The Climate Active certification means that all greenhouse gas emissions made by KWM’s Australian financial year 2022 operations were offset to cancel out its impact on climate change.

The certification signifies an ongoing commitment, the firm said, and certification for the current financial year is presently underway.

The emissions that were quantified and offset include scope one, two and three emissions for accommodation and facilities, electricity, food, air, land and sea transport, machinery and vehicles, postage and freight, technology, office equipment and supplies, waste, water and working from home. 

These emissions have been offset via programs in Australia, China, and India, using a mixture of Australian carbon credit units, verified emissions reductions and verified carbon units.

Each of these programs has been intentionally chosen for the different benefits each provides.

Within Australia, cultural burning was chosen as it benefits First Nations people and improves natural landscapes’ resilience.

A small run-of-river hydro-power project in China reduces reliance on fossil fuels for local communities, while alternative energy projects in China and India use animal, food, and agricultural waste to generate electricity, providing health, employment and other benefits for poorer communities. 

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“The certification is an important accomplishment and significant step towards KWM’s objective of achieving net zero emissions by 2050,” the firm said in a statement. 

Commenting on the certification, KWM climate and environmental, social and governance practice head Claire Rogers said: “Responding to the issues surrounding climate change presents us with a great opportunity to play a key role as leader, advisor and community partner for our people, our clients and our future”.

The carbon-neutral status builds on the separate recertification earlier this year of KWM’s Environmental Management System to reduce emissions, waste, water, and energy use. 

Key elements include sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity for its Australian operations before 2024 and a 100 per cent reduction of scope-two emissions and commitments to set science-based targets by December 2023.

KWM climate change and sustainability manager Susan Kitchener commented: “Certification of our carbon neutrality and of our Environmental Management System are the first steps in what we believe is a robust and holistic climate change and sustainability strategy.

“We are fully committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and look forward to sharing our interim and long-term goals, which we have committed to set under the Science-Based Targets Initiative.”