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  Research published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has found that almost a third of Irish enterprises used ICT in 2025 to reduce their environmental impact, slightly ahead of the EU average. It also found that investing in technological innovation can support enterprise resilience, efficiency and competitiveness as well as environmental sustainability within enterprises, allowing enterprises to use fewer resources while producing the same or greater output. Commenting on the release, Morgan O’Donnell, Statistician in the Sustainability, Circular Economy & Transport division of the CSO said: “Sustainability is of increasing importance to enterprises, in terms of meeting environmental regulations and expectations, but also from an economic and social perspective. There is increasing national and international recognition that economic growth alone is not a sufficient measure of success, and that long term prosperity depends on achieving a balanced integration of economic, environmental, and social outcomes.” The research, titled Business in Ireland 2025 - Sustainability Through Innovation and Technology, is the second in a series of releases that brings together relevant enterprise economy statistics from a variety of outputs and looks at them through the lens of sustainability to provide greater insights around sustainability and climate targets.

The Climate Change Advisory Council’s latest report: Annual Review 2026 - Our Changing Climate in 2025, finds that climate change is having measurable impacts in Ireland, with growing risks for communities, infrastructure, essential services and the economy. The economic damage from the five named storms that affected Ireland in 2025 amounted to almost €360 million, following estimated losses of €4.1 billion from flood and windstorm events in Ireland in 2024. The storm also exposed vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and essential services, including energy, water and telecommunications. The Council identifies gaps in how the economic, social and environmental consequences of extreme weather events are monitored and notes that robust data and evidence are essential to inform effective policy, planning and investment; it also calls for coordinated Government action, including investment in climate monitoring and infrastructure systems, strengthened policy and legislative frameworks, and a systemic approach to improving national resilience.

Moving away from fossil fuels is key to reducing the impact of the current crisis and future crises, according to Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD. The Taoiseach was commenting in a  recent Government announcement of temporary and targeted measures to reduce fuel prices for households and businesses in order to shield them from the recent hikes in fuel prices. The measures provide for temporary reductions in the rates of Mineral Oil Tax (MOT) applying to petrol, auto diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO), and are in effect from 25 March to 31 May 2026. Separately, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris TD, warned that Ireland and the European Union remain exposed to fossil fuel price shocks: “As long as we rely on imported fossil fuels, events far beyond our shores will continue to impact in a real way on households and businesses. That is not a sustainable position. And it is not a secure one.” The Tánaiste further commented that reducing that dependence as “the only lasting answer”, by accelerating Ireland’s transition to renewable energy and improving efficiency, and building a system that is more resilient and more within our own control. Energy was also a core pillar of Ireland-UK Summit 2026 which took place in Cork in March. A key focus of the Summit was closer cooperation between both countries to deploy offshore wind at scale, as well as increased electricity interconnection and securing critical infrastructure in shared maritime space. An expanded Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Summit between the electricity transmission system operators of Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland (EirGrid, NESO and SONI), to increase knowledge-sharing and cooperation. Commenting, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien TD said “This Summit has come as Ireland reaches 8GW of onshore renewable electricity generation, which is a significant milestone. We're building on this both in Ireland and with our near neighbours, creating opportunities for jobs, investments, and a more stable economy." Ireland has doubled wind energy capacity over the past decade, receiving more electricity from onshore wind farms than any other country in Europe. A new peak for wind energy was reportedly recorded in Ireland during February 2026, according to provisional data from EirGrid, with almost 50 percent of Ireland’s electricity came from renewable sources last month. 

In this week’s bulletin read about the Institute’s shortlisting for an ESG award, the importance of strong capital markets for the green transition, warnings from the Climate Change Advisory Council, and CSO new data on enterprise sustainability. Updates from Northern Ireland include the publication of its latest Climate Change Adaptation Programme and the extension of the public consultation on Draft Nature Recovery Strategy. The UK’s new energy security measures are covered, along with the greenlighting of negotiations on UK participation in the EU’s internal energy market. This plus the usual articles, resources and upcoming events. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IRELAND Institute shortlisted for ESG award Chartered Accountants Ireland has been shortlisted for the ESG Company Award (SMEs) in the Business & Finance Media Group ESG Awards 2026, in partnership with Grant Thornton Ireland. Congratulations to all our fellow nominees across over 15 categories and we look forward to the Awards on 16 April! IRELAND Strong capital markets needed for green transition The Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Gabriel Mahklouf, has described strong capital markets as necessary to fund innovation, infrastructure, and the digital and green transition. Speaking at the first Annual Savings and Investment Forum Governor Mahklouf went on to say that only a fraction of EU household wealth is currently held directly in capital markets instruments. The forum, which was convened this week by Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris TD, brought together stakeholders, including Chartered Accountants Ireland, from across the financial services sector, consumer representatives, and policymakers to support the continued evolution of Ireland’s savings and investment landscape. It aims to focus on advancing a framework for a Personal Investment Account in Ireland, and to support greater retail participation in capital markets, enhance long term financial resilience and provide individuals with improved opportunities to grow their savings. Moving away from fossil fuels "key to reducing impact of future crises" Moving away from fossil fuels is key to reducing the impact of the current crisis and future crises, according to Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD. The Taoiseach was commenting in a  recent Government announcement of temporary and targeted measures to reduce fuel prices for households and businesses in order to shield them from the recent hikes in fuel prices. The measures provide for temporary reductions in the rates of Mineral Oil Tax (MOT) applying to petrol, auto diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO), and are in effect from 25 March to 31 May 2026. Read more. Climate change causing significant damage in Ireland, new Council report finds The Climate Change Advisory Council’s latest report: Annual Review 2026 - Our Changing Climate in 2025, finds that climate change is having measurable impacts in Ireland, with growing risks for communities, infrastructure, essential services and the economy. Read more here. CSO’s findings on enterprise economy statistics through sustainability lens Research published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has found that almost a third of Irish enterprises used ICT in 2025 to reduce their environmental impact, slightly ahead of the EU average. It also found that investing in technological innovation can support enterprise resilience, efficiency and competitiveness as well as environmental sustainability within enterprises, allowing enterprises to use fewer resources while producing the same or greater output. Read more here. Research finds no evidence linking minimum wage increase to low-paid worker job-loss Recent increases to the minimum wage in Ireland did not lead to low-paid workers losing their jobs, according to research published by the ESRI. A key concern for minimum wage policy – which saw Ireland’s minimum wage in Ireland increase every year from 2016 to 2025 – is whether raising the minimum wage would cause low paid workers to lose their jobs if employers reduced their workforce due to higher labour costs. The ESRI study found no evidence that recent minimum wage increases in Ireland increased the likelihood of minimum wage employees losing their jobs in the six-month period following a minimum wage. The research also addressed concerns that employees under 20 years (who can be paid less than the full adult minimum wage) would lose their jobs once they ‘aged into’ a higher minimum wage band. NORTHERN IRELAND/UK Northern Ireland’s third Climate Change Adaptation Programme published Northern Ireland’s third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (‘NICCAP3’) has been launched by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir. The adaptation action plan brings together actions from across government and a range of key stakeholders in response to the latest UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA), setting out over 280 actions to help all sectors of society to adapt to and building the region’s resilience to the impacts of climate change. Commenting Dr Lisa McIlvenna, Managing Director at Business in the Community NI, stressed the importance of climate adaptation for the economy. Referring to the 2025 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey report which showed that 67 percent of respondents from businesses had experienced direct or indirect impacts from climate change in the past five years, Dr McIlvenna commented: “The impacts of climate change on businesses are escalating, disrupting productivity and supply chains, damaging premises and infrastructure, increasing insurance costs, and posing physical health risks to employees through severe weather and flooding. Many businesses across Northern Ireland are already experiencing the damaging effects of these events, and climate projections suggest the risks will only increase. Building resilience to climate change now is critical to protecting our business sector and the wider economy.” Extension of public consultation on Draft Nature Recovery Strategy Northern Ireland’s DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has extended the public consultation for the draft Nature Recovery Strategy by four weeks to 15 April 2026. The draft Nature Recovery Strategy contains five strategic objectives and clear actions to help deliver transformation across government, business and society to safeguard and restore nature and biodiversity. Identifying the loss of nature and ecosystems as having economic implications globally and locally, the Strategy cites the landmark Dasgupta Review of the Economics of Biodiversity (2021) which asserted that nature is a blind spot in economics, and called for nature to be treated as an asset to be valued, protected, and restored. UK Government announces energy security measures UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has set out an accelerated package of energy interventions to boost the UK’s energy security. Measures include easy-to-use ‘plug-in solar’, low-cost solar panels to be made available for the first time at supermarkets for placing on balconies or outdoor space. The government is also working with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ensure that fuel suppliers cannot engage in unfair practices towards consumers such as price gouging, and is consulting on new powers to clamp down on speculative electricity grid connection applications.  