In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin from Chartered Accountants Ireland read about the ESG Network for Chartered Accountants, the new Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP), how renewable-energy-use has increased in Ireland, and how climate data shows Ireland facing extreme weather in the future. Also covered is Northern Ireland’s moves towards a circular economy, and how the Global Risks Report 2026 identifies uncertainty as the defining theme of global risks, as well as the latest articles, resources and upcoming events.
ESG Network for Chartered Accountants
Are you a Chartered Accountant working in ESG/Sustainability or working on ESG-related projects?
Would you like an opportunity to engage with other Chartered Accountants working in this space to share insights, challenges and opportunities?
Chartered Accountants Ireland’s ESG Network allows members working in sustainability/ESG to meet and discuss all matters of interest re ESG and accounting.
- Next meeting | 28 January 2026, 14.00-15.00
- Guest speakers: Eva Sheehy, a Managing Director in CFGI’s Accounting Advisory practice and Dee Moran, Head of Professional Accounting in Chartered Accountants Ireland to discuss developments in sustainability reporting.
If you are a member and would like to join us, email sustainability@charteredaccountants.ie
IRELAND
Government publishes Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP)
The Government has published its Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP), laying the foundation for future investments in energy-intensive sectors in an effort to safeguard the energy security, affordability and the competitiveness of Irish enterprise. LEAP aims to facilitate future investment in energy intensive sectors, address existing barriers to energy intensive industrial developments and ensure continued alignment with Ireland’s green energy transition. The implementation of LEAP will provide for green energy parks co-locating energy intensive industrial development with the supply of renewable energy, by private developers. These will be informed by a forthcoming National Planning Statement and other government and regulatory policies
Renewable energy use increases in Ireland
Renewable energy accounted for 40.2 percent of electricity generated in Ireland in 2024, up from an average of 5.1 percent in 1990-1994. This is according to Environmental Indicators Ireland 2025 – Economy, Emissions and Energy figures released by the Central Statistics Office. The figures also show that environment taxes in Ireland amounted to €5.5 billion in 2024, up 10.8 percent on the 2023 figure of €4.9 billion. Environmental subsidies and similar transfers in Ireland were €1.8 billion in 2023, up from 14.7 percent from the 2022 figure of €1.6 billion. Fossil fuel subsidies (financial incentives provided by governments to oil, gas, and coal industries) were €4.9 billion in 2023, up 4.9 percent from €4.7 billion in 2022, and up 74.2 percent from the 2021 figure of €2.8 billion. Commenting on the release, Reamonn McKeever, CSO Statistician said it highlights that as Ireland’s economy and population grows, production of energy continues to increase to meet that demand. More of that energy is now sourced from renewable sources, which in turn drives lower emissions from energy production. That statistics also show that electric and hybrid cars made up 45.8% of new licenses.
Ireland faces extreme weather
Climate data from the EU’s Copernicus monitoring service has revealed that 2025 was Earth’s third hottest year on record. The Global Climate Highlights report noted an 11-year streak of temperatures above normal, with analysts warning that this trend will continue, worsening underlying climate conditions. The report notes that Europe was impacted throughout the year by a range of storms and precipitation events, from convective storms to named storms, often associated with flooding, and mentioned Storm Éowyn, which hit Ireland in January 2024 and led to an insurance industry estimated bill of over €301 million.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Moves towards circular economy in Northern Ireland
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is inviting responses to a public consultation on a new strategic approach to the management of resources and waste in Northern Ireland until 2031. Rethinking Our Resources: Northern Ireland Resources and Waste Management Strategy aims to move away from the linear model – of take, make, use and dispose – towards a circular approach of reduce, reuse, repair and recycle – leading by example in how to best manage natural resources and the benefits that can bring. The closing date for responses is 23:59 on 8 April 2026.
Progress update on Northern Ireland’s Energy Strategy
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has published the Mid-Term Review of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Energy Strategy: The Path to Net Zero Energy. This strategy was published at the end of 2021, followed by the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. It sets out 2030 targets on a pathway to net zero energy by 2050, aiming to make energy secure, affordable and clean for current and future generations.
The Review assesses progress against core targets, addresses delivery challenges, and proposes strengthened governance arrangements to ensure success in achieving the 2030 targets. Progress described includes:
- a 53 percent growth in the turnover of the region’s low-carbon and renewable energy economy since 2015
- £72 million of ‘invest to save’ across 160 projects delivering annual energy savings of more than £10 million in the government estate and lowering emissions
- publication of the final scheme design for the Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee (support scheme).
The Department has also produced a suite of updated energy evidence reports, and an interactive dashboard tracking progress against energy strategy targets and metrics.
WORLD
Uncertainty the defining theme of global risks, says Global Risks Report 2026
Uncertainty is the defining theme of the global risks outlook in 2026, according to the Global Risks Report 2026, which was published this week by the World Economic Forum. According to the report, which presents – among other things – survey insights from over 1,300 experts worldwide, a “contested multipolar landscape is emerging where confrontation is replacing collaboration, and trust – the currency of cooperation – is losing its value.” Short-term concerns are heightened, the multilateral system is under pressure, economic risks are intensifying.
