Sustainability & Resilience Bulletin, 17 April 2026

In this week’s bulletin read about the publication of the Critical Infrastructure Bill, a report identifying renewable energy as a hedge against fuel price volatility, the new ISO 140001 standard and investment in critical water infrastructure. Also covered are the publication of guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), resources on nature as a source of long-term value and to support assessment of nature-related financial risks, and the usual articles, resources and upcoming events.

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IRELAND

Institute congratulates Gorm!

Chartered Accountants Ireland congratulates Gorm for winning the ESG Company Award (SMEs) in the Business & Finance Media Group ESG Awards 2026, in partnership with Grant Thornton Ireland. Chartered Accountants Ireland was honoured to have been shortlisted in the category and congratulates all fellow nominees, and all winners, across the categories.

IRELAND

Minister Chambers publishes Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026

The Government’s Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 has been published, and it aims to fast-track the approval processes for critical infrastructure projects in Ireland. The Bill will allow Government, with Dáil approval, to designate specific infrastructure projects or programmes that the Government considers to be critical, thereby requiring all State bodies involved in the approval process for the infrastructure in question to prioritise their consideration of it. It also requires all State bodies involved in the approval processes for this infrastructure to cooperate and coordinate with each other.

In Chartered Accountants Ireland’s reaction to the publication of the Bill, Director of Members and Advocacy Cróna Clohisey described it as “a significant step in the Government’s approach to addressing Ireland’s infrastructure challenges.”

Renewables an “important hedge against fuel price volatility”

At a time of intense focus on energy prices, a new review paper from the Economic and Social Research Institute Ireland (ESRI) has found that while interventions such as energy credits have alleviated much of the burden for Irish consumers, Irish electricity prices have been among the most expensive in Europe during the 2018–2024 period of analysis. Read more here.

New ISO 14001:2026 Standard now available

The new edition of the leading International Standard for environmental management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, is now available. Adopted by more than 600,000 organisations worldwide, ISO 14001provides a framework to help organisations of all types and sizes manage their environmental responsibilities systematically and effectively. The new edition has improved guidance, navigation and alignment with environmental priorities such as climate change, biodiversity and resource efficiency. It also aims to integrate seamlessly with other ISO management systems standards.

Investment in critical water infrastructure resilience

Uisce Éireann is to invest over €500 million in 30 critical water supply projects over the next ten years, as part of its Water for Growth Programme. The projects are to build resilience by upgrading treatment plants, building new trunk mains, and installing new strategic water storage facilities. This is in addition to the investment in leak-reduction of €420 million over the next five years to prevent the loss of up to 250 million litres of water per day. Uisce Éireann’s Growth and Development Programme is the national programme of targeted investment to enable essential housing. The delivery of water and wastewater capacity is identified as vital to support economic growth locally and nationally. 

EUROPE

Guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) publish

The European Commission has published guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to facilitate the uniform application of the new packaging rules across the EU and simplify compliance for economic actors and Member States. The guidance document presented by the Commission clarifies rules where the PPWR need further interpretation and areas where stakeholders have requested assistance. The law aims to contribute to a more sustainable and competitive packaging sector across the EU and to strengthening the Single Market for packaging through common rules. Several delegated and implementing acts are being prepared, including on harmonised registration and reporting formats for the extended producer responsibility, labelling for waste sorting by consumers, recycled content in plastic packaging, and recyclability criteria. These are being prepared in close cooperation with Member States, stakeholders and trading partners.

TECHNICAL ROUNDUP

(From our colleagues in Professional Accounting)

• The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has published its March 2026 ISSB update and podcast.
• The UK Endorsement Board is conducting research  to better understand company experiences in relation to the UK’s climate-related financial disclosures reporting regime. If you are a company reporting under these regulations and would like to take part, please contact the researchers at climatefinresearch@iffresearch.com to arrange a time to be interviewed.

RESOURCES

CAANZ, ACCA publish case study on sustainability assurance judgement

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have issued a report to guide assurance practitioners on applying professional judgement to estimates and forward-looking information in sustainability engagements. Estimates, targets, transition roadmaps and projections are now a core part of sustainability disclosures and are increasingly influential for investors and other stakeholders. However, this type of information is by nature uncertain. It rests on assumptions, expert judgement and future developments that may be outside an organisation’s control. The report, A case study: Demystifying the assurance of estimates and forward-looking information in accordance with ISSA 5000, is presented as a practical case study to support practitioners in applying that judgement. It looks at how assurance providers can address the inherent uncertainty in estimates and forward-looking disclosures when conducting engagements under ISSA 5000.

Nature as a source of long-term value

In this blog, Natura’s Group Chief Financial Officer, Silvia Vilas Boas, shares how the organisation integrates financial, social and natural capital, how the finance team works alongside sustainability colleagues to guide everyday decisions, and how new financial instruments are being used to channel capital towards nature positive and socially inclusive outcomes.

