News

As Ireland prepares to take on the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU for the 8th time from July, we advocate a solutions-driven approach, advancing competitiveness, regulatory simplification, coherence, consistency and long-term economic resilience. By fostering open dialogue, communicating the benefits of EU membership, and involving our members and networks, on behalf of our 40,000 members, we will support a Presidency that advances policy but also builds ownership and delivers meaningful outcomes for people, businesses, and communities.   Read the Consultation response

  In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin, read about the speech by Central Bank of Ireland’s Governor Gabriel Makhlouf highlighting the need to ensure climate action remains a priority for the financial sector. Also covered are the new measures to enhance road transport’s safety and environmental impact, EFRAG’s draft simplified European Sustainability Reporting Standards and its new ESRS Knowledge Hub, developments in sustainability reporting and due diligence legislation, and the World Economic Forum’s report finding that growth in green investments has not wavered, as well as the latest articles, resources, jobs and upcoming events. IRELAND “A real economy transition” The Central Bank of Ireland’s Governor Gabriel Makhlouf has delivered a speech at the Climate Risk and Sustainable Finance Forum this week where he highlighted the need to ensure climate action remains a priority for the financial sector, and emphasised the Central Bank’s focus on climate risk and sustainable finance. Explaining the need for a focus on tangible outcomes that support the transition and adaptation, Governor Makhlour encouraged the Forum to continue to promote a collaborative approach to how the financial sector supports the transition and adaptation: “We must recognise that the journey to net-zero is, at its core, a real economy transition. The financial sector’s task is not just to manage the risks on its balance sheets, but to provide the incentives and the funding to ensure that households and businesses make the low-emission choices required to secure our collective future. My call to you is that we commit to staying the course together.” New measures to enhanced road transport impact The Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, TD has welcomed EU Council agreement on two major legislative initiatives: the Weights and Dimensions Directive and the Roadworthiness Package. The revised Weights and Dimensions Directive, among other things, promotes the use of zero-emission trucks by allowing them to exceed standard weight limits, supporting the decarbonisation of transport across the European Union. The Roadworthiness Package consists of two legislative proposals to enhance road safety and environmental protection. Following approval by the Council, the presidency can start negotiations with the European Parliament to reach a final agreement. EUROPE EFRAG issues draft simplified European Sustainability Reporting Standards and launches ESRS Knowledge Hub The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) has published the draft simplified European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), along with its technical advice to the European Commission. In its press release, EFRAG have highlighted many of the simplifications implemented which it hopes will help reporting companies integrate sustainability reporting into their business. Read more from our Professional Accounting team. “An alarming dismantling of good policymaking”  The EU parliament and member states have reached a provisional deal to update EU rules on sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies. Social and environmental reporting will only be required for EU companies employing on average over 1,000 employees and with a net annual turnover of over €450 million. The net turnover threshold has also been increased for non-EU companies to €450 million generated in the EU for sustainability reporting. Only large EU corporations with more than 5,000 employees and a net annual turnover of over €1.5 billion will need to carry out due diligence to minimise their negative impact on people and the planet, and will no longer need to prepare a transition plan to make their business model compatible with the Paris Agreement. They will remain liable at national rather than EU level for non-compliance and could face fines of up to 3 percent of the company’s net worldwide turnover, reduced from 5 percent as previously stated.  The rules will also be delayed by a year, coming into force from July 2029. Some commentators are likely to welcome the row back: several companies had reportedly consistently lobbied against the regulation, due to be phased in from 2027, which would have required in-scope companies to ensure that their supply chains do not harm the environment or human rights.  