Sept. 10, 2008 - A U.K. legal association is encouraging its peers to go green with the development of a carbon footprint measuring tool specifically designed for law firms.

The Legal Sector Alliance launched the new Carbon Footprint Protocol because, it says, many firms don't know how to even begin measuring their greenhouse gas emissions.

"You can't manage what you haven't measured, so calculation of your carbon footprint is absolutely crucial before you take action to reduce it," explains Law Society chairman Des Hudson.

Developed in consultation with the Carbon Trust, the protocol is a voluntary spreadsheet-based measurement tool with accompanying guidance. Firms will be able to enter data about their energy use, travel, and work with suppliers into the spreadsheet to calculate their emissions and set performance benchmarks.

"It must be stressed that no firm using the protocol to measure their carbon footprint will be required to publicly disclose the results, where firms choose to make the information available or it is requested by clients the protocol does allow fair comparison," Hudson says.

In addition to environmental benefits to climate measuring, firms who do participate in the protocol may see economic benefits as well. U.S. law firms are increasingly implementing green initiatives to attract more corporate clients.

To download the The Legal Sector Alliance Carbon Footprint Protocol, click here.