Sustainability Centre

  In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin, read about new resources on sustainability from Chartered Accountants Ireland, sustainability in the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Statement of Strategy 2025-2028, the Gender Balance in Business Survey 2025, energy updates, news from Europe, and the usual articles and upcoming events.   Chartered Accountants Ireland Why SMEs hold the key to real climate action In this article by Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Sustainability Advocacy Manager, Susan Rossney describes how Northern Ireland’s SMEs are at the heart of the region’s climate transition. It describes how supporting SMEs is not just good climate policy—it’s smart economic strategy. “If we’re serious about climate action, we must empower SMEs with the tools, incentives and clarity they need to lead the way. Their impact is local, immediate and transformative.”  (Business Eye) Is the CSRD rollback the end or a new start for sustainability? The CSRD rollback is raising new questions for sustainability reporting. Stephen Prendiville (Deloitte), Sophie Sweeney (University of Galway) and Susan Rossney (Chartered Accountants Ireland) discuss the new VSME standard, the value of strategy over reporting, and the accountants' role in maintaining the sustainability momentum. (Podcast - 51 mins)   IRELAND Sustainability in Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Statement of Strategy 2025-2028 The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has published its Statement of Strategy 2025-2028, setting out a new path to drive competitiveness, sustainability and prosperity over the next three years. The new strategy outlines six cross-cutting goals aimed at strengthening Ireland’s position as a leading location to work, do business and visit. It places a strong emphasis on innovation, digitalisation, decarbonisation and infrastructure. To achieve its goal of driving competitiveness, sustainability and innovation, and building the resilience of the economy the Department states it will “advance the green transition in enterprise [in line with Government’s Climate Action Plan] through delivering decarbonisation roadmaps; a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Tourism Sector; providing effective supports and incentives, and; implementing the Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy and the EU’s Net Zero Industry Act.” Energy updates The Government has published the text of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025. This bill, once enacted, will provide the mechanism for government investment of €1.5 billion in ESB Networks to support development of Ireland’s electricity grid over the next five years. This is part of the €3.5 billion government investment approved in the National Development Plan in July. The bill, which will now pass through the Houses of the Oireachtas, also provides for an increase in ESB’s statutory borrowing limit from €12 billion to €17 billion.  Separately, it was also announced this week that funding of €27 million is to be provided from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) for local authorities to support and build low carbon communities across the country. The National Economic and Social Council (NESC), meanwhile, has identified key risks to energy transition policy and has set out an agenda to respond to them, categorised into actions for ‘now’, ‘next’, and ‘later’. The risks were outlined at the recent National Energy Summit 2025, which brought together 300 experts from industrial, policy, and NGO sectors. Speaking at the conference, Dr Cathal FitzGerald (Senior Analyst at NESC), stated “the transition must make sense at ground level – socially, economically, and politically – as well as on a graph”. CSO surveys shows that a third of Senior Executives in Ireland in 2025 were female The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published its Gender Balance in Business Survey 2025, providing official statistics from the CSO on gender representation in Senior Executive teams and Boards of Directors of large enterprises in Ireland. The survey results show that 32 percent of all Senior Executives in Ireland in 2025 were female, 19 percent of Chief Executive Officers in Ireland were female, almost one in five Boards of Directors had a female Chairperson and 28 percent of members of Boards of Directors in Ireland in 2025 were female. The survey was conducted in response to the Balance for Better Business initiative and aims to provide benchmark information on gender representation. The 2025 survey is the fourth iteration of the survey, which repeats every two years. Urgent action needed on biodiversity, warns CCAC The Climate Change Advisory Council has said that Government must urgently strengthen planning processes to prevent further biodiversity loss and embed nature-based solutions in the design and delivery of all future infrastructure developments. In its Annual Review of biodiversity, published this month, the Council has called on the Government to issue national guidance and enact specific regulations to better integrate biodiversity into the planning system. This should include the use of nature-inclusive infrastructure design, the creation of biodiversity corridors, and the restoration of nature-friendly habitats in all new developments. Research from PwC has found that more than half of global GDP is exposed to material nature risk without immediate action, with $58 trillion at risk. NORTHERN IRELAND/UK Energy updates The UK government has published its first ever national plan to recruit workers