Others commentators, like Richard Gardiner, interim head of EU Policy at ShareAction, reportedly described it as “an alarming dismantling of good policymaking” after intense pressure: “These losses matter. They do not make Europe more competitive. Instead, they weaken Europe’s unique competitive edge.” The announcement comes less than a week after Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional political agreement on a one-year postponement of the EU Deforestation Regulation for all businesses. Provisional agreement on EU Climate Law amendment Negotiators from Parliament and Council have reached a provisional political agreement on an amendment to the EU Climate Law, setting a new, intermediate and binding 2040 EU climate target of reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90 percent compared to 1990 levels. Also agreed on Tuesday was the introduction of ‘new flexibilities’ in how the 2040-target can be met. The EU Climate Law makes the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 a legally binding obligation for all EU member states, establishing a legally binding target for the EU to reduce net GHG emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. The European Parliament will now vote on the informal agreement and Council will also have to endorse it. It will enter into force 20 days after it has been published in the EU Official Journal. December issue of Accountancy Europe’s Sustainability Update Accountancy Europe’s December Sustainability Update published this week, with the following highlights: EFRAG provides technical advice with draft Amended ESRS to Commission ENVI-ECON Committees reject motion for resolution to object EU Taxonomy ‘Omnibus’ DA European Parliament supports further delay and simplifications of Deforestation-Free Products Regulation Ombudswoman finds Omnibus I a case of maladministration European Commission simplifies rules for sustainable financial products IAASB provides examples on how to apply ISSA 5000. WORLD The World Economic Forum has published a report finding that, overall growth in green investments has not wavered, despite recent headlines suggesting the climate transition is stalling. The report, published in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group, is titled Already a Multi-Trillion-Dollar Market: CEO Guide to Growth in the Green Economy Worth over $5 trillion per year, and identifies the green economy as the world’s most dynamic growth sector after technology. It suggests that green revenues are growing twice as fast as conventional revenues on average, and companies operating in these markets are typically gaining access to cheaper capital and often enjoy premium valuations on capital markets. ARTICLES Five steps to more inclusive communication (ICAEW) Focus on gender balance is paying off for Irish companies, says B4BB (Irish Examiner) ICYMI Sustainability in Practice: Setting up for Success (ICAEW) EU strikes deal to further weaken corporate sustainability laws (RTÉ) RESOURCES ICAEW has published a primer for finance teams unlock long‑term business value while working with nature. Embedding nature into business: A primer for finance teams links nature‑related information to an organisation’s activities, processes and tools, so allows teams to make nature‑related risks and opportunities visible, manageable and integrated into every decision the organisation makes. It was developed by ICAEW as an output of A‑Track, a four‑year, €11 million project that aims to accelerate transformative action for nature by business, financial institutions and government. Future work by ICAEW in the A‑Track project will build on this foundation, developing additional targeted resources, case studies and training opportunities to support finance and accounting professionals in their daily work. EVENTS Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business - Lancaster University,  SMEs - Learning about Nature and Biodiversity This is the first in a series of three free webinars from the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business aimed at SMEs curious about nature and biodiversity links to business activity. This session provides a natural science introduction to ecosystems and explains how these aspects impact business operations, with examples from different sectors. Virtual, Thursday 15 January 2026, 8:00am – 9:00am | 4.00pm – 5.00pm 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.

Big changes are coming for Ireland’s infrastructure. This week, the Government published its Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan – a comprehensive blueprint to tackle delays and bottlenecks that have slowed down critical infrastructure projects for years. The report sets out 30 specific actions designed to speed up delivery and make the system more effective.  It is the outcome of months of work by experts on the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce identifying barriers to infrastructure delivery.  Why this report matters Ireland’s Revised National Development Plan commits €102billion in capital investment to 2030. But as we discussed at our recent Chartered roundtable event, investment alone isn’t enough. Projects have been stuck in planning, legal challenges, and layers of regulation. This report aims to change that, with reforms grouped under four pillars: Legal Reform, Regulatory Reform and Simplification, Co-ordination and Delivery Reform, and Public Acceptance along with 30 specific action points. It states that "Joined-up thinking is at the heart of this approach: housing, climate, energy, and competitiveness are interconnected, and this Action Plan ensures that infrastructure delivery supports all of these priorities."  We have reviewed the four pillars and pulled out the key points that you can read below.  Pillar 1: Legal reform   Legal reform is about breaking the judicial gridlock that has stalled vital projects. Judicial reviews have been a major source of delay, often tying up developments for years. The plan introduces reforms to narrow who can bring challenges, require viability checks before cases proceed, and allow emergency powers for critical infrastructure projects. These changes aim to strike a balance between protecting legal rights and ensuring essential projects can move forward without unnecessary obstruction.  