Take action

How it works

Wherever you are at on your net zero journey, you have the power to play an important role in the sustainability of our profession. Together we can make a huge difference and ensure our profession is sustainable.

Commit to becoming net zero today and demonstrate that you will be taking active steps to reduce your contribution to global carbon emissions.

We are offering a choice of two pledges - one for firms and one for individuals.

For firms

This pledge is for any firm, company or in-house department which works within, or is connected to, the intellectual property sector. We ask that only one person completes the firms' pledge per organisation and that they have appropriate authorisation to do so on behalf of their firm.

Sign on behalf of your firm to make a commitment to taking the simple steps set out in the pledge. Your firm's logo will be added to our pledge signatories page, making a public commitment to taking action on net zero.

Benefits of signing the pledge:

Demonstrate a public commitment to sustainability
Appear on our pledge signatories page
Join our knowledge sharing network and events
Get a CITMA endorsed badge for your website
Play an important role in the IP community

You should include at least one, up to three, named individuals in your firm who are your 'green champions', these will not be published, but we will reach out to them as the key sustainability contacts at your firm. They do not necessarily need to be CITMA members and could include your sustainability lead.

Please see our FAQs below - if you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please contact us via [email protected]

We commit to taking action to do our part to reduce our contribution to emissions by:

Appointing a green champion within our firm, organisation or in-house department.
Putting in place a robust plan to measure and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions e.g. investigating and measuring emissions, setting scope-based targets and/or emissions reduction goals. This can include third parties measuring and reporting on our behalf.
Setting an overall target for us to become net zero and, where possible, setting an aspirational year to achieve net zero and/or more immediate and achievable time-based goals to reduce emissions.
Facilitating engagement within our firm and encouraging members of our firm to engage in positive sustainability practices.
Engaging with the IP community to collectively tackle climate change.
Playing a key role in promoting sustainable practice e.g. by publishing our progress annually.
Aiming to inspire and support climate positive actions both collectively as a firm and at an individual level e.g. through making choices at a firm/individual level to have a positive impact on the environment and/or engaging with communities/climate campaigns and/or supporting these causes.
Facilitating engagement towards positive sustainability practices with our suppliers, clients and those we work with, where possible.

Company name *

Country *

Number of employees

Green champion(s) - please add in the names and email addresses of your sustainability contacts

About you - your name *

Your email *

Upload your logo

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My company is happy to appear publicly on the pledge signatories page

My company commits to the pledge above and I have the appropriate authorisation to sign on behalf of my organisation *

FAQs

Why are we doing this?

Every organisation, regardless of size should be taking its responsibility to be sustainable seriously. There will be challenges along the way, but this is a move that every sector of the economy needs to make, so why not get started now.

By working collectively together as a profession we can make a far greater difference, and wouldn’t it be great to say the trade mark legal profession is net zero.

We know from our own journey that knowing where to start is not straightforward – we want to help with that starting point and provide the impetus to make a change.

You may already be well on your way, or just starting out – either way by signing this pledge you are committing to seeing through your transition to net zero.

We are already net zero or are working towards it should we sign?

Absolutely! This pledge is for every firm with ambitions to become net zero, including those that are already there or on their way towards it.

If you are already on your journey that is great news, hopefully you can help share some of your insight too.

What is CITMA planning to do?

We will be publishing more content and running webinars and events during 2024. We’ll also be looking at how else we can support you and your firm to be net zero.

Do we have to do everything in the pledge?

We are not here to dictate to firms exactly how to be sustainable – achieving the goal of net zero will look different for each firm and each will have different timescales and challenges to overcome.

But the pledge will provide impetus for you to set goals and ambitions to be net zero and consider how best to get there.

What if we do not meet the targets?

This is not an accreditation scheme, however by signing the pledge, a firm is making a commitment to make itself publicly accountable.

Is CITMA taking steps to become net zero?

Absolutely, we are committed to being net zero within the next few years and are working hard to achieve this.

We achieved accredited carbon neutral status in 2022 and 2023, and are on track to get this for 2024 too.

Can we pull out of the pledge?

If required, just email us and we’ll remove your logo.

For individuals

Whether or not your firm has signed the pledge we would be delighted for you to make a personal commitment to helping advance the drive towards net zero.

You will be part of a broad coalition of people helping to promote sustainable value within our profession.

Your name will not be published, but we promise to keep you regularly updated with our progress and invite you to view new resources and attend events.

Become a net zero IP supporter (for individuals)

I commit to:

Supporting net zero initiatives, educating myself on ways I can contribute and, where possible, supporting the development and implementation of practices in my working life to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Adopting sustainable practices in my work and personal life, such as reducing energy use, waste, travel and consumption, and choosing low-carbon alternatives where possible.
Participating in engagement activities and initiatives within my firm and the IP community to learn, share and collaborate on climate solutions and sustainability practices.
Aiming to inspire and support climate positive actions among my colleagues, family, friends and networks.
Encouraging those I work with to adopt similar commitments and actions to address climate change.