Climate Emergency
Matrix recognises the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, and the seriousness and urgency of the threat caused by these crises to the world’s population and its biodiversity.
Matrix is committed to taking immediate and continued action to mitigate as far as possible our impact on the environment, and to adapt to a more sustainable model of working with our organisation.
Matrix has a Green Committee to ensure that the organisation is doing all it can to model and encourage environmentally sustainable practices by questioning the status quo and to put in place action plans to address these objectives.
Our Actions
We will:
- Take active steps to continually reduce our Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions as far as reasonably possible.
- Regularly assess the impact of our activities on the environment and report to the Management Committee and wider Matrix membership on successes against commitments and further change needed
- Seek to use the law where possible to advance and support environmental protection and to protect against environmental degradation and increasing carbon emissions.
- Engage all at Matrix in decisions relating to the organisation’s impact on the climate and encourage all to live in more environmentally sustainable ways.
- Collaborate with others, both within and outside the legal sector, to achieve these commitments.
Targets
Energy reduction
Reducing purchased energy consumption to the lowest feasible baseline for Matrix, ideally by 10% in 2026 and by 15% in 2027 compared to the 2024 baseline by:
- Griffin Building: i) upgrading lighting to LED ii) installing solar
- Grays Inn Square: i) upgrading lighting to LED ii) installing secondary glazing
- Implement Matrix‑wide energy behaviour programme for all staff and members to include training, practical tips, AI energy usage awareness, other initiatives
Paper reduction
Reducing purchased paper to the lowest baseline possible for Matrix, ideally by 10% in 2026 and by 15% in 2027 compared to the 2024 baseline by:
- Implementing Matrix‑wide paperless / paper lite working programme for all staff and members to include double sided printing and other initiatives e.g. digital alternatives, A5 printing
- Identifying those staff and members who most heavily rely on paper documents and support them to a more digital / paper lite way of working with additional / bespoke training
- More generally, implement Matrix‑wide digital behaviour change programme for all staff and members to include training, environmental impact of paper awareness, practical tips, other initiatives
Carbon Footprint monitoring
Matrix has collected and analysed its carbon footprint data since 2019 and has used the Bar Sustainability Network’s Carbon Calculator since its inception. Over the last six years, the data collected has been used to track the positive impact of infrastructure, supplier and behaviour change within the organisation.
In 2025, a standardised data collection methodology was introduced to ensure that the information collected is in line with good practice (relevant, complete, consistent, transparent, accurate), and using only data that can be generated by Matrix or our suppliers. Matrix is committed to finding ways of producing actual data as far as possible rather than using assumed figures and has taken a decision to commit to reducing tCO2e rather than offsetting.
Matrix’s tCO2e footprint has been calculated as follows:
| Specific period | 2024 | 2025 |
| Annual tCO2e | 3,639 | 40.69 |
| tCO2e by number of people at Matrix | 24.1 | 0.26 |
| tCO2e by square footage of Matrix | 0.195 | 0.002 |
The magnitude of reduction from 2024-25 is partly credited to more accurate electricity data rather than a real-world emissions reduction.
Should you wish to know more about the methodology and assumptions made to calculate the figures, or have a question about previous year’s data using the earlier data collection methods, please email GreenStrategy@matrixlaw.co.uk
Membership
Matrix is a founder member of the Bar Sustainability Network. It is also a member of the Camden Climate Alliance.
Matrix’s Green Committee Chair, Zoe Leventhal KC, sits on the Bar Council’s Climate Crisis Working Group and on the Bar Sustainability Network’s Advisory Panel.
Matrix has signed the Greener Litigation Pledge.
Camden & Brent Business Climate Challenge
Matrix is delighted to have been selected for the Camden & Brent Business Climate Challenge, a voluntary energy efficiency initiative aimed at supporting up to 125 businesses in reducing energy costs and lowering carbon emissions. This programme is coordinated by the Camden Climate Alliance in collaboration with Brent Council and The Fitzrovia Partnership.
Through our participation, we have committed to achieving a minimum 10% reduction in energy consumption within the coming year.
Click here to read more about the programme.
In the below video, Zoë Leventhal KC discusses Matrix’s involvement in the Camden and Brent Business Climate Challenge.
Contact the Green Committee
Should you wish contact the Green Committee or have any questions about Matrix’s Green Strategy, please email GreenStrategy@matrixlaw.co.uk