Pillar 2: Regulatory reform and simplification  Regulatory Reform and Simplification is the pillar that focuses on reforming planning, licensing, consenting, and regulatory processes for critical infrastructure to make them proportionate, efficient, and balanced. Its goal is to cut unnecessary regulatory burdens, reducing time and costs while fostering innovation in delivery.  In parallel with examining the structures of the regulatory sector, the plan commits to a “major legislative reform exercise”, reviewing the legislative base that applies to the development of critical infrastructure in Ireland.  Critically, several of the actions in this pillar are focused on EU legislation, referencing the principle of proportionality as enshrined in European law and applied through a three-part test involving suitability, necessity, and balance. The government intends “that these principles cascade through the European Directives into the national legislation and associated regulatory frameworks.” This is a positive development, providing the opportunity for Ireland to rationalise and simplify existing legislative structures where necessary.   In addition, an early warning system for EU directives being transposed into Irish law will also be established, to flag any potential knock-on impacts on the delivery of infrastructure, so they can be dealt with early.  If implemented effectively, these measures could significantly reduce timelines and give businesses greater certainty.  Pillar 3: Co-ordination and delivery reform  This pillar focuses on breaking down silos and improving coordination - ensuring problems are solved speedily and responsibilities are clear. The report sets out that a new Joint Utilities and Transport Clearing House will be set up. It will centrally coordinate the state’s utilities to resolve blockages quickly, implement a statutory duty for departments and local authorities to cooperate, and introduce clear accountability measures.  The plan aims to tackle the culture of risk aversion within the public sector, including the civil service and state agencies. It proposes introducing risk appetite statements to give senior decision-makers greater confidence and protection when advancing critical infrastructure projects.  Pillar 4: Public acceptance  Infrastructure delivery is not only a technical challenge – it is a societal one. Public acceptance is fundamental to timely progress, and the report stresses the importance of clear communication, transparent evidence, and early engagement to build trust and reduce resistance. Public acceptance of the need for electrical, water and transport infrastructure development is essential for the building of a sustainable, decarbonised and successful economy.  While there is broad recognition of the need for infrastructure, opposition often emerges when local impacts are perceived, leading to delays, legal challenges, and difficulties in securing land access. To address this, the report outlines four specific actions including a duty on State Bodies to make land available for critical infrastructure, enhanced national communication campaigns to explain the benefits of infrastructure and, the establishment of a Benefits Realisation Framework for infrastructure projects.   What’s next?  The actions are split into 138 sub-actions, and the Institute is pleased to see that the sub-actions are primarily for delivery in 2026 and are particularly weighted towards completion in the first two quarters of 2026. This prioritisation reflects urgency, which is extremely welcome. The actions have set deadlines for implementation, and the report identifies the departments and agencies charged with implementation. The relevant Ministers and secretaries general of the various departments have been made ultimately responsive for ensuring the actions are completed.   The message is clear: change is coming to make infrastructure delivery faster, more predictable, and more accountable – good news for business and Ireland’s growth ambitions.  Want to know more? Linked below are some interesting reads in the media this week on the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan. Some items may require a subscription to read in full.  Business Post, 3 December 2025: Everything you need to know about the government’s new infrastructure plan Business Post, 3 December 2025: ‘A starting point, not a conclusion’ - business leaders on the infrastructure plan Business Post, 4 December 2025: 5 ways Ireland can learn from expensive mistake on infrastructure Business Post, 3 December 2025: Stripe and Meta chiefs among 25 to sign letter urging government action on infrastructure Irish Times, 4 December 2025: We can’t keep objecting to wind farms 10km out to sea if we want Ireland to progress Irish Times, 4 December 2025: People who object to infrastructure projects could be offered damages under new plan Irish Times, 4 December 2025: Infrastructure or bust? Nothing more important for Coalition than making this work RTÉ.ie, 3 December 2025: Government plan to speed up delivery of housing and infrastructure

