At Womble Bond Dickinson, responsible business is one of our core strategic objectives. Among our key priorities, environmental stewardship stands out, brought to life each year through our EnviroNovember campaign. Now in its fifth year, EnviroNovember has become a cornerstone of our culture, engaging our people and inspiring practical action across the firm.
EnviroNovember began as a simple suggestion from one of our EnviroReps: encourage individuals to reduce their environmental footprint. Over time, it has evolved, reflecting a growing understanding of environmental issues and their urgency. In 2025, we broadened our focus, adopting “The Just Transition” as our theme — a concept centred on tackling inequality and ensuring the shift to net zero carbon emissions is fair and inclusive. The Just Transition, highlighted in the 2015 Paris Agreement, is now internationally recognised as essential to meaningful climate progress.
This November, we raised awareness of these issues and empowered our people to consider the wider social impact of environmental action. Our campaign included thought-provoking talks and interactive workshops, featuring voices from inside and outside the firm. A standout was a session with Euella Jackson, an award-winning presenter, creative producer, and film-maker known for championing social justice and empowering underrepresented young people through creativity. Euella explored how storytelling and the arts can drive meaningful change, drawing on her work with major organisations and her latest film, Capsule, which examines the local impact of Just Transition initiatives.
Eurella commented:
"A Just Transition is a once in a generation opportunity to address social inequality while thinking holistically about climate justice. It's accessible and it's not just for the few natural history experts or environmental scientists - this is for and about everyone! It's about dreaming about what kind of world we want to live and work in and taking a multi-pronged approach to change hearts, minds and actions in ways that bring us joy, make us closer to each other and that are good for the planet too"
"It was an honour to be invited to deliver a talk as part of WBD's EnviroNovember on a Just Transition, it's great to see that these conversations are happening on an organisational level, and that everyone is encouraged to get involved."
Our 35 environmental representatives organised local events and volunteering opportunities, including a community litter pick near the Plymouth office, volunteering at The People's Kitchen food bank, a talk from Northern Powergrid Foundation in Newcastle, and a screening of 'Chasing Coral' with weekly updates at the Southampton office. These activities fostered collaboration, raised awareness, and spurred practical action, reflecting our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and social equity.
Internal communications highlighted the unequal effects of climate change and carbon reduction, encouraging colleagues to reflect on how our work can contribute to fairer outcomes. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with colleagues sharing experiences and ideas, sparking lively discussions and a renewed sense of collective purpose.
As a firm, we have made significant progress to date, including a 58.99% decrease in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since our 2019/20 baseline (as of FY 2023/24), and we are committed to submitting Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) targets for validation this financial year. Our investment in a new carbon reporting platform will enable more comprehensive and frequent reporting, allowing us to monitor emissions in real time and focus on reducing Scope 3 emissions, a vital step towards net zero.
Collaboration remains central to our approach, as we engage with regional and national networks to maximise our impact. Recently, we hosted a Bristol Climate Leaders session focused on senior leadership engagement. As EnviroNovember has come to an end, we look forward to building on this momentum, continuing to champion environmental responsibility and social justice in all our endeavours.
This article is for general information only and reflects the position at the date of publication. It does not constitute legal advice.
