Sustainability/ESG bulletin, Friday 21 June 2024

In this week’s Sustainability/ESG bulletin, read about a new report into carbon budgets in Ireland, funding available under the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme, and new Government resources on sustainability for business. Also covered is an update report on the White Paper on Enterprise Implementation Plan, the second National Adaptation Framework, news of the approved EU Nature Restoration Law and resources on the role of accountants in tackling the nature crisis, as well as the usual awards, jobs, articles, resources and events.

Ireland news

Recording available from AI & CSRD webinar

What is ‘socially-conscious’ AI? What AI applications are used for CSRD reporting? How should you report on AI-use under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)? In an Institute webinar  this week hosted by Sustainability Advocacy Manager Susan Rossney, speakers David Connolly and Madeline Parkinson from EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services team discussed the intersection of AI-use and CSRD reporting obligations and the considerations required to ensure sustainable, ‘socially-conscious’ AI usage. You can watch the webinar here.
(See also this article from ICAEW on using AI to combat modern slavery)

Carbon budgeting reported launched

A research report, Carbon Budgets: Opportunities and Challenges for Irish Business, was launched this week by Minister Dara Calleary, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in Dublin’s Royal Irish Academy. Co-written by DCU Assistant Professor Dr Aideen O’Dochartaigh FCA, the report highlights the fundamental conflicts between Ireland’s industrial development and environmental goals. The report called for – among other things – coordinated efforts across entire value chains, substantial investment in new technologies, infrastructure and training, and forums to discuss growth, policy coherence and the future of key sectors, and to develop a shared socio-economic vision for a Net Zero Ireland.

Funding under Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS)

A call for applications for the 2024 funding round of the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) has been announced this week. The scheme aims to support innovation and circular economy projects by social enterprises, voluntary and community organisations and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Total funding of €650,000 is available, with typical funding for projects anticipated to be in the range of €10,000 to €50,000. Details on the application process are available here and applications are open until 19 July.

New Government resources on sustainability for business

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has collated resources on sustainability for business: Sustainability is good for business. The pages define sustainability, provide links to a range of sustainability-focused consultancy options, training and grants, and case studies of companies successfully embedding sustainability practices in their businesses.

Update to Enterprise White Paper plan

The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE) has published the Second Update Report on the White Paper on Enterprise Implementation Plan 2023-2024. The report details the work done in pursuit of priority DETE policy objectives such as integrating net zero and carbon commitments and placing digital transformation at the heart of enterprise policy. According to the report, 43 percent of the activities outlined in the first implementation plan have been delivered.

Second National Adaption Framework publishes

Ireland’s second National Adaptation Framework has published, setting out the potential implications of climate change for Ireland and outlining the national strategy for the development of adaptation measures. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council estimates that costs associated with extreme weather events could be approximately €500 million a year (for example, to deal with cleaning up after flooding events). The framework will require government departments, infrastructure providers and local authorities to prepare a new cycle of adaptation plans for key sectors.

Research shows consumers struggle to identify ‘greenwashing’

Consumers struggle to distinguish genuine and ‘greenwashed’ environmental claims in advertisements, according to the latest research from the ESRI. The EPA-funded study also reveals that consumers are less willing to purchase from brands they suspected of greenwashing, even if the environmental claim made by the brand was genuine.

UK/Northern Ireland news

• The Institute’s Tax and Public Policy Team submitted a response the UK government’s “Consultation on the introduction of a UK carbon border adjustment mechanism” (“CBAM”). The response highlighted the urgent need for clarification in respect of the ongoing uncertainty as to how the EU CBAM will apply to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, and specifically the application of the EU CBAM to imports from non-EU countries. The full response can be read in the Tax Representations section of our website

   

• ICAEW has pulled together some helpful articles on sustainability for its members to guide SMEs on where to start, with a focus on what actions to take and sustainability reporting.

Europe news

• EU environment ministers have approved the EU Nature Restoration Law, which is designed to protect and restore Europe’s ecosystems and biodiversity. The law will reportedly affect almost 9 percent of Irish land. Further to the launch in January of Ireland’s fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan, the Government has begun drawing up a national nature restoration plan, due to be adopted by 2026. Completion of the Plan will be aligned with the opening of the Government’s €3.15bn Climate and Nature Fund in 2026.