The measures aim to support the government’s “clean energy superpower mission” and maintain energy security by tackling backlogs in the queue, while unblocking projects that are vital to innovation, economic growth and decarbonisation. EUROPE Negotiations for UK’s participation in EU’s internal energy market gets green light The European Council has formally authorised the European Commission to open negotiations with the UK on two agreements regarding the UK’s participation in the EU’s internal electricity market and on an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy. The aim of the electricity agreement is to allow the UK’s participation in both the wholesale and retail EU internal electricity market. It envisages alignment of UK laws to EU rules to create a level playing field between the parties, “significantly contributing to energy securityfor both parties, especially amid the current geopolitical turmoil”.  It aims to improve the efficiency of the electricity trading between the parties, and facilitate investments in electricity infrastructure, including renewable electricity generation that is necessary to achieve both sides’ net zero ambitions. The agreement on the UK’s financial contributionis part of a consistent EU policy that couples the granting of market access to a third country with a fair financial contribution reflecting the benefits derived from such access. RESOURCES Technical Roundup (from our colleagues in Professional Accounting) The European Commission (EC) has published draft Commission Delegated Regulations (draft delegated acts) proposing amendments to the EU Taxonomy climate and environmental delegated acts. The comment period ends on 14 April 2026. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) new webcast Climate resilience and climate-related scenario analysis requirements in IFRS S2 discusses some of the requirements of the S2 standard and how companies might meet their reporting requirements in relation to climate resilience and the use of climate-related scenario analysis. This factsheet also provides an overview of the webcast. As the number of companies preparing their Sustainability Report using the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs (VSME) increases, EFRAG is asking preparers to contribute to the development of the standard by completing a survey and submitting their report. The feedback received from this initiative will be used to develop their VSME Ecosystem. EFRAG has launched its new interactive version of their Technical Advice on the Draft Simplified ESRS on their Knowledge Hub. This allows users to explore the advice and understand how the proposed simplifications connect to the 2023 version of the ESRS. Accountancy Europe – Sustainability Update The March issue of Accountancy Europe’s Sustainability Update this month includes the following highlights: EC proposes changes to EU Taxonomy Environmental and Climate Delegated Acts EC calls for technical advice on Taxonomy Disclosures delegated act Omnibus Directive amending sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements enters into force Council adopts amended Climate Law CEAOB comments on revised ESRS UN Global Compact resources EU Sustainability Navigator: On-Demand Recording Now Available: recording, presentation slides, and answers to key questions from the session 'From Regulation to Results: Navigating EU Omnibus I to Drive Ambition and Impact' are now available on the UN Global Compact Academy platform. EU Corporate Sustainability Regulation: Overview & Reference Guide: comprehensive reference guide covering key EU sustainability regulations and recent developments — a useful resource for companies mapping their obligations under CSRD, CSDDD, and related legislation. New e-Learning Modules: Science-Based Targets: five new and enhanced e-learning modules from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) guide companies through every step of target setting and validation — from an introduction to science-based targets, through to specialist modules for SMEs and the Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) sector. Available on the UN Global Compact Academy. Business & Human Rights Navigator: Digital & Emerging Technologies: a new issue page on Digital and Emerging Technologies and Human Rights for companies seeking to understand and manage human rights risks in the digital space. Procurement as a Catalyst for Sustainable Growth: 40 practical tools and frameworks, global case studies, and company insights to help organisations embed sustainability across the procurement lifecycle — including how collaboration between buyers and suppliers, particularly SMEs, drives results.  ARTICLES IPSASB SRS 1, Climate-related Disclosures Marks a Milestone in Advancing Climate Finance and Public Sector Transparency (IPSASB) Clarifying and consolidating EU Taxonomy FAQs (Accountancy Europe) Europe’s Green Power Revolution Softens Iran Energy Price Shock (Bloomberg) Ireland must prepare ‘evacuation’ plans for coastal areas as climate change intensifies, says expert (Irish Times) EVENTS 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. Workshops | Dates & Times • Friday, 17 April 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 8 May 2026 | Half‑day workshop 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 business 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 Climate Cocktail Club, The Climate Heist Hacking the system to save nature... and ourselves. Exploring the tools, levers, products and more of the modern interconnected world to drive radical and urgent action on climate and nature - through entrepreneurship and innovation. A special event partnering with Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO). 14 April, The Sugar Club, Dublin 2 UN Global Compact Network Canada, Annual Sustainability Reporting Peer Review Group (ASPiRe) — Now Open for Registration This structured peer review programme offers an exceptional opportunity for sustainability and communications teams to strengthen the quality and credibility of their sustainability disclosures — including Communications on Progress (CoPs). Registration Deadline: 5 June 2026 | Programme: July–October 2026 Sustainability Centre You can find information, guidance and supports to understand sustainability and meet the challenges it presents in our online Sustainability Centre. 

  This week’s Sustainability/ESG bulletin highlights Ireland’s gender pay and digital skills gaps and their impact on competitiveness, alongside new requirements for centralised pay gap reporting. Also included are updates on the Government’s actions on energy security, offshore wind, expanded zero‑emission HDV grants, and the introduction of the EU’s ESAP portal to support SME finance. The Green Economy reached €12.1bn output in 2023, with emissions intensity falling. Also covered are EU clean‑energy measures, greenwashing guidance, technical updates, key articles, and upcoming sustainability events. IRELAND SMEs and sustainable finance Tánaiste and Minister of Finance, Simon Harris, has signed into law the Statutory Instruments creating the Irish framework of the European Single Access Point (ESAP), an EU-wide data portal centralising free source of public information about EU companies and investment products. Read more. Gender pay gap consequences for Ireland’s competitiveness, innovation and resilience Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has urged employers to publish their gender pay gap reports, pointing to new research showing how a gender pay gap is evident in the early stages of young women’s careers. A gender skills gap has also been a priority area for certain sectors across Europe, with research published by the ESRI and European Parliament. Read more. Energy security and competitiveness developments The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) has convened a meeting of the Government's Energy Security Group to assess the current implications of the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region; however, commentators argue that the crisis in the Middle East exposes over-reliance on fossil fuels, particularly LNG as a liability for Ireland, and call for investment in household energy security and clean energy alternatives. Read more. Government expands zero emission HDV grants for Irish logistics sector Irish businesses are set to benefit from expanded Government support to help cut costs and accelerate the move to zero-emission transport. Read more. Gross Output of Ireland’s ‘Green Economy’ €12.1 billion in 2023 The Gross Output of the Green Economy was €12.1 billion in 2023, up 10 percent on 2022, according to figures released by the CSO office. Meanwhile, a separate publication revealed that Ireland’s economy is becoming less emissions-intensive and is producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions per unit of economic activity. Read more. ISIF invests €140m in new climate action fund The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), has announced it will commit up to €140m as a cornerstone investor in a major new climate action fund. Read more. NORTHERN IRELAND/UK Urgent call for action as rising oil and gas costs hit households and