needed for its clean energy mission, with over 400,000 extra jobs by 2030. The Clean Energy Jobs plan is part of the UK Industrial Strategy and sets out the workforce needed to deliver the UK’s clean energy ambitions, and how the government will work in partnership with industry and trade unions to deliver it. Separately the UK government has announced that families and small businesses are set to benefit from greater protections and consumer rights when things go wrong in the energy market, with quicker redress and compensation through the Energy Ombudsman, a crackdown on energy brokers to eradicate exploitation, and protections for businesses when installing smart meters. EUROPE MEPs to vote on simplified sustainability and due diligence rules in November The European Parliament has rejected the mandate adopted by the Legal Affairs Committee on 13 October on simplified rules for sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations, by 309 votes in favour, 318 against and with 34 abstentions. Parliament will decide its position on simpler sustainability requirements ahead of talks with EU governments at the next plenary session in Brussels on 13 November. They will then be ready to start talks with EU governments, which already adopted their position on 23 June. The aim is to finalise the legislation by the end of 2025. European Parliament Gender equality week From 3 to 7 November 2025, the European Parliament committees will be discussing how to harness women’s talent through education, training and employment, to drive economic growth and progress. Under the overarching topic of “Talent” the week will feature several committee debates and events, focusing on closing the gender talent gap in education and creating conditions where women can thrive. It will highlight equality – not just as a matter of fairness, but as a driver of economic growth and progress, by using women’s talent to the full. This is the sixth annual European Parliament Gender Equality Week to assess progress, highlight achievements, and identify new ways to promote the rights of women and girls and achieve gender equality, and events can be followed live. European Union prepares for COP30 The European Council has published climate finance figures in preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP30 & CMA7), which will take place from 10 to 21 November in Belém, Brazil. The figures are based on the EU climate finance reporting rules laid down in the governance regulation. In 2024, the European Union and its 27 member states contributed €31.7 billion in climate finance from public sources and mobilised an additional amount of €11.0 billion of private finance to support developing countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Separately, the European Parliament has adopted its priorities for COP30, urging it to recommit to limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The resolution, prepared by the Committee on the Environment Climate and Food Safety, was approved on Thursday and underlines the need for the EU to remain a leader in international climate negotiations, and that all sectors must contribute to reducing emissions and achieving climate neutrality. The resolution reiterates the urgent need for the EU to end its fossil fuel dependence, phase out related subsidies and accelerate its energy transition. It also calls on the international community to pay increased attention to the climate impact of conflicts. WORLD A report published by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has revealed that 91 percent of listed companies now disclose sustainability-related information, with 81 percent of these disclosures being externally assured. Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2025 provides insights on how companies are implementing the sustainability-related recommendations of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. These recommendations cover disclosure, shareholder-company dialogue, board responsibilities, and stakeholder engagement. The absolute number of companies disclosing sustainability information also increased but remains a moderate share - below one-third - of the total number of listed companies. Articles   New laws mean employers will have to reveal salary ranges in job ads and will be prevented from asking about pay history (Irish Independent) 87% of hoteliers plan sustainability investments – survey (RTÉ) Green roofs and permeable paving: how to solve both the human and nature housing crises (Irish Times) Carbon dioxide levels hit new high, locking in overheating of Earth for centuries, WMO warns (Irish Times)   Events Ibec Networks Autumn Seminar Series, Session 4: The culture of sustainability innovation The final webinar in a four-part series Autumn Seminar Series ‘The culture equation’ looks at what supports are available to assist on a journey to becoming a more sustainable business. In the supporting case study from O'Brien's Fine Foods the webinar will discuss what drives a sustainability focused culture in an organisation. Virtual, Thursday 13 November, 11.00-11.50am IBEC, Preparing for Severe Weather Events Severe weather conditions can cause major disruption to roads, bus or train infrastructure and therefore, the operation of your business. In this webinar, Dr. Michael Gillen, Head of OSH Policy will review the key points to consider, practical steps and control measures you can put in place. Virtual, 26 November 11:00 - 11:45   Sustainability Centre You can find information, guidance and supports to understand sustainability and meet the challenges it presents in our online Sustainability Centre.  

