RHT commits to net zero carbon emissions by 2030, launches new sustainability consultancy

• The net zero target and new suite of services mark the culmination of RHT’s three-year push to position itself as a sustainability champion in Singapore’s green economy. 

Singapore, 25 June 2021 – RHT announced its commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, reinforcing its long-standing sustainability efforts. It is one of the first home-grown legal and professional services networks to adopt a net-zero target. 

RHT has assembled a team of dedicated sustainability consultants who will oversee and implement a detailed roadmap with three key thrusts: mitigation, compensation and neutralisation of emissions. 

Mr Azman Jaafar, Managing Partner of RHTLaw Asia, said, “We first looked inward to reflect on our own sustainability journey to identify how we can lead by example. We then looked outward to see how we can help our clients develop sustainable value creation strategies and become catalysts for change within the economy.” 

To equip clients with the right advice and knowledge to compete in Singapore’s green economy, RHT has also launched a new suite of sustainability services delivered by the same team of dedicated sustainability consultants working through RHT Green

Mr Wee Boon Siong, Chief Executive Officer of RHT Green, said, “Backed by an ecosystem of legal and professional services, we offer an all-encompassing proposition to clients who need comprehensive solutions to help them move towards a greener future.” 

RHT Green will help clients develop corporate sustainability strategies, conduct sustainability training and advise clients on decarbonisation, waste management, sustainable finance, sustainable building, as well as renewable energy and technology. 

Guest-of-Honour Mr Tan Kiat How, Minister of State for Communications and Information & National Development

The announcement and launch took place during RHT Rajan Menon Foundation’s (“Foundation”) Greening ASEAN: Initiatives & Leadership (“GAIL”) Sustainability Forum which was attended by Guest-of-Honour Mr Tan Kiat How, Minister of State for Communications and Information & National Development. 

Speaking at the event, Mr Tan called for the private sector to seize green growth opportunities. He also urged organisations to make their operations more environmentally friendly and to work with the government to develop new solutions that push the boundaries of sustainability through research and innovation. 

The GAIL Sustainability Forum hosted insightful panel discussions to examine how businesses and governments can deliver on their net zero commitments, as well as how investors can play an active role integrating social factors into investment strategies. In addition, leaders in sustainability shared their insights on advancing the circular economy. 

Now in its third year, the GAIL Sustainability Forum is one of RHT’s many philanthropic efforts in support of environmental and broader sustainability causes. In 2020, the Foundation launched a social enterprise, RHT G.R.A.C.E. Institute, which promotes leadership anchored on environment, social and governance (“ESG”) principles. 

Earlier in March this year, RHTLaw Asia also launched its ESG practice to complement RHT’s suite of holistic sustainability service offerings. In 2019, RHT invested in AirCarbon, the world’s first fully digital exchange for voluntary carbon offsets. 

This is in line with RHT’s belief that it is critical for businesses to focus on ESG so that they can meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. 

Mr Azman attributed RHT’s foresight to its culture: “We have been fortunate. We try very hard to think ahead of the curve. By the time the Singapore Green Plan was launched earlier this year, we realised that we were already into the 3rd year of our sustainability initiatives. With RHT’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, we believe that we are on a clear path towards a greener economy. The challenge for many businesses lies in the need to embrace change quickly to avoid being left behind in an evolving market,” added Mr Azman. 

About RHT Rajan Menon Foundation 

A Singapore registered charity and grant-making philanthropic organisation, RHT Rajan Menon Foundation Ltd (“Foundation”) enables RHTLaw Asia LLP and the RHT Group of Companies to do right and do good through various charitable endeavours. 

Named after RHTLaw Asia LLP’s Founder-Senior Consultant Rajan Menon, the Foundation was set up in 2015, and was registered as a Singapore charity by the Commissioner of Charities and a grant-making philanthropic organisation by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore on 16 September 2016 and 28 November 2016 respectively. 

The Foundation seeks to establish, inspire and encourage the right philanthropic culture among the corporate and legal fraternity of giving back to the community in a focused, hands-on and meaningful manner. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than S$2 million to support beneficiaries involved in education, the environment, disadvantaged groups as well as the arts and sports. 

For more information, please visit www.rhtrajanmenon.foundation 

About RHT 

RHT is a legal and professional services network which seeks to be a beacon of growth for its clients, stakeholders and communities, achieving outcomes that lead to Purposeful Growth. 

RHT advises organisations in sustainable value creation strategies with its team of dedicated sustainability consultants supported by multi-disciplinary capabilities across the RHT network. 

RHT is committed to partner its clients in leveraging key sustainability approaches and principles to transform their business models to align with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) imperatives and to deliver a coherent and effective strategy. RHT delivers rigorous, holistic and trusted solutions to help clients derive purposeful growth and business value from strategy through to execution. 

For more information on RHT’s sustainability services, please visit www.rhtgreen.com