businesses Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has written to the British Government warning that the rapid rise in global oil and natural gas prices is now placing significant pressure on households and businesses across the north. It comes as consumers using heating oil saw prices rise over 80 percent in less than a week. The Minister’s call for action builds on her engagement last week with her Irish and British Government counterparts, business, consumer, and industry stakeholders, on the stark price rises in petrol, diesel and heating oil. The call was made only five days after a report was published detailing the percentage  of electricity consumption in the region generated from renewable sources. The report found that the volume of renewable electricity generated in the year to December 2025 was equivalent to 47 percent of gross final electricity consumption compared to 44 percent in the previous period, of which the majority (72 percent) was from wind. EUROPE Commission presents measures to increase EU's energy independence and affordability The European Commission has presented a package of initiatives designed to boost investment in homegrown clean energy solutions, increase resilience and reduce energy prices. Delivering on the Affordable Energy Action Plan which was adopted in February 2025 to strengthen Europe's competitiveness, reduce energy dependencies and increase affordability for households, the package comprises: a Clean Energy Investment Strategy to help bridge the gap between the private capital currently available and the investments needed, de-risking projects and mobilising private finance for grids, innovative clean energy technologies and energy efficiency. a Citizens Energy Package to reduce energy bills, empower citizens to produce and share their own clean energy and fight against energy poverty a Strategy for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to reduce import dependencies and ensure strategic autonomy by enabling EU Member States pursuing this technology accelerate their development and deployment. The Commission will present further measures in due course. Accountancy Europe on the EU sustainable reporting ecosystem and greenwashing Accountancy Europe has called for stability in the EU sustainability reporting ecosystem, as the European Commission drafts and ultimately adopts the Delegated Act on Revised ESRS. Calling for the EC to “keep the standard-setting process technical and avoid subjecting it to political pressures” Accountancy Europe advises the Commission to refrain from further diluting the standards or reopening technical elements, which it warns would undermine the due process the Draft Revised ESRS went through at EFRAG level. Separately, Accountancy Europe’s new publication Trust and integrity: the role of corporate ecosystem actors in preventing greenwashing demonstrates that mitigating greenwashing risks requires a systemic approach. The publication examines how different actors in the corporate ecosystem (across the three lines of defence) can identify and mitigate greenwashing risks, clarifying how each contributes to safeguarding the integrity of sustainability disclosures. “Sustainability information is key to capital allocation and stakeholder decision-making and demand for it will persist. With lighter regulation due to the latest changes under the ‘simplification agenda’, ensuring good governance and clarifying the roles of corporate ecosystem actors is more important than ever.” RESOURCES Technical Roundup (from our colleagues in Professional Accounting)  The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has published:  a Jurisdictional Readiness Assessment Guide for the adoption or other use of ISSB Standards a podcast  on the latest developments around the ISSB.  EFRAG has called for a balanced and cost effective approach to the proposed changes to Scope 2 Guidance in its response to the public consultation of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, while also raising some strong concerns regarding the complexity of some of the proposals. EFRAG has  also released an updated version of the VSME digital template, which includes language support in Irish.  ARTICLES Sustainability isn’t dead. It’s a commercial risk (Business Post) "A Quiet Momentum" - Trends of Sustainability in Business for 2026 (IBEC) More than half a million car journeys avoided every day in Dublin by walking and cycling (The Journal) Why it makes sense for women to work for women (Financial Times) Women represent 40pc of board member positions in Irish companies (Irish Independent) Pension gender gap would see women working 10 extra years (Irish Examiner) “A real opportunity to level-set pay gaps”: Employers face new EU salary transparency rules (The Currency) After years of pay gap reporting, what do we know? (Financial Times) New law to fast-track infrastructure will ‘benefit businesses’ (Business Post) EVENTS Dublin Chamber, SustainableSolutions Match 2026 In conjunction with the Enterprise Europe Network, Dublin Chamber is running free online events to exchange ideas, discover innovations, and connect with partners who share the same ambition: building a more sustainable and circular European economy. Whether you’re a company searching for practical sustainability solutions or an innovator ready to showcase your ideas, this event is where collaboration turns into action. 🌍 Opening Session 16 March | 💡 Online Pitching Sessions 16-24 March | 🤝 Online B2B Meetings 16-27 March   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. Workshops | Dates & Times • Friday, 20 March 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 17 April 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 8 May 2026 | Half‑day workshop   Goodbody Clearstream From Strategy to Supplier Performance: Making EcoVadis Work for Your Organisation  Join this webinar to explore how EcoVadis is being used by organisations to strengthen their sustainability performance and meet growing expectations. We’ll begin with a clear introduction to the EcoVadis Scorecard and IQ Plus tools and hear directly from businesses that are using EcoVadis today. Through their experiences, you’ll gain valuable perspective on implementation timelines, internal engagement, challenges faced, and the business benefits achieved. Whether you’re new to EcoVadis or looking to better understand its role in supply chain and sustainability management, this session will provide practical insight into how the platform supports continuous improvement and risk management. Virtual | Thursday, 26 March |12:30pm – 1:15pm   SEAI, SEAI Energy Show 2026 The SEAI Energy Show is a business-to-business event where you can learn about the latest developments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. In person, RDS, Main Arena, Merrion Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 AK83, 22nd - 23rd March 2026 Sustainability Centre You can find information, guidance and supports to understand sustainability and meet the challenges it presents in our online Sustainability Centre.

  The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), has announced it will commit up to €140m as a cornerstone investor in a major new climate action fund. The fund has been set up by TirNua Capital Partners (TirNua), an independent, employee-managed private markets investment manager. ISIF has led the investment round in TirNua’s climate action infrastructure fund to accelerate its €2bn climate action investment programme and to continue to act as a catalyst for leveraging additional co-investment from other investors into Irish businesses and projects. Commenting David O’Brien, TirNua CEO described the fund as “a first-of-its-kind private markets platform focused on Ireland’s energy transition […] represent[ing] an exciting new way for investors to channel long-term capital into the projects that have the potential to positively shape Ireland’s future.” Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

  The Gross Output of the Green Economy was €12.1 billion in 2023, up 10 percent on 2022, according to figures released by the CSO office in their Business in Ireland 2023 – Green Economy. The release, which provides insights on activities that can be classified by their environmental purpose and the business sectors in which they take place, found that the increase was mainly driven by the increased output of the Energy sector. Green Economy statistics are part of environment accounts which constitute a satellite account to national accounts. The release also revealed that the Green Economy represented €5 billion of Gross Value Added (GVA) to the country and supported 48,400 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs, up 13 percent on 2022. The Industry sector generated €10.2 billion in Green Economy output, up €0.6 billion on 2022 and accounting for 84 percent of total Green Economy output. Within this, construction contributed €3.1 billion (31 percent) underlining its role in delivering environmentally focused infrastructure projects. A separate publication revealed that emissions from the enterprise economy have fallen 12 percent since 2018, notwithstanding strong economic growth. Business In Ireland 2025 - Emissions and Energy Use by Enterprises is the first in a series of releases that looks at data relating to the enterprise economy through the lens of sustainability and climate targets. In the publication, ‘enterprise economy’ refers to activity in the Industry (including Construction) and Services sectors in Ireland. The release revealed that Ireland’s economy is becoming less emissions-intensive and is producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions per unit of economic activity. Greenhouse gas emissions per euro of Modified Gross National Income (GNI) fell by 25 percent between 2018 and 2023.   Commenting on the release, Morgan O’Donnell, Statistician in the Sustainability, Circular Economy & Transport division said:  “Sustainability is of increasing importance to enterprises, in terms of meeting environmental regulations and expectations, but also from an economic and social perspective. There is increasing national and international recognition that economic growth alone is not a sufficient measure of success, and that long term prosperity depends on achieving a balanced integration of economic, environmental, and social outcomes. … This release looks at energy use by the enterprise economy, as it underpins productivity, competitiveness, and employment, while also contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.  By examining energy consumption alongside associated emissions, this release highlights the relationship between business activity and its environmental impact, addressing the dual national goals of sustaining economic activity while reducing emissions.” Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