  In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin, read about the reduction in Ireland’s GHG emissions, along with warnings from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council that now is the time to prepare to address climate change. Also covered is the UK’s public consultation on new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty, Northern Ireland’s renewable electricity use, a report showing how climate reporting strengthens public bodies’ risk management, and the UK FCA proposals to ensure transparency, reliability and comparability of ESG ratings, as well as the latest articles, resources, jobs and upcoming events.   IRELAND Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan publishes The Government has this week published its Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan to address delays and bottlenecks that have slowed down critical infrastructure projects in recent years. The outcome of months of work by experts on the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce, the report sets out 30 specific actions designed to speed up delivery of critical infrastructure projects and make the system overall more efficient. Emphasising the importance of ‘joined-up’ thinking, the report stresses the interconnectedness of housing, climate, energy, and competitiveness with infrastructure delivery as the key to addressing the current shortcomings in all of these areas. Decarbonisation is identified as key to delivering the Government’s strategic priorities: “A resilient, decarbonised and internationally competitive electricity system is essential for the delivery of the Government’s key strategic priorities, including housing development, economic competitiveness, investment, growth and climate action.” Find further reaction to the report by the Chartered Accountants Ireland team here. Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions down 2.0 percent from 2023 Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 were down 2.0 percent from 2023 and 5.4 percent from the 1990-1994 average figure. This is according to figures released from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) this week, in a statistical release titled Environmental Indicators Ireland 2025 - Global Context and Climate. The release also shows that Ireland had the second highest emissions of greenhouse gases per capita (behind Luxembourg) in the EU-27 in 2023, and that the average annual temperature in Ireland was 10.45o Celsius in 2024, the third warmest year since data became available in 1961. Environmental Indicators Ireland was first published in 2012. This release is the first of two for 2025, and covers Global Context, Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change, Water and Land Use. The second release, which will publish in the coming months, will look at the thematic areas of the Environmental Economy, Air, Energy, Transport, Waste and Biodiversity. Irish Fiscal Advisory Council warns that now is the time to prepare The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has warned in its latest Fiscal Assessment Report that now is the time to prepare for future budgetary pressures while the economy is strong. The Report, which referred to research carried out by Eddie Casey and Killian Carroll (2023) What climate change means for Ireland’s public finances, which warns that climate change will have a significant impact on Ireland’s public finances, involving higher spending and resulting in some revenue streams falling and needing to be replaced. The pressure of addressing climate change, along with the pressure of supporting an ageing population, could amount to 6 percent of national income by 2050 (€20 billion in today’s terms). NORTHERN IRELAND/UK Public consultation on new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty The UK Government has opened a public consultation on the Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED), announced by the Government in Budget 2025. The eVED is a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, which will take effect from April 2028. The deadline for responses is Wednesday 18 March 2026 and you can find details including how to response here: Consultation on the Introduction of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED). Northern Ireland renewable electricity use A total of 44.2 percent of total metered electricity consumed for the year ending September 2025 was generated from metered renewable sources located in Northern Ireland. The ‘Electricity Consumption and Renewable Generation in Northern Ireland: Year ending September 2025’, which published this week, details the percentage of electricity consumption in Northern Ireland generated from renewable sources, and includes information on the type of renewable generation. Of all renewable electricity generated within Northern Ireland over the 12-month period October 2024 to September 2025, 82.2 percent was generated from wind. This compares to 81.9 percent for the previous 12-month period (year ending September 2024). Climate reporting strengthens public bodies’ grasp of risk, report finds A report from the UK’s National Audit Office (NAO) suggests that the requirement to file annual climate reports has strengthened public bodies’ grasp of relevant risk factors, leading to a range of further improvements. The report, titled Implementation of climate-related reporting in central government annual reports, evaluates the effects of new obligations upon central government bodies to report in line with the framework devised by the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The UK was among the first nations globally to introduce an internationally recognised framework of climate-related disclosure into annual reporting in central government. The NAO reportedly found examples of emerging good practice, particularly where there was integration between different