The report concludes its key findings section with a note of hope:
“Yet, history reminds us that order can be rebuilt if nations choose strategic collaboration even amid competition. The future is not a single, fixed path but a range of possible trajectories, each dependent on the decisions we make today as a global community.”
TECHNICAL ACCOUNTING UPDATE
(From our colleagues in Professional Accounting on 9 January)
The European Commission issued an update regarding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) operational procedures.
Other documents have also been published to support businesses in scope of CBAM including:
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has been appointed as the national competent authority in Ireland. CBAM becomes fully operational on 1 January 2026, marking the end of the two-year transitional phase (2023-2025).
Following the release of the draft simplified European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), EFRAG has published the following documents, which are aimed at supporting users of the standard:
🎙️The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has issued its Q1 Implementation Insights Podcast. This episode highlights some of the resources available to support companies applying the ISSB standards.
The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) including EBA, EIOPA and ESMA published Joint Guidelines on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) stress testing. These Guidelines provide national insurance and banking supervisors with clear guidance on how to integrate ESG risks into supervisory stress tests, both when using established frameworks and when conducting complementary assessments of ESG risk impacts. The Joint Guidelines apply from 1 January 2027.
ARTICLES
- Navigating the CSRD Omnibus: A pivotal moment in EU Sustainability Reporting – (BDO)
- Environmental regulators should help businesses meet rules, says watchdog (Sustainable Views – Subscription needed)
- Women command less than one-fifth of senior roles in Ireland’s financial sector (Irish Times)
- In the absence of urgency, only thing changing is our weather - Ireland not immune to destructive events causing havoc worldwide (Irish Times)
- ‘A long road ahead’: How Ireland’s plan to revive data centre growth is being received (Business Post – Subscription needed)
EVENTS
CAW Network USA — Beyond Accounting: Sustainability Reporting
This online session explores the evolution of sustainability reporting as an essential component of modern accounting. Topics include: the shift from traditional financial statements to ESG-integrated disclosures; materiality principles (financial, impact, double, dynamic); stakeholder demands; risks like greenwashing; and practical steps to embed sustainability into strategy. Attendees will gain clarity on ESG frameworks, governance, assurance, and navigate an increasingly stringent regulatory landscape.
Virtual | Tuesday, 27 January 2026 | 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
Grant Thornton, From ambition to action: Decarbonisation in practice
Join GT for an engaging and practical discussion focused on how organisations are navigating the realities of decarbonisation in Ireland today. Expert speakers will share real-world insights on operational delivery, policy pressures, infrastructure constraints and the trade-offs involved in moving from ambition to action. This session brings together leaders from logistics, energy and technology to explore what decarbonisation looks like in practice across different sectors, and what is genuinely driving progress.
Speakers: Owen Keogh, Head of Sustainability, An Post; Richard Scannell, Head of Public Policy, AWS; and Niall Hogan, Sustainability Leadership Plan Lead, ESB.
Spaces are limited, so please register early to secure your place.
In person, Grant Thornton 13-18 City Quay Dublin 2 D02 ED70 |Thursday, January 29 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. |
BDO Ireland & BDO UK — Top Sustainability Trends for 2026 – Webinar
As organisations navigate climate change, evolving EU/UK policy, and ESG reporting demands, this online session brings together senior sustainability specialists to unpack regulatory shifts (CSRD, IFRS, sustainability reporting, CBAM, EUDR), strategic implications for business, and actionable priorities for 2026, finishing with a live Q&A.
Virtual | Thursday, 29 January 2026 | 12:30 pm (GMT) | Online webinar
Dublin Chamber, The Sustainability Academy: Green Public Procurement Training
Join us on Wednesday the 4th of February for Half-day virtual workshop on Green Public Procurement as part of Sustainable Academy, sponsored by AIB. All companies now need to learn the green public procurement rules to bid and win new contracts with the public sector.
Virtual, Wed 4th Feb 2026 | 9am - 12.30pm.
Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business - Lancaster University, Starting Your Journey with Tools and Frameworks
Second in the series, this webinar explores tools and frameworks that support decision-making for nature and biodiversity, including the Natural Capital Protocol and TNFD. Learn how these approaches help businesses identify relevant priorities and communicate outcomes effectively.
Virtual, Thursday 12 February 2026, 8:00am – 9: 00am | 4.00pm – 5.00pm
ICAEW, Putting nature on the balance sheet — Troubleshooting session
Troubleshooting session to tackle common challenges on how to embed nature into the activities and processes of the finance function.
Virtual, Wednesday, 18 February, 2026, 4 - 5pm CET
Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business - Lancaster University, What Does ‘Good’ Look Like in Corporate Reporting?
The final session in the Pentland Centre’s free webinar series for SMEs explores what effective reporting on nature and biodiversity looks like. Drawing on global examples, this webinar highlights best practices and practical approaches for integrating nature and biodiversity into corporate reporting.
Virtual, Thursday 12 March 2026, 8:00am – 9:00am | 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Sustainability Centre
You can find information, guidance and supports to understand sustainability and meet the challenges it presents in our online Sustainability Centre.
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