  Irish businesses are set to benefit from expanded Government support to help cut costs and accelerate the move to zero-emission transport. Changes to the Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle (ZEHDV) grant scheme will make it easier and more flexible for companies to invest in electric trucks and buses, with grants of up to €500,000 per year now available. Speaking at an industry working group event, the Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rails and Ports, Sean Canney TD described decarbonising transport “a national priority but […] also a major commercial opportunity”. The updated scheme allows businesses to phase investment over time, rather than relying on a one-off funding opportunity, helping companies manage cash flow while modernising their fleets. Alongside the vehicle purchase support, businesses can also access grants of up to €300,000 under the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Grant Scheme (ZEHDV-I) to install depot charging infrastructure and support charging logistics hubs and urban locations. The Government is also supporting businesses at the planning stage through the EV Fleet Assessment Grant, which offers fully funded expert assessment to help companies understand how electric vehicles can operate within their existing fleets. Assessments cover routes, vehicle suitability, charging needs and total cost of ownership providing a clear roadmap to electrification. Separately, Minister of Transport Darragh O’Brien TD has announced the launch of a public consultation on the draft National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2026-2028, setting out the next phase of Ireland’s plan to expand and future proof the national EV charging network. Businesses, members of the public, local authorities, representative organisations and community groups are invited to make submissions as part of the consultation process, by 5pm on 24 April 2026. Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

  The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) has convened a meeting of the Government's Energy Security Group to assess the current implications of the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region. The meeting brought together senior officials from relevant government departments, state agencies, and regulators and reviewed current supply and pricing conditions across oil, gas and electricity, and assessed the local impacts arising from the evolving situation. The group reiterated International Energy Agency (IEA) updates that while oil prices continue to fluctuate, there has been some stabilisation; however, commentators argue that the crisis in the Middle East exposes over-reliance on fossil fuels, particularly LNG as a liability for Ireland, and call for investment in household energy security and clean energy alternatives. Separately, Enterprise Ireland has announced the launch of Propel Ireland, a new innovation centre designed to drive collaboration, innovation and supply chain development across Ireland’s offshore wind sector. Representing a key action under Powering Prosperity: Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy, Propel Ireland supports the development of a globally competitive offshore wind industry and positioning Irish companies to capitalise on significant domestic and international opportunities.  Its launch reflects a coordinated, cross-Government approach to developing Ireland’s offshore wind sector, aligned with national climate, energy and enterprise policy. Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has urged employers to publish their gender pay gap reports, pointing to new research showing how a gender pay gap is evident in the early stages of young women’s careers. A gender skills gap has also been a priority area for certain sectors across Europe. Research published in February 2026 by the ESRI found that Ireland has the largest gender gap in Europe for advanced workplace digital skills use, with consequences for Ireland’s competitiveness, innovation and resilience. A report published on 11 March by the European Parliament similarly argued that improving the labour market participation and working conditions of women could help address skills and labour shortages and improve the EU’s productivity and growth. This echoes comments from Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD in the Foreword to the Eighth Report from the independent business-led Review Group Balance for Better Business (B4BB), published in November 2025: “For Ireland to remain competitive in the global market it is vital that we see this progress continue, as we know that the companies with the greatest gender diversity tend to be the best performing, more innovative and more resilient.” The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for annual gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. Since 2024, all employers with over 150 employees have been legally obliged to report on their gender pay gap, with this requirement extended in November 2025 to include employers with over 50 staff. However, not all employers are doing this. Legislation will be introduced to make it mandatory to report on their gender pay gap to a centralised reporting database-the Gender Pay Gap Portal. Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

Tánaiste and Minister of Finance, Simon Harris, has signed into law the Statutory Instruments creating the Irish framework of the European Single Access Point (ESAP), an EU-wide data portal centralising free source of public information about EU companies and investment products. The portal, which is established via EU legislation, aims to improve public access to companies’ financial and non-financial information, including that of SMEs. Minister with responsibility for Small Business and Retail and the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD, described the rollout of the portal as “mark[ing] an important milestone for Irish businesses, particularly SMEs seeking greater visibility and investment opportunities. By providing a single, standardised source of company information, this platform will simplify cross border engagement, improve investor confidence, and contribute to a more connected and competitive European marketplace.” Commenting, the Tánaiste stated that the portal benefits the green transition by centralising sustainability related financial information and illustrates the commitment the Irish government and the EU has to simplifying the investment journey for retail investors and finding ways to boost investment in Ireland’s domestic industry: “Altogether, the ESAP has the potential to bring a myriad of benefits to Irish people whilst simultaneously supporting the objectives of the Savings and Investment Union and making it easier for firms to raise capital across the EU.” The ESAP will be established and administered by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Designated national collection bodies as well as the European Supervisory Authorities will provide data to ESMA for the purposes of ESAP. Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

Research carried out by Amárach research on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has found that more than four in five businesses (85 percent) say sustainability is important to the day-to-day running of their business. The findings of the second phase of SME Sustainability Research – Wave 2 were announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD and are in line with the previous year’s findings. Read more. The survey of 344 SMEs shows that two in five had taken steps such as insulating their buildings or changing their windows in the past two years to improve their energy efficiency. Other findings were that ‘making a positive difference’ (35 percent) and saving money (34 percent) were the top motivations for businesses in becoming sustainable. Just over a quarter of business say that climate change is currently affecting their operations, rising significantly among larger firms and those operating for more than 20 years. Among affected businesses, adverse weather is now the dominant impact, reflecting the growing reality of extreme weather events. Most sustainability action is concentrated in practical, cost-effective areas: waste reduction (49%), energy efficiency (44%), and renewable energy adoption (33%) remain the most common measures adopted by businesses. The main barrier for organisations to act more sustainably remained upfront investment costs (22%), although at a lower rate compared to 2024. Commenting Minister Burke said by doing so these businesses would also be cutting their energy costs and would become more competitive, and urged SMEs to avail of the Local Enterprise Offices’ Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) and the SEAI’s Building Energy Upgrade Scheme (BEUS) to buy energy efficient equipment and to retrofit their buildings. In 2025, 681 small business were approved for the EEG at estimated value of €5.7 million, while 186 BEUS grants with an estimated value of €3.36 million were approved. Minister Burke also advised businesses to use the Government’s free toolkit - ClimateToolkit4Business.gov.ie – to measure their carbon emissions, as by estimating their environmental impact, SMEs can start to tackle it. The ClimateToolkit4Business.gov.ie is a government initiative designed to help business cut carbon emissions and energy costs. It is a joint initiative of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE). This year’s survey also included questions on the potential of the circular economy to Irish businesses, with Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail and Circular Economy Alan Dillon TD pointing to the value businesses are seeing in re-using, recycling and minimising waste. The Government of Ireland has this week launched Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028, setting out the national plan to accelerate Ireland’s transition from a linear ‘take make waste’ model to a circular, sustainable economy. Commenting Susan Rossney, Sustainability Advocacy Manager with Chartered Accountants Ireland said: “We welcome the findings of this research that sustainability is important to 85% of the businesses surveyed. SMEs are the backbone of Ireland’s economy, accounting for over 99% of all businesses and employing a significant portion of the workforce. With their size and agility, they are uniquely positioned to innovate and implement sustainable practices quickly. But they face challenges in what can be a complex and potentially resource-intensive transition. Without coordinated support, many SMEs risk being left behind. Considering their prominence in the business landscape of the region, this in turn undermines regional efforts to meet climate and biodiversity targets.”  