government professions – such as finance, sustainability, risk and policy – and clear senior ownership of the risks and disclosures. This suggests that TCFD-aligned reporting has potential to deliver significant and valuable benefits to public bodies: “Respondents said that using TCFD to prepare their disclosures has boosted senior engagement with climate issues. In the process, it has helped leaders to improve their understanding of related risks, strengthen financial management and identify potential cost efficiencies.” FCA publishes proposals to ensure transparency, reliability and comparability of ESG ratings The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published proposals to ensure that environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings are transparent, reliable and comparable. ESG ratings inform investment decisions, risk management and regulatory reporting, and global spending on ESG data (including ratings) is projected to reach $2.2 billion in 2025. The proposal follows the decision by the UK Government to bring ESG ratings within the FCA’s remit which was supported by 95 percent of those who responded to its consultation. The aim of introducing clear, proportionate rules for transparency and governance is to help to build the market’s trust in ESG ratings and address concerns through proportionate oversight benefits business and reinforce the UK’s reputation as a global sustainable finance hub, supporting innovation and continued growth. Feedback on the proposals is invited until 31 March 2026. WORLD Greenhushing and climate communications Research conducted by the BBC, and reported upon by FTI Consulting, has found that companies may not be as reluctant to share information on climate commitments as commonly thought. The phenomenon of companies not wishing to talk about their science-aligned climate targets was described by South Pole, the Switzerland-based climate consultancy which originally coined the term ‘greenhushing’ in 2022.  Recent research by Harvard, has also found that only 13 percent of surveyed companies scaled back their sustainability efforts or public messaging, findings echoed by PwC in its 2025 Decarbonisation Report  which noted that the number of companies overall making climate commitments continued to grow showing a strong commitment to sustainability as a source of business value. “Companies may be talking less about their climate pledges, but many are focused on addressing rising energy demands, protecting value at risk, responding to evolving customer expectations, and designing their operations to secure long-term growth and resilience”.   ARTICLES ‘If we wait it will be too late’: Why 500 scientists are backing this urgent climate declaration (Euronews) PCAF Launches Updated Emissions Measurement and Reporting Standard for Financials (ESG Today) Global accounting body consults on new model for assessing bank risks (Reuters) If COP won't deliver, others will (Climate Action for Associations - CAFA) The wins of COP that nobody noticed (Financial Times) Banks should see climate resilience as a business opportunity (Sustainable Views – Subscription needed) In everyone’s interest: How the ECB can support the energy transition with green interest rates (WWF)       Events   Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Event to Help Employers Apply Reasonable Adjustments This in-person event will help employers create inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities by demonstrating how reasonable adjustments can and should be applied. Hear from employers A&O Shearman and Belfast City Council on effective approaches, and learn about support services and programmes from disability sector representatives and government departments. Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast, Thursday 11 December 2025, 9:30am – 1:00pm | Cost: Free Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business - Lancaster University,  SMEs - Learning about Nature and Biodiversity This is the first in a series of three free webinars from the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business aimed at SMEs curious about nature and biodiversity links to business activity. This session provides a natural science introduction to ecosystems and explains how these aspects impact business operations, with examples from different sectors. Virtual, Thursday 15 January 2026, 8:00am – 9:00am | 4.00pm – 5.00pm 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 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.  

Commenting on the Government’s Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, Cróna Clohisey, Director of Members and Advocacy at Chartered Accountants Ireland said  “It is evident that today’s report is the result of engagement with external expertise by the Taskforce, combined with the sectoral experience on the Taskforce itself. This represents an encouraging change in approach to the infrastructure challenge, with a strong focus on a culture of accountability and delivery.  “Infrastructure deficits need to be addressed holistically and strategically if Ireland is to achieve its growth ambitions. These 30 well-considered, high impact actions are encouraging from our perspective as a professional body representing 40,000 businesspeople across the economy. It is also encouraging to see such a commitment to reduce regulatory barriers in Ireland, and the acknowledgment that this will be done against a background of EU simplification. We look forward to seeing implementation under the four pillars in 2026.”  