  In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin, read about sustainability in Accountancy Ireland, the upcoming Government Supply Expo which will cover sustainable public procurement, and sustainability in NTMA’s institutional investor presentation. Also covered are the changes to sustainability reporting and the new ISO Standard on biodiversity for organisations, as well as the usual articles, resources and upcoming events.   Chartered Accountants Ireland These articles on sustainability were published in the October/November issue of Accountancy Ireland “It takes a lot of people working together to bring about real change” Chartered Star 2025 winner Sophie Sweeney talks to Susan Rossney, Sustainability Advocacy Manager with Chartered Accountants Ireland, about the future of sustainability in the profession and its impact on wider society   Beating the bills while protecting the planet Pinergy’s Daire Keating explains how all businesses can now combine affordability and sustainability when assessing their energy needs   Female representation in financial services on the rise As a proud signatory of the Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter, Chartered Accountants Ireland has called on the Government to take action to improve access to affordable childcare.  The latest annual report from Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter shows a marked rise in women in senior roles in financial services—but barriers to equal representation remain.   Chartered Accountants Ireland joins CAFA Chartered Accountants Ireland has joined Climate Action for Associations (CAFA), a network dedicated to net zero and sustainability for the membership sector. “Joining the CAFA Collective demonstrates Chartered Accountants Ireland’s commitment to drive stronger climate leadership,” Susan Rossney, the Institute’s Sustainability Advocacy Manager, said. “It empowers us to communicate our climate action intention internally and externally with key stakeholders. It is also aligned with the Institute’s Strategy 27, which is guided by values of accountability, excellence and openness, and shaping the future of business with integrity, and underpinned by a powerful principle: Trusted Business Leadership.”   IRELAND Green public procurement in Government Supply Expo 2025 Green public procurement is one of the topics that will feature in the Government Supply Expo 2025, an all-island procurement event taking place in the Aviva Stadium on 11 November. The event is being organised by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and InterTradeIreland. Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment Emer Higgins has encouraged Irish businesses, particularly SMEs, micro and social enterprises to network, to attend the largest procurement event of the year, build collaborations and scope out upcoming procurement opportunities. Along with green and sustainable public procurement, topics to learn about include the tendering process, innovation, tendering tips and the supports and resources available to suppliers. Sustainability in NTMA’s institutional investor presentation The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has published the latest version of its presentation for institutional investors, with information on Ireland’s energy mix, highlights on Irish Sovereign Green Bond Impact Report, policy on just transition and biodiversity. You can view the full presentation here.   EUROPE Changes to sustainability reporting The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has approved its position on a series of changes to sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies. These changes are to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and are part of the Omnibus I Simplification Package which is aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on businesses. Among the changes are that the CSRD would apply only to companies with more than 1,000 employees and €450 million in annual turnover, and the CSDDD will apply only to companies with 5,000+ employees and €1.5 billion in turnover.  There will be no EU-wide civil liability framework, and while climate transition plans remain mandatory, companies will no longer be required to outline specific implementing actions. Instead, they must make reasonable efforts to align their business models with EU climate legislation and the goals of the Paris Agreement. The next steps are for Parliament to approve the committee mandate at the next plenary session, after which MEPs and EU governments will start negotiations on the final text of the legislation on 24 October.   WORLD New ISO Standard on biodiversity for organisations The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) has launched the world’s first International Standard dedicated to helping organizations take action on biodiversity.  