In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin, read about the research showing that Irish SMEs consider sustainability important, Ireland’s new Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028, a major review of regulations to address delays in infrastructure delivery, developments in transport, and a call for greater focus on resilience across SMEs and communities. Final UK Sustainability Reporting Standards have published, along with CBAM consultations in Northern Ireland, while the EU has adopted amendments to CSRD and CSDDD. This, plus the latest articles, technical content, resources and upcoming events. IRELAND Vast majority of Irish SMEs say sustainability is important Research carried out by Amárach research on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has found that more than four in five businesses (85 percent) say sustainability is important to the day-to-day running of their business. The findings of the second phase of SME Sustainability Research – Wave 2 were announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD and are in line with the previous year’s findings. Read more Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028 The Government of Ireland has launched Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028, setting out the national plan to accelerate Ireland’s transition from a linear ‘take make waste’ model to a circular, sustainable economy.  The strategy aims to enhance Ireland’s ability to keep materials and products in use for longer, reduce waste and enable circular innovation across every sector of society. This, it states, will build resilience in supply chains, lower emissions, and strengthen Ireland's competitiveness as part of its broader climate and green enterprise agenda. The Strategy builds on the policy foundations including the Circular Economy Act 2022, the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (2020), the Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027, the Climate Action Plan, and the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024-2030. Major review of regulations to tackle barriers to infrastructure delivery to commence The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD has established a new Infrastructure Regulatory Simplification Unit in his Department to support the speedier delivery of critical infrastructure projects. The establishment of the Unit marks the commencement of Action 9 of the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan, which aims to support the simplification of overlapping and unduly complex regulatory frameworks – the complexity of which is leading to delays in the delivery of critical infrastructure. Minister Chambers will direct officials to issue a circular to all Departments and Regulatory Bodies setting out Principles for Better Regulation in the coming weeks. Funding announced under new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030 Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has announced the publication of the new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030. The Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport under the recent NDP Review will provide almost €45 million capital investment under the Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030, with €9 million in capital supports available for allocation in 2026. Separately, a November 2025 European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, updated on 20 February, has revealed that air pollution from shipping and aviation is rising, with consequences on health and on Europe’s economy due to increased healthcare costs, reduced life expectancy, and lost working days across sectors. It also damages vegetation and ecosystems, water and soil quality, and local ecosystems, with consequent economic and financial impacts. Report finds that resilience of SMEs, households, communities needs focus A new report from the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has found that resilience of households, communities and SMEs needs more focus from Government. The report, Accelerating the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System, the fourth in a series on the topic of energy policy to be published in 2025, examines the energy sector in Ireland using ‘systems thinking tools’ to identify approaches to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy system. The report calls on Ireland to “urgently reduce GHG emissions” by substantially reducing overall fossil fuel use, deploying low-emission energy sources, switching to alternative energy carriers, and engaging in energy efficiency and conservation (as recommend by the IPCC in 2022), p28). Despite many plans and strategies in place, Ireland is not on track to meet its climate and energy targets. NORTHERN IRELAND/UK Final UK Sustainability Reporting Standards publish The UK government has published the final UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) for voluntary use in the UK. The standards are based on IFRS S1 and IFRS S2. ‘UK SRS S1’ and ‘UK SRS S2’ set out a framework for corporate disclosures. UK SRS S1 includes the general framework for applying UK SRS, as well as requirements on general sustainability-related risks and opportunities. UK SRS S2 sets out requirements on climate-related risks and opportunities. UK CBAM: consultation, guidance and workshops HMRC is seeking to gather feedback from stakeholders on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the drafting of the draft secondary legislation to ensure that it delivers the policy correctly and effectively for the tax to operate as intended and provide for administrative matters. CBAM will place a carbon price on specified goods imported to the UK from sectors that are at risk of carbon leakage. It takes effect from 1 January 2027. This technical consultation sets out the draft secondary legislation that will come into effect on 1 January 2027 alongside Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) being introduced. Any responses to or queries about this consultation should be sent by email to cbampolicyteam@hmrc.gov.uk by 11:59pm on 24 March 2026, using the subject line ‘CBAM technical consultation response’ and clearly referencing the relevant parts of the legislation. Separately, Invest NI has produced business guidance which explains the EU and UK CBAM rules. The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was introduced in 2023 and is fully in place from 2026. It outlines what information you need to collect, who you need to share it with, and the key dates to plan for, and provides a practical toolkit, including checklists, carbon calculators, and templates, to help you prepare and manage the process more easily. Invest NI is also running workshops to provide Northern Ireland businesses with a clear overview of CBAM and who it applies to, guidance on data, documentation and reporting and practical next steps to support clients and internal teams. EUROPE CSRD and CSDDD amendments published in Official Journal The amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) have been officially published in the Official Journal of the EU, exactly one year from when the Commission presented its proposal on 26 February 2025. This marks the formal legal step following the Council’s vote, and starts the timeline toward entry into force and national transposition. There are now 20 days before it becomes effective and can be transposed into national laws. Member States have 12 months to transpose the CSRD-related amendments into national law. CSDDD changes must be implemented by July 26, 2028.   Industrial transformation and decarbonisation developments in Europe A new briefing from the European Environment Agency (EEA) 'Zero pollution, decarbonisation and circular economy in energy-intensive industries' has found that energy-intensive industries account for around 27 percent of EU industrial greenhouse gas emissions and a large share of key air pollutants, including sulphur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The analysis focuses on key energy-intensive sectors: iron and steel, cement and lime, aluminium, pulp and paper, glass and clay, and chemicals and analyses long-term trends in greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. It also projects air pollutant emission reductions and outlines pathways that could support further progress. Separately, European Movement Ireland has produced a ‘Just the Facts’ overview on the Industrial Accelerator Act. Formerly known as the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act, the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), aims to help energy-intensive industries (EIIs) in Europe continue to decarbonise while maintaining their competitiveness internationally. The factsheet provides the IAA’s core objectives and measures, as well as key challenges to implementation – notably reported divisions over “Made in EU” criteria and tensions between the competitiveness and sustainability agendas.  WORLD New analysis on the state-of-play for air pollution reporting A deep-dive study on the pollution disclosure practices of publicly listed companies around the world finds that measurable emissions data and information on individual pollutants are uneven or lacking. The air pollution reporting gap: Evidence from 1,000 organizations across high-emitting sectors, produced by GRI with support from the Clean Air Fund, examines 2023-2024 sustainability reports spanning eight sectors. Key insights include that companies talk about air pollution more than they measure it, most businesses do not disclose pollutants known to impact health and the environment, higher quality reporting is provided by organisations that use global standards and reporting practices vary sector by sector. The analysis also highlights signs of progress, with some companies expanding the range of pollutants they track over time. RESOURCES Accountancy Europe Sustainability Update Accountancy Europe has released its February 2026 sustainability update. Key highlights:  European Central Bank issues opinion on revised ESRS European Commission updates its request to CEAOB for technical advice on limited assurance standard Council to greenlight agreement on Omnibus Directive Accounting for Sustainability  The latest issue of Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)’s newsletter has published. Key highlights: 100% adoption of sustainability principles across the UK Bulk Annuity market Tackling scope 3 emissions: a step-by-step case study with Vodafone How transition planning can shape Japan’s corporate strategy: six insights for 2026 Global benchmarks highlight finance leadership in action In case you missed it: a Q&A with DHL Group's Corporate Sustainability CFO demonstrates how finance is at the centre of transition planning ARTICLES Irish Examiner: Gender balance still a priority but many businesses cutting DEI budgets  Irish Times: Demand for electricity to increase by nearly one-fifth over next 10 years ICAEW Insights: Government publishes UK Sustainability Reporting Standards  EVENTS Chartered Accountants Ireland Ulster Society, Legal Webinar: Green Loans and Reporting Requirements This webinar with Hannah McDaid and Katie Britton from A&L Goodbody will provide an update on the fast-evolving landscape of green loans, highlighting key legal developments and the principles driving the loan market. A&L Goodbody will provide an overview of the reporting requirements for borrowers, external verification options for green projects, the distinction between green and sustainability-linked loans and the significance of qualitative vs quantitative indicators. Speakers will explore operational impacts on borrowers and include an overview of the regulatory and risk landscape. Virtual, via Zoom | Tuesday 3 March, 1pm - 2pm |Free, but registration required Chartered Accountants Ireland, ICAS, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: What you need to know Join us at a webinar on Thursday 12 March on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: What you need to know.  Learn how CBAM currently operates and what its implementation is revealing in practice. Virtual, 12 March, 11am-12pm. UN Global Compact Network UK Webinar Series, The Business Role in Systems Change, Feb/Mar 2026 Businesses are facing escalating risks as the world approaches critical tipping points. Corporate resilience now depends on the transformation of markets, supply chains, and business models needed to steer the system towards stability. There is also potential for positive tipping points - moments when small, well-directed actions accelerate large-scale transitions towards sustainability. Businesses hold a unique capacity to create and amplify these dynamics of change. In these webinars, leading scholars and experts will discuss tipping points, climate risk, and systems change, how to respond to emerging climate realities and apply breakthrough frameworks such as the Positive Tipping Points Toolkit and Doughnut Economics to unlock change at multiple scales.   Webinar sessions: Understanding Tipping Points Risks, Feb 26  | 14:00 Systems Thinking in Business and Climate, Mar 5  | 14:00 Triggering Positive Tipping Points, Mar 12 | 14:00 Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSDDD and performing due diligence This webinar will feature insights from the Shift team and leading businesses on practical, real‑world approaches to implementing due diligence aligned with good practice. The session will explore how due diligence requirements under the CSDDD and reporting obligations under the CSRD can be addressed in an integrated way, rather than treated as separate exercises. Companies in scope of the CSDDD or operating within their value chains are encouraged to attend. Virtual, Thursday, 26 February 2026 | 09:00 SEAI, EXEED Energy Efficient Design Training Join our exclusive free half-day training and become a leader in energy-efficient design. The SEAI EXEED team invites you to a dynamic training session designed to upskill professionals and stakeholders in the Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) process. This training is ideal for those aiming to become an Energy Efficient Design (EED) Expert. Virtual, Friday 27 February, 9am - 1pm 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. Workshops | Dates & Times • Friday, 27 February 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 20 March 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 17 April 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 8 May 2026 | Half‑day workshop Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSRD and reporting on sustainability issues The session will examine what recent changes to the CSRD and the ESRS mean in practice for how companies report on sustainability issues.  The webinar will feature insights from the Shift team, alongside leading businesses, on implementation approaches that reflect good practice, support companies in identifying and addressing key risks, and remain practical and workable in real-world contexts. The discussion will also explore how reporting obligations under the CSRD and due diligence requirements under the CSDDD should be considered together, rather than in isolation.  If your company is in scope of the CSRD, or part of the value chain of a company that is, we encourage you to join us. Virtual, 3 March 2026 | 15:00 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.  