    In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin, read about the approaching deadline for gender pay gap reporting, funding announced for climate financing and local biodiversity action, and the publication of Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport. Also covered are green measures in the UK Autumn Budget 2026, the adoption of the 2026 EU budget and the delay of the EU Deforestation law, as well as outcomes from COP30 and the latest articles, resources, jobs and upcoming events. Chartered Accountants Ireland Congratulations to the SEAI Energy Awards 2025 winners Chartered Accountants Ireland would like to congratulate the winners and shortlisted candidates for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s 2025 SEAI Energy Awards, which were announced this week. Commenting, Institute’s Sustainability Advocacy Manager Susan Rossney and member of the Awards judging panel said: “ I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of the Energy Efficiency Awards. Your innovation, dedication, and hard work stood out among an impressive field of entries. You are leading the way toward a more sustainable future. Particular congratulations are due to Institute member and co-founder of SustainabilityWorks, Laura Heuston, FCA, who is a member of the Institute’s Sustainability Expert Working Group and who was presented with the prestigious Chair’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Energy.” The SEAI Energy Awards celebrate individuals and organisations who demonstrate excellence in the drive for reduced fossil fuel usage, reduced emissions, reduced costs and a more resilient economy.  IRELAND Gender pay gap reporting deadline approaches The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, TD, has urged employers to publish their gender pay gap reports ahead of this week’s deadline for reporting. Since 2024, all employers with over 150 employees have been legally obliged to report on their gender pay gap. This has now been extended to all employers with over 50 staff, who will need to report for the first time this year, before the end of this week. The Gender Pay Gap Portal is accessible via the Department of Children, Disability and Equality’s webpage at gov.ie/genderpaygap. €15.2 million climate financing announced Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien, TD, has announced €15.2 million in climate finance for Irish climate finance partners, while attending COP30, in Belém, Brazil. €10 million has been pledged to the Adaptation Fund for 2026, a fund dedicated to supporting developing countries build resilience and readiness for the effects of our changing climate. Ireland will host a new UN Development Programme (UNDP) Project Office in Dublin, dedicated to advancing sustainable finance to mobile the capital that will power a fair, inclusive, and global green transition.   Local Biodiversity Action Fund 2026 launches Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, TD, has launched the Local Biodiversity Action Fund 2026, with funding of €3 million being made available for local authorities to access for biodiversity projects under the scheme, managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan ‘Actions for Nature’ was launched in January 2024 and is available here. The closing date for applications is 5 February 2026. Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport publishes Cabinet approval has been granted for the Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport under the recent National Development Plan (NDP) Review, the aim of which is to support comprehensive upgrading of Ireland’s water, energy and transport infrastructure. The Plan commits €22.3 billion to a diverse range of transport options, including public transport, active travel, roads, maritime, and aviation, over the next five years. An additional allocation of €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will support the development of MetroLink, bringing the total NDP Exchequer investment in transport to €24.3 billion between 2026 and 2030. NORTHERN IRELAND/UK A new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) is among the green measures introduced by the 2025 UK Autumn Budget, announced this week. The new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars will come into effect from April 2028 at a rate of 3p per mile for battery electric vehicles and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrid cars (according to Para 3.6 of the Office for Budget Responsibility - Economic and fiscal outlook, November 2025): “The average driver of a battery electric car in 2028-29 driving 8,500 miles is therefore expected to be charged £255 in this year. This is roughly equivalent to half the rate of fuel duty tax paid per mile by drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles”. The UK Government has also announced a set of measures designed to increase the incentive to purchase electric vehicles, including an increase to the ‘expensive car supplement’ (ECS) threshold for battery electric cars, from £40,000 to £50,000 in April 2026, costing £0.5 billion in 2030-31. The ECS is an additional VED charge which is spread over five years, commencing a year after the vehicle is first registered, totalling £2,370 for a car purchased in 2025-26. The Government has also expanded the electric car grant between 2025-26 and 2029-30 at an average cost of £0.3 billion in these years. Other measures reportedly include an increase in the electric car grant launched in July 2025, and a 10-year 100 percent business-rates relief for eligible EV charge points.  