• Accountancy Europe has published its June Sustainability update. Highlights include Accountancy Europe’s response to EFRAG’s public consultation on the voluntary (VSME) and listed SME (LSME) draft standards; final approval of CSDDD; recommendations from ESMA on greenwashing; FCA guidance on Anti-Greenwashing rule; guidance from EFRAG to ESRS; and news and resources from the standard setters.

• A new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing has found that plastics production and consumption patterns across Europe remain unsustainable and need to be made more circular. The briefing also highlights the introduction of a new monitoring tool where people, policy makers and others can check progress on plastics circularity in Europe.

World news

• The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), CPA Canada and the Institute for Sustainable Finance have published a resource for professional accountants and others on the state of voluntary carbon markets (VCMs), Understanding Voluntary Carbon Markets: Key considerations for professional accountants and purchasers on the carbon credit life cycle.

   

• Accounting 4 Sustainability (A4S) has launched a new blog on the important role of the accountant in tackling the nature crisis.  It clarifies the business case for saving nature as well as providing guidance and key resources for members. The Accounting Bodies Network (ABN) is a collaboration between Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) and professional bodies across the globe, including Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Did you know?

Plastic Free July, the global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution, has updated its website with resources, including this poster of 31 days of ideas.

Awards

Sustainability categories in Published Accountants Awards

Entries are now open for the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society 47th Published Accounts Awards, and include two sustainability categories:

• Sustainability and ESG Reporting Award – Listed entities

• Sustainability and ESG Reporting Award – Unlisted entities

Entries are welcome from all types of reporting bodies for annual reports in respect of financial years ended on or before 31 March 2024. Entries close on Friday 12 July 2024.

SEAI Energy Awards 2024

The SEAI Energy Awards 2024 are now open for applications. Applications can be submitted by individuals, community groups, SMEs and large businesses from both the public and private sector across the island of Ireland. Register and apply using the SEAI’s online application portal by 5pm, Friday 28 June.

Jobs

• Substantial progress has been made through the adoption of environmental and social governance principles (Irish Times)

   

• Nature restoration law will affect almost 9% of Irish land (Irish Times)

   

• How we applied AI to combat modern slavery (ICAEW)

   

• The world's fossil fuel industries should be banned from advertising to help save the world from climate change, the head of the United Nations said on Wednesday (BBC News)

Technical Roundup

(From our colleagues in Professional Accountancy)

• IAASA have published a Feedback Paper on its Consultation on the Adoption of a Sustainability Assurance Standard in Ireland

• The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has issued its June 2024 Update. This includes a summary of their recent meeting on 12 June in Frankfurt. The ISSB has also issued its June 2024 Podcast.

• The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) has finalised the first three Implementation Guidance documents to assist preparers and other relevant stakeholders in applying the European Sustainability Reporting Standards. The Implementation Guidance documents cover Materiality Assessment, Value Chain, and Detailed ERS Datapoints

• The three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – ESAs) have published a joint Opinion on the assessment of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The ESAs call for a coherent sustainable finance framework that caters for both the green transition and enhanced consumer protection, taking into account the lessons learned from the functioning of the SFDR.

• EFRAG and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) have jointly published a mapping of the correspondence between the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the TNFD's recommended disclosures and metrics. This was prepared to assist companies in understanding the commonalities between the ESRS and the TNFD and the mapping details the disclosures and core metrics recommended by the TNFD and required under the ESRS.  This assessment highlights that all 14 TNFD recommended disclosures are reflected in the ESRS.

Upcoming events

Network for Chartered Accountants working on ESG projects

Are you a Chartered Accountant working in ESG 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 now has a network to allow members working in sustainability/ESG to meet and discuss all matters of interest re ESG and accounting.

• Next meeting: Wednesday, 26 June, 14:00-15.30
• Teams

If you would like to attend, please email sustainability@charteredaccountants.ie

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