In this week's Sustainability/ESG Bulletin read about the Government’s new National Digital and AI Strategy and a public consultation on a Green Growth Strategy. Scale Ireland’s 2026 survey shows slight declines in sustainability adoption among start-ups, almost €35 million in new funding will support community level climate action, and Ireland also reported strong progress under its National Biodiversity Action Plan. In the UK, new actions target modern slavery risks and strengthen protections for small business energy customers, and the EU approved measures to support a smoother ETS2 launch in 2028. This, plus the latest articles, technical content, resources and upcoming events. IRELAND Climate change and need for national digital and AI resilience   Both geopolitical shifts and climate change require a focus on the security and resilience of our digital infrastructure, which is increasingly challenged by malicious attacks and severe weather events. This was one of the many drivers for the new National Digital and AI strategy, published this week and containing 20 high-level objectives, supported by 90 specific deliverables, covering Public Services, Enterprise, Digital & AI Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Digital Regulation, Online Safety, and Skills and Talent. The Strategy, titled Digital Ireland Connecting our People, Securing our Future, outlines five strategic and mutually reinforcing ambitions - Apply, Grow, Invest, Lead, and Empower – aims to reflect the agile approach needed to succeed in a fast-evolving digital world. Public consultation on proposed Green Growth Strategy The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is seeking the views of interested stakeholders to inform the development of a new Green Growth Strategy, which is linked to commitments in the Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future. The aim of the new strategy is to ensure that Ireland develops a strong domestic supply chain in the renewable energy sector and that government adopts a coherent and ambitious approach to future opportunities. Views from stakeholders and interested parties on the public consultation are requested no later than 5pm on Wednesday, 4 March 2026 via the following link: Green Growth Public Consultation – fill in form Scale Ireland's State of Start-ups Survey 2026 A Scale Ireland survey has found that 44.9 percent of companies believe they contribute to local or global sustainability. The State of Start-ups Survey 2026 from the independent not-for-profit representative organisation for Irish tech start-up and scaling companies also noted that this figure is a slight decrease (3.6 percent) from the previous year. The survey further found that 39.2 percent of start-ups have a sustainability or climate action plan, again a slight decrease on 2025 (41.3 percent). Scale Ireland aims to support, promote and advocate on behalf of indigenous tech start-up and scaling companies of all stages, sizes and sectors and to create the most favourable conditions for them to succeed. It produces an annual survey to get the feedback of founders and CEOs and gauge the sentiment of the sector on key issues.  Over the past five years (2021-2026) the Scale Ireland State of Start-ups surveys reportedly show that sustainability in the Irish tech sector has gradually increased in adoption and strategic focus, transitioning from a secondary consideration to a necessary component for business growth.  Funding announced for climate action in communities Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien has announced new funding of almost €35 million to further support local authorities as they continue to drive forward climate action in Ireland’s communities. The new scheme, ‘Supporting a Sustainable Transition through Climate Action for a Resilient Territory (START)’, aims to build resilience local communities and will support local authority-led Climate Action Plan infrastructure projects and feasibility studies that align with the EU JTF programme. Details of the types of projects that local authorities can submit for consideration under this closed call can be found here. National Biodiversity Action Plan progress report published The 2025 report on the Implementation of Ireland’s National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030 has published, revealing that almost 80 percent of the plan’s strategic actions are currently on track or finished, with key achievements including greater accountability for public bodies in protecting biodiversity, and actions for designated habitats and protected species. Biodiversity supports a broad spectrum of raw materials essential for industries like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and construction, and its loss significantly impacts global supply chains and business operations, affecting resilience, cost efficiency, and sustainability, as declining species can lead to shortages and increased costs. PwC estimates that that “unchecked nature loss could erode 12–17% of GDP, 11–14% of overseas investments, and 12–18% of stock exchange market value (roughly US$11 trillion)” within the next 15 years. NORTHERN IRELAND/UK New licence measures to strengthen protections for Northern Ireland’s small business energy customers The Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland has introduced new licence measures designed to improve transparency and protections for the region’s non‑domestic electricity and gas consumers. The measures introduce requirements that aim to support clearer information and fairer treatment for small business consumers. The modifications cover the following areas: transparent price information for small business consumers on supplier websites; identification of alternative options to security deposits and clear information on the return of any deposit; and confirmation that a deemed contract cannot require notice before a customer switches supplier. The measures form part of the Utility Regulator’s Consumer Protection Programme 2024–2029, which seeks to ensure fair engagement and outcomes in the non‑domestic energy market. The changes will take effect from 4 February 2026. Global standard for private sector’s modern slavery risks              The UK’s national standards body, BSI, is consulting on a new standard on modern slavery, aiming to be the first of its kind that is applicable globally. ISO 37200, Managing the risk of modern slavery aims to provide guidance for the prevention, identification and response to human trafficking and forced labour. It is designed to help organisations assess and respond to the risks associated with modern slavery across their value chains. Modern slavery is estimated to affect some 50 million people globally, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and presents significant risks for business in terms of compliance, corporate and social responsibility, and brand reputation. It has been estimated to have cost the UK Exchequer approximately £52.4 million in 2023 in terms of main personal tax and pension contributions for paid employees from the forced or compulsory labour of adults if none is currently being paid. Responses to the consultation can be submitted until 2 February. For more on modern slavery see the Chartered Accountants Ireland sustainability resources hub. EUROPE European Council backs measures for a smoother launch of ETS2 The European Council (at EU ambassadors level) has adopted its position on a targeted amendment of the market stability reserve for the new emissions trading system for buildings, road transport and other sectors (ETS2). The amendment aims to ensure a better price stability and predictability for a smoother start of ETS2 in 2028, but does not change the overall design of the market stability reserve. The market stability reserve helps address supply and demand imbalances in ETS2. It automatically adjusts the number of emission allowances available when prices fluctuate. To improve longer-term market predictability and confidence among market participants, the market stability reserve will be extended beyond 2030. RESOURCES Accountancy Ireland Sustainability, and developments in sustainable finance, accounting and reporting, are covered in the Feb/March 2026 issue of Accountancy Ireland. Find articles by the Institute’s Professional Accountancy Lead Dee Moran and KPMG’s Russell Smyth, and an article based on a research report into public sector sustainability accounting and reporting by Ciaran Connolly,  Paul Lawless, Eoin Reeves and Elaine Stewart.  Green shoots: clearer path ahead for future of sustainability reporting The business of sustainability in 2026: opportunity and risk Sustainability reporting in the public sector: benefits and progress ARTICLES Businesses urged to act on pay-gap reporting or face threat of penalties and litigation (Irish Times) UK’s gender pay gap ‘won’t close for 30 years’ at current rates (The Guardian) Climeaction launches app to track farm emissions (Irish Times) Climate and energy efficiency: ESG priorities for Ireland and the EU in 2026 (BDO Ireland Insights) PODCAST Chartered Accountants Worldwide, Young Difference Makers: How Khethiwe Sibanyoni uses ethics and systems thinking to tackle gender-based violence What if the rigour that keeps companies honest could also save lives? We sit down with social impact activist and Chartered Accountant Khethiwe Sibanyoni to unpack how ethics, systems thinking, and real accountability can turn good intentions into measurable change. From Saturday mornings in GBV shelters at age 11 to auditing across oil and gas, pharma, and FMCG, Khethiwe shows how credibility becomes a tool for communities when it is used with care. (13:07) EVENTS Chartered Accountants Ireland Ulster Society, Legal Webinar: Green Loans and Reporting Requirements This webinar with Hannah McDaid and Katie Britton from A&L Goodbody will provide an update on the fast-evolving landscape of green loans, highlighting key legal developments and the principles driving the loan market. A&L Goodbody will provide an overview of the reporting requirements for borrowers, external verification options for green projects, the distinction between green and sustainability-linked loans and the significance of qualitative vs quantitative indicators. Speakers will explore operational impacts on borrowers and include an overview of the regulatory and risk landscape. Virtual, via Zoom | Tuesday 3 March, 1pm - 2pm |Free, but registration required. Chartered Accountants Ireland, ICAS, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: What you need to know Join us at a webinar on Thursday 12 March on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: What you need to know.  