Find more analysis, interpretation and informed, reliable commentary on the 2025 UK Autumn Budget from the Chartered Accountants Ireland tax team. EUROPE MEPs adopt 2026 EU budget MEPs have adopted the 2026 EU budget, signing into law more than €372.7 million for key priorities such as energy and transport infrastructure, humanitarian aid, and civil protection. The focus of the budget is reportedly on competitiveness, research and security, and support for cross-border infrastructure, border management, climate action and foreign policy. Among other measures, MEPs increased funding for Horizon Europe by €20 million and for transport and energy networks by €23.5 million. EU deforestation law delayed MEPs have voted to simplify the EU’s deforestation law, which was adopted in 2023 to ensure products sold in the EU are not sourced from deforested land. Large operators and traders will now have until 30 December 2026, and micro- and small enterprises from 30 June 2027, to comply with the new rules. Although the additional time is reportedly intended to “guarantee a smooth transition and to allow the implementation of measures to strengthen the IT system that operators, traders and their representatives use to make electronic due diligence statements”, businesses like Nestle, Ferraro and Tony’s Chocolonely have criticised the delay, citing, among other things the acceleration of climate change impacts and the undermining of trust in Europe’s regulatory commitments. Parliament will now start negotiations with Member States on the final shape of the law, which has to be endorsed by both Parliament and the Council and published in the EU Official Journal before the end of 2025, for the one-year delay to enter into force. WORLD COP30  –  “a deal to protect the process” COP is over for another year, notably without agreement on a unified roadmap to phase down fossil fuel use. While reaction has been mixed to the outcomes of the global climate summit held in Belém, Brazil, there have been positive responses to several measures agreed during the two-week event, notably the announcement of ‘informal roadmaps’ and maintained momentum.  Commenting, former President Mary Robinson described it as “a deal to protect the process [of the COPs]”, and paid particular tribute to the growth of investment in clean energy, the launch of a Global Implementation Accelerator, the Gender Action Plan, and an improved just transition mechanism. COP31 will take place next year in Turkey. Business & Biodiversity Benchmark The Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO) and PwC Netherlands have reportedly published a Business & Biodiversity Benchmark examining 30 European companies across the food and beverage, extractives and pharmaceuticals sectors. The report found that “while awareness of biodiversity has grown substantially among European companies, integrating it into business strategy and measurable targets remains limited”, despite the materiality of biodiversity to companies in sectors. ARTICLES Doubling down on DEI to drive business in a volatile world (Briefly from Accountancy Ireland) Court Blocks California’s Climate-Risk Law as Emissions Rule Moves Forward (ESG news) Private firms still lag listed companies for female board members (Irish Independent)   JOBS Financial Services - Climate Change and Sustainability Services - Senior Consultant (EY) Sustainability Associate Director (GT) Sustainability Manager (GT) RESOURCES CA ANZ launches Sustainability Playbook Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) have released its Sustainability Playbook, a practical guide designed to help accounting and finance professionals build the skills and confidence needed to navigate one of the most significant transformations in corporate reporting in decades. In addition to actionable strategies to build capability, structure finance teams, and prepare for sustainable accounting and audit practices, the playbook also spotlights real-world examples of sustainability in action, showing how accountants are helping organisations manage climate risk, unlock strategic opportunities and create long-term value. EVENT EY, Four Futures: Exploring Climate Scenarios This immersive workshop invites people to step into the year 2055 and explore four distinct climate scenarios—Business As Usual, Transform, Constrain, and Collapse. Enhanced by the CCaSS team, this updated iteration incorporates the latest insights on climate impacts in Ireland. Participants will dive deeper into key drivers of climate change and examine how Business As Usual and Transform scenarios affect society, business, and the economy. EY Offices, Harcourt Street, Dublin, D02 YA40, Friday 28 November – Friday 5 December 2025 Accounting for Sustainability (A4S), Online Summit This year’s Summit will equip participants with ways to advance net zero, nature positive and just transition strategies in the face of a shifting global landscape. Sessions will explore the latest developments in sustainability accounting, reporting and transition planning, AI and advanced analytics and integrating nature into finance, offering practical tools and examples to embed sustainability into financial decision-making processes Virtual, 1-4 December. Dublin Chamber, The Sustainability Academy: Making It Work Inside Your Organisation This half-day workshop is designed for people working behind the scenes — in finance, operations, HR and other internal roles, those who play a key part in shaping how their organisation runs day to day. It focuses on how sustainability can be built into internal systems and processes in a way that supports both people and performance. In person, 4 Dec 9am - 1pm, Dublin Chamber, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2 D02 F9O2 Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Event to Help Employers Apply Reasonable Adjustments This in-person event will help employers create inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities by demonstrating how reasonable adjustments can and should be applied. Hear from employers A&O Shearman and Belfast City Council on effective approaches, and learn about support services and programmes from disability sector representatives and government departments. Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast, Thursday 11 December 2025, 9:30am – 1:00pm | Cost: Free Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business - Lancaster University,  SMEs - Learning about Nature and Biodiversity This is the first in a series of three free webinars from the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business aimed at SMEs curious about nature and biodiversity links to business activity. This session provides a natural science introduction to ecosystems and explains how these aspects impact business operations, with examples from different sectors. Virtual, Thursday 15 January 2026, 8:00am – 9:00am | 4.00pm – 5.00pm 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 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.