News & Views

AusLSA's major supporter, EY  announced today that it will achieve carbon neutrality by the end of 2020. EY will focus on areas including reducing travel emissions, sustainable procurement practices and purchasing more renewable electricity to power EY offices. It will also purchase carbon credits to offset the EY carbon footprint and invest in projects that reduce carbon emissions or remove carbon from the atmosphere including reforestation projects. Read more HERE 

The opportunities to be carbon neutral and the appetite for of businesses to address the negative impacts of its operations have increased both. This provides a forward facing approach that deals with the future and current emissions without really addressing social economic and environmental impacts that we have already caused. Companies are now making climate positive commitments that recognise the need to reverse the higher levels of atmospheric GHGs and reverse the damage already caused.  Read about the Carbon Positive trend HERE 

Who isn't looking for some reason for optimism to start 2020 and to see some signs of positive change in our society and economy?... I know I am. Each year the 2020 State of Green Business surveys the S&P 1200 and S&P 500. The results might surprise you. Read the full Report Here 

Last summer, 181 CEOs signed the Business Roundtable’s new memo on the “Purpose of a Corporation,” which emphasized their commitment to customers, employees, suppliers, and communities more broadly. And when it comes to addressing difficult economic, environmental and societal challenges, these companies are starting in their own backyards – partnering with communities to provide the investment and innovative solutions needed to revitalize local economies and improve lives. Read More Here 

The last decade has seen strong progress from the corporate world, with more and more companies building effective ways to foster and encourage inclusivity and diversity. ... And according to recent research, there is no doubt that LGBT-inclusive companies attract better talent and decrease employee turnover. Read More 

The Government has now launched new guidance to assist businesses and to explain in plain language what entities need to do to comply with the Act following the introduction of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act, on 1 January 2019.

The guidelines and the Department’s other modern slavery resources can be found HERE

 

AusLSA recognises the commitments and achievements of the finalists in the Women in Law Awards - Diversity Law Firm of the Year;  Ashurst, Clayton Utz, Coleman Greig Lawyers, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Dentons, Gilbert + Tobin, King & Wood Mallesons, McCullough Robertson, Shine Lawyers and Sparke Helmore Lawyers. We hope that you will review the other achievements if these firms in the upcoming 2019 AusLSA Sustainability Insight.  

The 12th Annual Performance Report on the National Pro Bono Target has reported an increase of 14.11% in pro bono work to 473,380 hours, the highest ever recorded. This included target signatory firms undertaking an average of 35.83 hours of pro bono per lawyer.  Read More 

AusLSA is proud to support and recommend the  Women In Law - The Next 100 Years  seminar. The activity, commitments and progress of many AusLSA member firms to improve gender equality should be an inspiration to others both within and outside our industry. RSVP 

There has been a lot of press in the past week about the new Modern Slavery Legislation. At the very least, businesses with a revenue threshold of $100M (or $50M in NSW) will be required to publish Modern Slavery Statements which address supply chain risks. If you still don't know what this is about, there is a great article from Lawyers Weekly HERE and another from Monash Business School  HERE.