Learn how CBAM currently operates and what its implementation is revealing in practice. Virtual, 12 March, 11am-12pm. UN Global Compact Network UK Webinar Series, The Business Role in Systems Change, Feb/Mar 2026 Businesses are facing escalating risks as the world approaches critical tipping points. Corporate resilience now depends on the transformation of markets, supply chains, and business models needed to steer the system towards stability. There is also potential for positive tipping points - moments when small, well-directed actions accelerate large-scale transitions towards sustainability. Businesses hold a unique capacity to create and amplify these dynamics of change. In these webinars, leading scholars and experts will discuss tipping points, climate risk, and systems change, how to respond to emerging climate realities and apply breakthrough frameworks such as the Positive Tipping Points Toolkit and Doughnut Economics to unlock change at multiple scales.   Webinar sessions: Understanding Tipping Points Risks, Feb 26  | 14:00 Systems Thinking in Business and Climate, Mar 5  | 14:00 Triggering Positive Tipping Points, Mar 12 | 14:00 Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSDDD and performing due diligence This webinar will feature insights from the Shift team and leading businesses on practical, real‑world approaches to implementing due diligence aligned with good practice. The session will explore how due diligence requirements under the CSDDD and reporting obligations under the CSRD can be addressed in an integrated way, rather than treated as separate exercises. Companies in scope of the CSDDD or operating within their value chains are encouraged to attend. Virtual, Thursday, 26 February 2026 | 09:00 SEAI, EXEED Energy Efficient Design Training Join our exclusive free half-day training and become a leader in energy-efficient design. The SEAI EXEED team invites you to a dynamic training session designed to upskill professionals and stakeholders in the Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) process. This training is ideal for those aiming to become an Energy Efficient Design (EED) Expert. Virtual, Friday 27 February, 9am - 1pm 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. Workshops | Dates & Times • Friday, 27 February 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 20 March 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 17 April 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 8 May 2026 | Half‑day workshop Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSRD and reporting on sustainability issues The session will examine what recent changes to the CSRD and the ESRS mean in practice for how companies report on sustainability issues.  The webinar will feature insights from the Shift team, alongside leading businesses, on implementation approaches that reflect good practice, support companies in identifying and addressing key risks, and remain practical and workable in real-world contexts. The discussion will also explore how reporting obligations under the CSRD and due diligence requirements under the CSDDD should be considered together, rather than in isolation.  If your company is in scope of the CSRD, or part of the value chain of a company that is, we encourage you to join us. Virtual, 3 March 2026 | 15:00 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.

  In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin read about the Central Bank of Ireland Governor’s speech about domestic economic policy priorities, ISIF’s commitment of €75m to expand battery storage supporting the electricity grid, and new studies showing Ireland’s strong hydrogen export potential and continued progress in renewable energy. Funding was awarded to circular economy projects, and research revealed Ireland’s significant gender gap in advanced digital skills. Northern Ireland advanced plans for a Just Transition Commission and launched funding for co‑operatives. Europe introduced a new carbon removal certification standard, while a global biodiversity report warned of rising risks to businesses. This, plus the latest articles, technical content, resources and upcoming events. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IRELAND Chartered Accountants Ireland is partnering with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS) to host a webinar on Thursday 12 March: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: What you need to know. Learn how CBAM currently operates and what its implementation is revealing in practice. Register here to attend. IRELAND ‘Reinforcing Resilience, Responding to Change’: Central Bank Governor’s speech on ‘adapting to the economy of the future’ In a speech outlining priorities for 2026, Central Bank of Ireland Governor Gabriel Makhlouf has advised that domestic economic policy should focus on priorities that maintain, build and broaden the resilience of the State, its economy and its financial sector. The speech, given to the  EU Heads of Missions, this week, identified priorities including growing the supply side capacity of the economy, in particular infrastructure which is a current constraint on sustainable growth; strengthening the indigenous business sector and enhancing the economy’s resilience; continuing to build fiscal buffers and greater retail participation in financial markets;  and developing a new set of multilateral trading rules that deliver certainty and stability needed by economies and businesses. Quoting Jean Monnet on Europe’s tendency to progress through times of crisis, Governor Makhlour said: “Europe will be forged in crises and will be the sum of the solutions found to those crises”, and pointed to the need for greater development and adoption of technology, as well as continuing to focus on the transition to a net zero world in order to adapt to the economy of the future. ISIF commits up to €75m to new fund supporting Ireland’s energy grid The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has announced a commitment of up to €75m to a new Gore Street Capital (GSC) fund, an alternative asset manager in the energy storage infrastructure sector with 1.4GW of battery assets under management. The new fund will invest in battery energy storage projects aimed at supporting Ireland’s energy grid by enhancing flexibility, supporting renewable integration, and improving energy security. ISIF’s commitment, as part of its €2bn climate investment programme, will see GSC acquire primarily greenfield battery energy storage projects from developers; procure and construct the projects; and then own and operate the assets for a period in line with the GSEU fund’s ten-year life. Irelands’ potential to export hydrogen The Government has published Exporting Hydrogen from Ireland, a study exploring the potential to export hydrogen from Ireland. The study was commissioned in April 2025 by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment to assess the potential for connecting future Irish hydrogen infrastructure with continental Europe. It was commissioned under the 2023 National Hydrogen Strategy which aims to decarbonise our economy, enhance our energy security, and develop industrial opportunities. The study finds that Ireland’s hydrogen production potential is much larger than the expected domestic demand, and provides practical, technical and commercial information to assist future hydrogen policy development. Ireland’s renewable energy “critically important to competitiveness, security and decarbonisation” The Government has highlighted progress in Ireland renewable electricity in 2025. Progress included the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) offering communities, farmers, small businesses, and others an opportunity to generate income through solar and wind projects of up to 6MW, as well as rapid growth of Ireland’s solar energy sector. Also noted was the investment of €3.5 billion in Ireland's electricity infrastructure across, and the publication of the general scheme for Private Wires to unlock private sector investment in renewables infrastructure. Commenting, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien described renewable electricity as “a critically important part of this government's commitment to competitiveness, security, decarbonisation and quality of life.” Circular economy and industrial competitiveness Funding of €650,000 has been announced for 14 projects across Ireland under the fourth Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS). The funding provides financial support to projects that are working on innovative and scalable solutions to advance Ireland’s transition to a circular economy – an economy where resources are reused, waste is minimised and sustainability is at the core of production and consumption.  