Net Zero Toolkit

In preparation for COP26 in November 2021, The Chancery Lane Project (TCLP) launched a Net Zero Toolkit helping lawyers amend their contracts to meet net zero goals.

The toolkit comprises:

• 100+ climate clauses including 24 best-in-class high ambition clauses aligned with the Paris Agreement goals.
• Net zero implementation tools to help lawyers understand the concept of net zero, accurately define climate terms and know the key issues to look out for when including net zero commitments in contracts.

• Other tools including a clause timeline and net zero transition map to help lawyers choose the right climate clauses for their agreements.

TCLP’s toolkit ensures that legal agreements use the net zero concept accurately and with sufficient ambition to align with the 1.5 degree Paris Agreement goal, ensure offsetting and governance targets are robust and appropriate action plans are in place to enable the most efficient net zero transition.

TCLP’s climate clauses undergo a three stage peer review process before they are published, during which they are rigorously quality controlled and scrutinised for technical accuracy, commerciality, relevance and usability by sector specialist lawyers, expert environment lawyers, and the TCLP team.

Matthew Gingell, Chair of TCLP and General Counsel at Oxygen House Group, said: “Whether a company is in the foothills of their net zero journey, unsure of what exactly net zero is or where to start, or if they have already implemented climate-aligned clauses and are looking to be more ambitious in their net zero drafting, this toolkit is for everyone. It gives lawyers the tools they need to amend their agreements today to create the best climate outcomes as fast as possible and to lead the way in the Race to Zero.”

TCLP is a pro bono initiative that brings legal professionals together to collaborate and rewrite contracts to support communities and businesses in fighting the climate crisis and achieving net zero carbon emissions. The Chancery Lane Project is independent of any professional body or practice and is politically neutral. The clauses are the product of The Chancery Lane Project’s events, where lawyers from across the profession collaborate to draft new climate clauses. The ground-breaking initiative launched in November 2019, and now has more than 1,100 active participants, across 200 organisations.

TCLP’s clauses are free to use and available to download via this link. Google Doc and .csv versions of the documents are available via this link.

From 1 October 2021, TCLP is hosting a number of events to introduce the toolkit, followed by sector specific workshops to empower and enable lawyers to use the tools themselves. Visit the events page here to sign up.

For more information on The Chancery Lane Project or if you are a lawyer seeking to volunteer your time, please visit our website. To receive regular email updates register here.

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