ISO 17298: Biodiversity for organizations – Guidelines and Requirements is a new standard providing, for the first time, a practical, scalable framework to help organizations assess their biodiversity impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities. Commenting, ISO Head of Sustainability and Partnerships, Noelia Garcia Nebra, said “Many organizations see the urgency of biodiversity action, but navigating the path can be complex. Until now, there has been no globally agreed standard for organizations to integrate biodiversity into their strategies and operations… The standard embeds biodiversity into core governance and risk management practices - not just sustainability reporting - ensuring alignment with global expectations and organizational operations.” The new standard is designed to be interoperable with other widely used initiatives such as ISO 14001, ISO 26000, TNFD, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and contributes directly to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly Target 15 on corporate action.         Resources The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) has released Scaling Finance for Nature: A Primer on What Financial Institutions Are Doing Today, showing  how nature recovery finance or ‘greening finance’ to avoid and minimise harm to nature, as well as restoring nature to no net loss, can happen today and at scale with existing private commercial capital, through the everyday actions of financiers. The primer identifies one prerequisite step and four levers of change that financial institutions can use to achieve this – illustrated with concrete, real-life examples of them already in use.  The primary audience for this primer is practitioners in financial institutions, with concrete examples from across the sector (banks, investors, insurers).   Accountancy Europe has published its October Sustainability update with the following highlights: European Commission de-prioritises certain delegated acts European Commission delivers on ITS and RTS under Green Bond Regulation Council endorses agreement on EU carbon leakage mechanism Ministers discuss 2040 climate target ESMA’s letter on EFRAG’s revised ESRS   Articles This September was the third-warmest on record, coming in at a global average of 16.11 degrees Celsius (Copernicus) Why pension funds are still pushing for climate action - Long-term asset owners have bucked the financial sector trend of retreat on green goals (FT)     Events International Society of Sustainability Professionals Webinar: AI in Action: Practical Tools for Corporate Sustainability Impact Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming how organizations collect data, measure impact, and drive sustainability performance—but it can be difficult to separate the hype from the real-world applications. This session will explore how corporate sustainability professionals can leverage AI to work smarter, not harder. Virtual, Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT) NESC, NESC Energy Conference 2025: Energising the Transition This conference follows the publication of NESC’s reports Ireland’s Future Power System and Economic Resilience, International Trade Dependencies and the Energy Transition, and Connecting People to the Energy Transition, as well as the forthcoming Energy Transition: A Systems Perspective. The in-person event builds on this extensive body of work and incorporates inputs from national and international experts to provide stimulating discussions of how Ireland can make the necessary transition for the good of all people and sectors. In person, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin 2, 22 October, 8.30-15.45 A4S Insights,  Integrating sustainability into decision making – stories of impact Discover what it takes to drive change in finance at this online event featuring winners of the Finance for the Future Awards. Hear how bold sustainability actions are transforming organisations, and learn from the challenges and successes of real-world changemakers. A panel of judges will share insights into what makes an effective sustainability leader, offering practical lessons in resilience, collaboration, and impact that attendees can apply in their own organisations. Virtual, 29 October 2025, 16:00 GMT Sustainability Europe, Sustainability Europe 2025 This in-person event in London brings together finance professionals and sustainability experts to explore how organisations can navigate regulatory uncertainty, climate risk, and supply chain complexity while driving sustainable growth. A highlight of the programme is the A4S-led panel chaired by Ciara Burke, Director of CFO Programme Europe, which will focus on strengthening collaboration between finance and sustainability teams to improve reporting outcomes. In person, London, UK, 21–22 October 2025, 08:40–17:50;  A4S Session: Detangle the regulation web and master interoperability Date and time: 21 October 2025, 15:15–15:50 BST Ibec Networks Autumn Seminar Series, Session 4: The culture of sustainability innovation The final webinar in a four-part series Autumn Seminar Series ‘The culture equation’ looks at what supports are available to assist on a journey to becoming a more sustainable business. In the supporting case study from O'Brien's Fine Foods the webinar will discuss what drives a sustainability focused culture in an organisation. Virtual, Thursday 13 November, 11.00-11.50am     Sustainability Centre You can find information, guidance and supports to understand sustainability and meet the challenges it presents in our online Sustainability Centre.