CMS is aiming to become carbon neutral by 2025, the firm has announced, as sustainability continues to rise up the legal industry's agenda.

In a statement on Tuesday, CMS said it had spent a year measuring its carbon emissions across its global offices, and is now targeting staggered reductions across its main operational and supply chain emissions.

CMS is aiming to reduce emissions by 30% by 2025 and by 50% by 2030. The firm said it will offset remaining emissions to hit its carbon neutral target.

Penelope Warne, senior partner at CMS, said in a statement: "We are living through difficult times, but as a firm we recognise that climate change remains a central priority for us, our people and our clients.

"That is why it is so important that our commitment to reduce emissions to net zero by 2025 is backed by scientific and independently verifiable measurement. It also focuses our attention and efforts on practical behavioural change, operational improvements and supporting suppliers to make a real difference."

The initiative comes as firms pay more attention to the issue. A Law.com International U.K. survey at the start of this year found that more than 60% of 90 lawyers asked believe measures such as cutting carbon emissions and reducing plastic should be made law for firms.

A further 34% of lawyers canvassed believed firms should "commit" to taking sustainability measures.

Last year, Ashurst appointed its first-ever global head of sustainability while Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer appointed its first client sustainability chief.

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