purchase), and Scope 3 (other indirect emissions from our value chain).

Our climate accounts document our emissions year by year and provide a comprehensive picture of where our climate footprint originates – and how it evolves over time. These accounts form the basis for our reduction targets and are a key tool in our efforts to track progress toward our SBTi goal. We publish our climate accounts annually to ensure openness and transparency regarding our climate efforts.

Our climate accounts are available below.

Binding climate targets

The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) is a partnership established between WWF, the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project). It is a non-profit initiative that builds directly on the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement and the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and aims to encourage companies to set binding reduction targets in line with climate science and the Paris Agreement.

In recent years, the SBTi has achieved global recognition as one of the most widely accepted standards for companies seeking to set ambitious and binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are proud that our climate targets have been validated and approved by the SBTi.

Specifically, we have set a binding climate target that is in line with the Paris Agreement – a so-called ‘near-term science-based target’ that supports our efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C degrees.

Our SBTi target is that, using 2022 as the base year, we commit to:

• By the end of 2030, having reduced our Scope 1* and Scope 2 emissions by 70% *Market-based approach
• By the end of 2028, ensure that 71.8% of our suppliers, measured in terms of emissions – covering purchased goods and services as well as business travel – have set emissions reduction targets through their participation in the SBTi.

We continuously monitor our climate targets. We have set ambitious targets because we believe it is necessary. This is not without its challenges, and we are aware that there is still a long way to go. We are developing a climate transition plan that will set out in concrete terms how we will translate our SBTi targets into action. A number of the initiatives we have already launched are described below.

We are actively working to reduce our carbon footprint

Following on from our climate accounts and our commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative, we have launched a wide range of initiatives designed to help us reduce our overall carbon footprint:

Focus on energy efficiency. We are working to reduce our consumption of electricity, district heating and district cooling through energy-efficient operations and conscious choices at our offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus. Since 2021, we have offset 100% of our expected annual electricity consumption at our sites by purchasing certificates from renewable energy sources. Solar panels have also been installed on the roofs of both offices.

Furniture and fixtures with a focus on environmental and climate considerations, as well as durability and the potential to form part of a circular economy. When procuring furniture and fixtures for our new offices, we have placed great emphasis on solutions with a low carbon footprint, long durability and the potential for reuse. We have also focused on durable design and maintenance, which allows us to replace parts of furniture without having to discard the whole item in the event of a fault or due to wear and tear. A large portion of our newly purchased furniture (approximately 50% of all newly purchased fixtures, measured by number of units) is labelled with the EU Flower. The EU Flower label considers the entire life cycle of the furniture and takes into account people, the environment and the Earth’s resources.

Thoughtful food. In our canteen in Copenhagen, Bistro32, we operate according to the principle of “fewer dishes, better ingredients and more vegetables” – without compromising on taste and quality. We prioritise organic produce, seasonal ingredients and a wider range of vegetarian dishes.

Transport policy for the company’s employees. We have developed an internal transport policy designed to help the company’s employees make the most appropriate transport choice when, for example, they need to attend meetings, go to conferences or visit the office in Aarhus or Copenhagen. We have a fleet of company bicycles for short journeys and nearby meetings.

Striving to tailor our legal advice where relevant. In addition to our internal initiatives, which are designed to help reduce our footprint ‘in our own backyard’, we wish to continue making a positive difference through others, namely our clients and business partners. At Poul Schmith, we advise on all legal aspects within ESG and the three areas: environmental, social and governance. We understand the complex and intricate interrelationships and differences between the various regulatory frameworks and sectors, and we draw on our experienced ESG advisers across specialist areas.

Part of a sustainable community

CONCITO. In 2019, we joined the green think tank CONCITO, becoming the first law firm in Denmark to do so. Our lawyers have provided pro bono counseling to the think tank, which works to strengthen the climate agenda.

UN Global Compact. We have joined the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest voluntary initiative for responsible business. The initiative sets out a common framework for communicating companies’ progress and commitment to responsible business practices. This means that, as a firm, we are committed to reporting annually on how we implement the UN Global Compact’s 10 principles for responsible business conduct. These principles, which cover human rights, labour rights, the environment and anti-corruption, form a central foundation for our approach to responsible business conduct.

Our annual Communication on Progress reports and CEO statements are available on the UN Global Compact website.

Legal500 Green Ambassadors. The firm is listed in the Legal500 Green Ambassadors, featuring several prominent partner profiles. The guide highlights, on a global scale, which law firms and individuals have succeeded in demonstrating a contribution to the green transition. It takes a holistic approach to firms’ ESG commitment, i.e. both the advice provided to clients and the firms’ own ESG practices and initiatives. See more here.

BREEAM and DGNB Gold. The office building we rent in Copenhagen is BREEAM-certified with a ‘Very Good’ rating, and the office building we rent in Aarhus is pre-certified to DGNB Gold and registered with Den Frivillige Bæredygtighedsklasse (DFB).

Continued transparency and reporting

We see transparency as a natural part of running a responsible business. Therefore, we will continue to report openly on our work across the ESG areas. We will continue to produce our annual climate accounts, follow up on our Science Based Targets, report in accordance with Real ESG and fulfil our commitments under the UN Global Compact.

Strengthened data foundation. We are working to strengthen and expand our data foundation. Our reported data builds on a solid foundation from previous years and is becoming increasingly comprehensive and accurate. This applies both to the data we collect ourselves and to the data we receive from external parties such as suppliers.