News & Views

When a firm sets climate goals, how should it think about the footprint of employees, particularly in an increasingly “hybrid” working world? In this webinar, experts in employee engagement, behaviour change, Scope 3 emissions and new emerging offset options will discuss the future of the “net-zero employee.”

In this webcast, you’ll learn how to:

• Engage employees in sustainability and carbon mitigation efforts
• Equip employees with their own personalized footprint and action plan
• Incentivize employees with carbon offsets and pro-social rewards
• Communicate and report on how individual employee actions are driving collective impacts

REGISTER HERE 

COVID-19 has changed working conditions and lines have become blurred between home and work. With mental health particularly prevalent in lawyers amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Sharon Ponniah, a PwC health and wellbeing partner with a PhD in public health, shared her thoughts with Lawyer’s Weekly about the mental health risks within the legal profession, what more firms can do to support their employees and why it’s so important to implement initiatives now. “By designing the work to accommodate wellbeing needs like work-life balance, it can go hand in hand with the culture change to enable empowerment of lawyers, particularly those who are most vulnerable.” READ MORE 

Now is our once-in-a-lifetime chance to transform our economies and create sustainable, just and resilient systems. The urgency of understanding and addressing the climate crisis is accelerating as are the opportunities for firms to be a part of building a clean economy.

Join more than 10,000 leaders at the VERGE 21 Climate Tech event for four days of online insights from the private and public sectors, utilities, solution providers, investors and startups.

The seminar will explore systemic solutions to address the climate crisis through five key markets:

• clean energy,
• sustainable mobility,
• carbon removal,
• regenerative food systems and
• resilient infrastructure.

REGISTER HERE 

How exactly are businesses, universities and municipalities supposed to drive fast and furious carbon reduction goals while still reducing costs and ensuring more reliable backup power for their operations? Simply announcing corporate sustainability goals is one thing. But when it comes to achieving those goals, law firms often find themselves in a balancing act with three competing drivers: sustainability, affordability and resiliency. 

Learn about the steps firms need to take to achieve the coveted energy trifecta On Sept. 9, REGISTER HERE 

Art Simone is one of Australia’s best known and loved drag artists, and for this year’s Wear it Purple day, Pro Bono Australia discussed the challenges young LGBTIQ people are facing today and what being a Wear it Purple ambassador means to her. READ MORE 

The majority a law firm’s emissions and reduction opportunities sit outside of their own operations. Simply put, Scope 3 emissions refer to the indirect carbon emissions which occur from the goods and services we purchase. Any worthwhile climate change strategy needs understand and address these emissions. Take this online masterclass with Carbon Intelligence, and gain the information, inspiration and innovations you need to improve Scope 3 data analysis and ultimately minimise value chain emissions.REGISTER HERE

In 2018 the government introduced the Modern Slavery Bill requiring large companies to report how they ensure that their supply chains are free of slave labour. The requirement for transparency and accountability was intended as the start of a “race to the top” which would drive reform. But the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, recently found most companies are disclosing only the minimum and not wishing to reveal more than their key peers. In another sign on waning confidence in the bill, a new bill proposed by South Australian independent senator Rex Patrick, the Customs Amendment (Banning Goods Produced By Forced Labour) Bill 2021 would amend federal customs regulations to prohibit the import of any goods made using forced labour.

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The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) has filed federal proceedings to challenge Santos' claim that the company has a pathway to net zero emissions by 2040 in relation to concerns over the viability of carbon capture and storage and environmental impacts of blue hydrogen. The suit claims that Santos is engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct in potential contravention of both corporate and consumer law which is misleading investors. READ MORE

Moray & Agnew will donate a vaccination to another person from a country in need for each employee of the firm who receives their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The firm is also topping up this donation for its people who may not be able to receive a vaccination. Geoff Connellan National Managing Partner said “COVID-19 impacts all of us as a global community. We wanted to help make a difference where we can by acknowledging our people having vaccinations whilst also supporting UNICEF’s program"

A great podcast by Lawyers Weekly Show discussing the benefits of Board work and how it makes more rounded legal professionals and provides rewarding personal growth. Hear about how and why Hamilton Locke partner Nick Edwards got involved with board work for NFPs and the flow-on professional skills that come with such work. Listen HERE