You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
Legal Attaché, CEPANI
On June 17, 2024 , CEPANI40 organized a webinar on "Green Arbitration in Practice" with the aim of evaluating the current state of green arbitration. Participants received insights into the green initiatives led by the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations, CEPANI, and other arbitration institutions, along with practical tips on how they can contribute to greener arbitration practices. The session was conducted by Lauren Rasking (Counsel at A&O Shearman, Co-Chair of CEPANI40, and member of the CEPANI Greener Arbitration Committee) and Guillaume Croisant (Counsel at Linklaters and Co-Chair of CEPANI40). They introduced the speakers and the topic, highlighting the significance of the UN report on global warming.
The first speaker, Mr. Andrew Mackenzie (co-chair of the European Committee of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations, Chief Executive of the Scottish Arbitration Centre) presented the purpose and structure of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations (“CGA”) and gave an overview of its guiding principles. He also explained the different protocols available on the website of the Campaign.
Mr. Mackenzie also gave the audience a few practical examples from the Arbitration Conferences protocols and the protocols on Arbitral Institutions.
I then had the pleasure of presenting the participants with a summary of the initiatives taken by CEPANI to reduce its environmental impact.
CEPANI has been dedicated to this issue for some time now, for example by promoting the use of electronic tools to minimize document printing. Examples include the use of BOX, electronic signatures, virtual hearings and meetings, and electronic communications during proceedings.).
In the past two years, new initiatives have emerged with the establishment of the Greener Arbitration Committee by the CEPANI board. Alongside the committee's efforts, the Secretariat has reviewed the CGA protocols for arbitral institutions and conferences. While many recommended measures were already in place, additional actions have been implemented, such as always offering a vegetarian option and reporting environmental impact improvements in the annual report.
Acting on the Committee's suggestion, the CEPANI board signed the Green Pledge in June 2023.
Following a recommendation from the Committee, the CEPANI Secretariat is currently working towards obtaining the Ecodyn label for CEPANI.
The Ecodynamic Enterprise Label is an official and free recognition. It rewards and encourages companies, non-profit organisations and institutions in the public or private sector in Brussels that take action to reduce the impact of their activity on the environment.
To obtain the Ecodyn label, you must register your company's activities, such as office operations, event organization, and travel for CEPANI. This involves responding to hundreds of detailed and tailored questions about your practices. The platform assists in tracking implemented practices and provides numerous new ideas, complete with practical advice and tools for implementation.
Additionally, I presented a comprehensive list of CEPANI's green initiatives, covering the following topics:
General commitments and promotion
The staff will hold an annual team meeting each January to assess ongoing monitoring, review accomplishments, and introduce new initiatives. The results of this meeting will be discussed at the next board meeting and included in the annual report.
CEPANI collaborates with "Graine de Vie" as an eco-partner for carbon offsetting.
CEPANI is committed to regularly hosting events or segments of events focused on environmental sustainability.
Events
Each event will be analysed using a checklist with concrete measures to reduce food waste and minimize the overall environmental impact.
Waste and Consumption Reduction
We will continue promoting electronic proceedings, including the use of BOX, electronic signatures, virtual hearings and meetings
We have implemented a new eco-friendly font, Century Gothic 10, which uses less ink when printed, for all external communications such as letters, emails, and documents.
We no longer print documentation for our events.
Mobility
We are systematically monitoring our international travel and the associated CO2 emissions.
For journeys of less than 400 km, we will prioritize the purchase of train tickets over plane tickets.
We will assess the transportation methods of participants attending the annual conference and General Assembly, and track these patterns on an annual basis.
The final speaker, Mr. Flip Petillion (Managing Partner at Petillion and Chair of the CEPANI Greener Arbitration Committee), showcased the Committee's achievements. The Committee aims to position CEPANI as a leader in greener arbitration and dispute resolution proceedings in Belgium.
One key proposal from the Committee was the adoption of the CEPANI Greener Arbitration Pledge by the Board. This pledge is intended for individual counsel, their firms, and arbitrators to publish on their websites or in firm brochures, promoting sustainable practices. In March 2024, the Board approved both the Pledge and its promotion by CEPANI.
The Committee also recommended the adoption of sample language for inclusion in Procedural Order (PO) No. 1 or Terms of Reference (ToR) to encourage sustainable measures during proceedings. These templates were also approved by the Board. The Committee is actively working to further promote these initiatives.
Following the presentations, the audience had the opportunity to ask questions.