OECD publishes report on enhancing interoperability of policy‑mandated emission monitoring, reporting and verification systems

The OECD has published a Technical summary report,  exploring practical avenues for establishing interoperable carbon intensity metrics by leveraging existing policy-mandated monitoring reporting and verification (MRV) systems and data governance frameworks. The report finds, among other things, that interoperability does not require full harmonisation of MRV systems. Instead, it can be enhanced by expanding coverage and increasing emissions data disaggregation and by establishing mutual recognition of emission estimation methods and reporting and verification frameworks. The report concludes by outlining practical actions to strengthen interoperability via policy-mandated MRV systems, including options to improve alignment, data transformability and mutual recognition across systems.

New materials to support assessment of nature-related financial risks

The Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) has released a package of materials to support the assessment of nature-related financial risks.

The package provides practical tools for central banks and supervisors to integrate nature-related risks into their work to help strengthen the resilience of the financial system. Nature degradation, such as deteriorating water or soil quality, can have knock-on effects that can lead to economic and financial damage.   

The World Bank now estimates that as much as half of the world’s GDP relies on biodiversity, nature capital and ecosystem services. In his opening remarks at a panel discussion on “Incorporating nature into supervisory practices” Frank Elderson stated that in the euro area, nearly 75% of banks’ corporate lending goes to firms that are highly dependent on at least one ecosystem service.”

A Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank and Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB, Elderson warned that in the face of multiple challenges, the very urgent often overtakes the vitally important: “Put bluntly: if we keep destroying nature, we keep destroying economic activity. And this leads to risks surging, prices rising and instability spreading to every part of society and across borders.” 

ARTICLES

• “ESG considerations are now central to capital allocation” – CEO Q&A with Keith Butler, Group CEO of Acorn Life Group (Business and Finance)
• ‘Greenhushing’ flagged as growing risk in Irish finance (Business Post)
• AI laws overlook environmental damage – here’s what needs to change (The Conversation)
• How this aerospace company built resilience through sustainability (ICAEW Insights)
• US EV Fast-Charging Network Grows Amid High Gas Prices (Bloomberg)
• UK Car Sales Rise to Highest Since 2019 in Resilient Showing (Bloomberg Green)
• EU climate chief warns there is ‘no workaround’ for high energy prices (Financial Times)

EVENTS

IBEC, Briefing: Voluntary Sustainability Reporting for SMEs - VSME
At this briefing Lorraine McCann, Managing Director, Sustainability Reporting Lead, KPMG will provide an overview of the voluntary sustainability reporting standard (VSME), the key reporting requirements and how it can assist SMEs in responding to requests for information from companies in their value chain. The briefing is for any SME that wishes to become more informed on the voluntary sustainability reporting standard (VSME) and the potential benefit to their business, as well as senior leaders, owners, compliance managers, risk managers, sustainability managers, environmental and EHS professionals, accountants, operations managers, employees with sustainability reporting as part of their role
Virtual |Monday 27 April | 3.00pm – 3.45pm |  Free, booking required

UN Global Compact, Climate Ambition Accelerator — 2026 Applications Now Open
The UN Global Compact's Climate Ambition Accelerator is now accepting applications for 2026. This six-month programme equips companies with the knowledge and tools to accelerate progress toward setting science-based emissions reduction targets aligned with the 1.5°C pathway — putting them on track for net-zero by 2050.
Application Deadline: 30 April 2026 | Programme: May–November 2026

IBEC, Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations - Guidance on new requirements
A free 1-hour briefing on the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR) and the implications for business. 
Virtual, Friday 1 May, 12.00 noon - 1.00pm

Enterprise Ireland, Sustainability Kickstarter Workshops
A half‑day workshop series designed to support business leaders in recognising the strategic importance of sustainability and decarbonisation. The sessions provide practical skills to integrate core sustainability principles, identify competitive opportunities, and build actionable plans to meet rising customer expectations for sustainable products and services.
Friday, 8 May 2026 | Half‑day workshop

ICAEW, Sustainability for business 2026
This in-person event brings together business leaders – especially from SMEs – to explore how sustainability is shaping the UK business landscape and influencing resilience, competitiveness, and access to capital. Through a mix of interactive sessions, expert discussions and real-work examples, the event will help businesses understand the practicalities of sustainability such as related risks and opportunities, how peers are responding, and what this means for long-term planning and decision-making.
In person, Chartered Accountants' Hall, Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA, 11 May, 2026, 08:00 - 12:00      

Sustainability Centre

You can find information, guidance and supports to understand sustainability and meet the challenges it presents in our online Sustainability Centre.