As a leading law firm, we recognise our responsibility to drive the transition to a low carbon economy. Playing our part in tackling climate change was a cornerstone of our responsible business strategy over 2022 to 2024.
Meaningful climate action requires clear, credible and measurable commitments. Since first signing Business in the Community Ireland’s Low Carbon Pledge in 2018, we’ve steadily progressed on our decarbonisation journey, securing SBTi-approved targets in May 2024 and setting a benchmark for sustainable buildings with our newly developed HQ.
Setting ambitious targets was possible thanks to the commitment of our people to embedding sustainability across our business. Our progress in meeting those targets will rely on our continued collaboration, effort and commitment between now and 2030.
Highlights 2022 - 2024
Targets and emissions
- science-based targets approved by SBTi in 2024
- 56% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 absolute emissions (2024, since 2019)
- exceeded our Scope 3 emissions reduction target by 24.2% in 2024
- 25% reduction in business travel-related emissions (2024, since 2019)
Our offices
- new Dublin HQ sets the benchmark in sustainability and energy efficiency in its construction and design
- 86% of construction waste diverted from landfill
- 100% renewable electricity procured across Dublin, Belfast and London offices
- A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP is the only law firm in Northern Ireland to achieve Gold level in the 2024 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey - up from Silver in 2023
Our environment partners and networks
Our approved emissions targets
01
Reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 66.2% by 2030.
Emissions associated with gas and electricity use in our offices (base year: 2019).
02
Increase sourcing of renewable electricity from 79% to 100% by 2030.
In our Dublin, Belfast and London offices.
03
Reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 46.2% by 2030.
Across fuel and energy-related emissions, waste, business travel and employee commuting (base year 2019).
04
83% of our suppliers by emissions to have set science-based targets by 2028.
Decarbonising our supply chain by helping our suppliers establish systems to measure and reduce their emissions.
Our carbon footprint 2022-2024
We’ve made good progress on our journey to decarbonise our operations and improve the accuracy of our emissions data, while navigating both challenges and opportunities.
As we emerged post Covid-19 in 2022, like many organisations globally, we embraced agile working and increased our reliance on digital technologies. Since then, our firm has seen a steady rise in air travel for business development and client engagement.
In Dublin, a temporary relocation in mid-2022 from our single occupancy North Wall Quay HQ while it was undergoing renovation to two shared occupancy buildings introduced some challenges in capturing accurate emissions data. Despite this, we remained focused on improving our data capture processes and establishing efficient reporting procedures.
Our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been calculated in line with and independently verified to GHG Verification Standard: ISO – 14064-3:2019 Specifications with Guidance for the Validation and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Statements.
Progress to date in meeting our emissions targets
Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Across 2022 to 2024, our Scope 1 emissions decreased modestly (-16%) as we continued to rely on natural gas and oil for heating in our Dublin and Belfast offices.
By 2024 our Scope 2 location-based emissions had fallen by 77.87% from our baseline, however, largely due to the transition to 100% renewable electricity in our Dublin and Belfast offices.
Scope 3 emissions
In 2024 our relevant Scope 3 emissions had reduced by approx. 54% of our 2019 baseline. To ensure we stay on track we must continue to be vigilant in our approach, enhance the quality of our data and continue to engage with our stakeholders across our value chain. Our emissions reduction targets in Scope 3 apply to categories 3, 5, 6 and 7.
- Category 3 emissions from fuel and energy-related activities had increased by 63.5% over our baseline in 2024. This was due to gas and oil being used for heating in our Dublin and Belfast offices. Following the move to our new HQ in Dublin we expect emissions in this category to decrease considerably.
- Category 5 emissions from waste fell by 90% below our baseline in 2024. However, our calculations on waste are based on approximate data due to our Dublin office residing in shared tenancy buildings from 2022-2025. This figure may be revised following the relocation back to 25 North Wall Quay.
- Category 6 emissions from business travel had reduced by 25.17% in 2024 compared to our 2019 baseline – dropping from 736.93 tCO₂e to 551.40 tCO₂e. However, since 2022 emissions have been rising consistently, with an average annual increase of approx. 36%. We remain committed to monitoring our progress and adapting our strategies to stay on course.
- Category 7 emissions from employee commuting have dropped 97.7% due to hybrid working. This figure is an approximated figure based on data from a 2021 commute survey and may be revised when we conduct an updated commute survey in 2025.
Scope 1 and 2 Emissions
Select Scope 3 Emissions
How we’re reducing carbon
Building for the future
We decided to redevelop our HQ at 25 North Wall Quay in Dublin to create a state-of-the-art office for our people and clients. It also allowed us to progress on our path to net zero operations and maintain our deep roots in the local community.
