ABA Sustainability Policy and ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge

The lunchtime panel will discuss two important Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) initiatives that reflect our commitment to environmental stewardship– the ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge and the Model Sustainability Policy. SEER rolled out the Climate Challenge at Keystone last year, and lawyers from firms who have taken up the challenge will discuss their firms' participation. In addition, EPA's general counsel, Roger Martella, will discuss a lawyer's "carbon footprint." Then, we will focus on the SEER Model Sustainability Policy for law organizations. This is a model commitment to sustainability covering the “triple bottom line” of economic, social and environmental responsibility. It was developed by the Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Ecosystems (CCSDE) Committee of SEER, with the help of several dozen members. It includes general guidance as well as a checklist of implementation ideas that law organizations can use to evaluate their current status and develop their own implementation plan. As of October 2007, six law firms were piloting this tool. CCSDE has posted the list of pilot firms and supporting information on its website and will be further publicizing these efforts. After we describe the program, representatives from the pilot firms will offer their perspectives. Keystone attendees are invited to bring a poster describing their law office’s sustainability program, and SEER will display them during this program. Look for details on the Section’s Web site.

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