Our new home completed in May 2025 is a bespoke, world-class 155,000 square foot waterfront building fitting our place as a market leader. This landmark development demonstrates our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and employee wellbeing through the following features:
- in its reconstruction, the building retained 75% of its original structure; 86% of construction waste was diverted from landfill
- while the building size increased by 35%, energy demand in daily operations reduced by almost 70%, from 180 kilowatt hours per meter squared to 55 kilowatt hours per meter squared
- building is powered by 100% renewable electricity procured and generated on-site
- all heating, cooling and hot water systems are powered by heat pumps
- 200 bicycle spaces, 200 lockers, dry room, shower and changing facilities support active travel
“In partnership with our landlord, IPUT, we’ve delivered a headquarters that not only reflects our values, but actively supports our environmental commitments. Despite its increased footprint, the building is expected to use 67% less energy than before, thanks to all-electric heat pump and smart technologies that optimise efficiency. Our shared vision was to set a new benchmark for sustainability in Ireland and deliver a pathway to a net zero carbon workplace that empowers our people and supports our near-term science-based targets”
Keith Walsh
Head of Workplace Services
Enhancing our data quality
Following a comprehensive review of our data collection processes to improve both efficiency and accuracy, we undertook several key initiatives. As part of this we:
- ensured all datasets are fully aligned with our Scope 3 emissions categories
- partnered with Goodbody Clearstream on building a customised carbon calculator solution
- upskilled our teams to meet evolving best practice standards
- collaborated with our travel provider, Atlas Travel, to ensure our CO₂ emissions reports are aligned with our calculation methodology
- are planning an employee commuting survey in 2025, to update our commuting data
Promoting sustainable travel
We produced a sustainable travel policy to support us in meeting our travel-related carbon emissions targets. Covering business travel and employee commuting, it aims to strike the right balance between in-person engagement and sustainable practice.
Air travel
Air travel is essential to how we serve our clients and maintain international relationships. At the same time, we need to meet our 2030 emissions targets. Following our policy means we can ensure we continue to support our clients effectively while reducing our environmental impact.
Advancing supply chain sustainability
In 2025, we will focus on reducing environmental impact across our supply chain by supporting suppliers to measure their emissions and set meaningful reduction targets.
Green Committee: sustainability in motion
Our Green Committee brings together volunteers from across our Dublin and Belfast offices. It runs multiple initiatives to support the firm in implementing our Environment strategy. In 2024, the committee established subgroups focused on biodiversity, sustainable travel, circular economy and communications.
Sustainable travel
Championing cycling to work: distributing free bike lights and other equipment to promote safety.
Lunch and learn: Bike to Wellness panel discussion and launch of internal resource hub.
Waste reduction
Reusable cups: collaborated with OneALG to design and launch a co-branded Chilly’s reusable cup.
Waste reduction campaigns: in line with wider waste management programme, including battery collection, WEEE initiative in our Belfast office to manage IT assets, and a campaign on correct waste disposal and recycling in Dublin.
Climate awareness
Climate Challenge: launched and championed the Funds Industry Climate Challenge internally, saving 17,000KG of CO₂ emissions over two weeks.
Lunch and Learn: ‘Sustainability and wellbeing: food for thought’ with FoodCloud, Global Action Plan, and Green Earth Organics. We created an information hub on reducing and avoiding food waste.
Biodiversity
Nature restoration is increasingly recognised as a vital solution in addressing the climate crisis. Reflecting this importance, we have made tackling biodiversity loss one of the key focus areas of our 2025–2027 Responsible Business Strategy.
In the past three years, we sponsored the planting of 2,000 trees with ReforestNation – 1,000 in Ireland and 1,000 in mangrove forests in Madagascar through Reforest’s partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects.
“As a fast-growing not-for-profit, having the support of A&L Goodbody has been nothing short of a godsend. Their experience and integrity have allowed us to move quickly, and to lean on them for far more than legal advice. The team has been instrumental and genuinely passionate about supporting nature restoration. We’re incredibly grateful for the partnership.”
Matt Smith
CEO, Hometree
Pro bono support for restoration of complex ecosystems
Establishing and conserving permanent native woodland in Ireland is the purpose of Hometree CLG (Hometree), a registered charity. It encourages land regeneration and biodiversity through afforestation, restoration and education.
ALG helps Hometree with the Wild Atlantic Rainforest project, which is restoring large landscapes and complex ecosystems by acquiring and financing sites in the West of Ireland.
We’ve already advised on potential projects with two renewables operators, involving the transfer and/or lease of lands to Hometree for biodiversity improvement.
Furthermore, we’ve negotiated an agreement involving a wind farm operator's replanting obligations, where Hometree will acquire, manage and afforest lands funded by the operator.
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