Separately, the EU is planning the Circular Economy Act (from Q3 2026) explicitly to boost competitiveness and industrial resilience, double circular material use to 24 percent by 2030 and cut import reliance. The European Commission has also just adopted new measures under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Companies will be required to disclose information on the unsold consumer products they discard as waste, and prohibited from destroying unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear. Failing to utilise women’s advanced digital capability a constraint on growth New research published by the ESRI has found that men in Ireland are over twice as likely as women to use advanced digital skills at work. The research, titled Squandered skills? Bridging the digital gender skills gap for inclusive growth in Ireland – A comparative European perspective, was published jointly with Block W – a female-led network to close the gender gap in the uptake of blockchain technologies amongst women. It found that Ireland has Europe’s largest gender gap in advanced digital skills use at work, raising concerns about the underutilisation of women’s digital skills, despite Ireland’s strong tech sector and high levels of educational attainment. Commenting, Professor Joyce O'Connor, Co-Founder and Chair of Block W, described the potential implications for Ireland: “Competitiveness, innovation and resilience depend not only on investment and infrastructure, but on what happens inside workplaces…. In an economy facing skills shortages, failing to fully utilise women’s advanced digital capability is an avoidable constraint on growth.” Northern Ireland/UK BITC NI opens entries for 2026 Responsible Business Awards Business in the Community Northern Ireland (BITC NI) has opened entries for the 2026 Responsible Business Awards in Northern Ireland, celebrating organisations that lead the way in responsible and sustainable business practice. The Awards reward and recognise businesses large and small and from every sector who go beyond profit and take real action to support communities, show leadership, and tackle social and environmental challenges. More details are available on the BITC NI website, and closing date for entries is 1 May 2026. Regulations to establish climate change Just Transition Commission progress Minister Andrew Muir MLA has confirmed he will be bringing draft Regulations soon to establish a climate change Just Transition Commission to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Assembly for scrutiny and debate. The draft regulations follow an extensive 10-week consultation, during which the Department sought views on the structure and make-up of the Commission, including whether additional sectors should be represented to those specified for representation in the Climate Change Act (NI). Section 37 of The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (the Act) requires that DAERA, by regulations, establish an independent Just Transition Commission. Just Transition Commissions have been established by the Scottish and Irish Governments to oversee their administrations’ low carbon transition. Archibald launches £30,000 funding to support growth of co-operatives Northern Ireland Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is inviting proposals to support the growth and development of co-operatives across the north. The £30,000 open call for proposals aims to unlock the potential of the wider social economy to deliver good jobs, strengthen regional balance, and support more resilient local communities. It invites proposals that will increase awareness and understanding of the co-operative model, provide practical support and infrastructure to help new and existing co-operatives grow and support co-operatives to develop new opportunities or enter new markets, helping them play a larger role in local economic development, decarbonisation activity, and community-led regeneration. Full details on how to apply, including eligibility criteria and supporting documents, are available at Co operative Support Open Call. EUROPE EU sets world’s first voluntary standard for permanent carbon removals The European Commission has adopted the first set of methodologies under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation  to certify activities that permanently remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The EU’s goal in adopting these voluntary certification methodologies is to set clear rules and create new opportunities for climate innovation, investments in carbon removal technologies and addressing greenwashing. It also intends to provide clarity for companies and investors and helps to create an emerging market for both innovative start-ups and a major EU bioeconomy. The new rules cover three types of permanent carbon removal activities, selected for their technological maturity and potential contribution to the EU’s climate objectives. These are direct air capture with carbon storage (‘DACCS’), biogenic emissions capture with carbon storage (‘BioCCS’), and biochar carbon removal (‘BCR’). The delegated Regulation will now be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for a two-month scrutiny period, after which, if there are no objections, it is expected to be published in the Official Journal in early April, with entry into force 20 days thereafter. WORLD Businesses risk extinction due to dependencies on ever-decreasing natural resources A global report has found that businesses are central to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, but that many often lack information to address their impacts and dependencies, as well as the risks and opportunities relating to biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. The report, which was approved by representatives of the more than 150 member Governments of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and colloquially known known as the ‘Business and Biodiversity Report’, finds that businesses often bear little or no financial cost for their negative impacts and many cannot currently generate revenue from positive impacts on biodiversity. The report stressed that collaboration, collective and individual actions are essential to create an enabling environment where businesses contribute to a just and sustainable future. It provided more than 100 specific examples of concrete actions that can be taken by businesses, governments, financial actors and civil society.  TECHNICAL ROUNDUP (From our colleagues in Professional Accounting on 6 February) Accountancy Europe has issued two factsheets regarding the Omnibus Directive outlining the changes occurring following the amendments of the CSRD and CSDDD. EFRAG has launched a series of educational videos to support SMEs in complying with the VSME disclosure requirements, and continues to add new material to the VSME Ecosystem which contains useful guides, templates, videos and case studies. EFRAG has released a report from its conference “EFRAG unveils Draft Simplified ESRS: A European Milestone for Sustainability Reporting”. The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a consultation ‘CP26/5: Aligning listed issuers’ sustainability disclosures with international standards’. The Department of Business and Trade (UK) (DBT) has published the outcome of its consultation on proposals for an oversight regime for assurance of sustainability-related financial disclosures. The European Commission updated its request to CEAOB on limited assurance sustainability standards  IAASA has released a new episode of its Insights podcast on Ireland’s first year of CSRD reporting. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has released a new case study series entitled “ESG Reporting in Action”, which examines at how licensed tools and software are helping companies manage sustainability data. GRI has also issued its quarterly standards update. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has issued its January 2026 update and podcast.   RESOURCES Just Transition a catalyst for growth, innovation and long-term competitiveness UK-based global think-tank the Institute for Human Rights and Business has published a series of case studies in a report to demonstrated that the ‘just transition’ is a catalyst for growth, innovation, and long-term competitiveness. Describing the decarbonisation of the global economy as “the greatest economic shift of our age”, the report, titled Making just transitions work - lessons for business leaders, notes how the transition is already shaping business access to capital, workforce availability, policy alignment, and long-term competitiveness. In publishing the case studies, the report aims to address what it describes as one of the biggest challenges businesses face in implementing a just transition: the lack of real-world examples to guide them. The societal impacts of AI – A business leadership perspective Business in the Community Ireland has published insights from CEOs and thought leaders convened to examine how organisations are approaching AI’s broader implications, and whether the societal impacts of AI have entered the discussion on inclusive, responsible and sustainable business. The insights highlight both opportunity and risk, and find that companies grounded in inclusion and sustainability are best positioned to navigate challenges. A significant opportunity exists for businesses to thrive with AI; however, a clear message is that “embedding societal responsibility must be central to this competitiveness agenda”. ARTICLES Environmental breakdown isn’t a distant possibility – it’s a threat to world stability The message is clear: climate change should be prioritised as a security crisis, not just an environmental one (The Irish Times) Plan for state-backed scheme to insure businesses at risk of flooding (Business Post) Sustainability disclosures by listed companies set to evolve (ICAEW Insights) Suppliers are drowning in esg requests coming into 2026 (ESG News) How AI is powering the energy transition – from smart grids to fusion (Reuters) Time for professional services to phase out fossil fuel clients (Sustainable Works – Subscription needed)  EVENTS 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, 4 - 5pm CET Reuters Events, Practical Implications of the Omnibus A webinar hosted by Reuters Events in partnership with Professor Andreas Rasche, Associate Dean, Copenhagen Business School. The session will explore the practical implications of the EU Omnibus package and what these changes mean for organisations preparing their 2026 sustainability reporting strategy. Virtual | Thursday, 19 February 2026 | 10:00 am–11:00 am GMT / 11:00 am–12:00 pm CET UN Global Compact Network UK Webinar Series, The Business Role in Systems Change, Feb/Mar 2026 Businesses are facing escalating risks as the world approaches critical tipping points. Corporate resilience now depends on the transformation of markets, supply chains, and business models needed to steer the system towards stability. There is also potential for positive tipping points - moments when small, well-directed actions accelerate large-scale transitions towards sustainability. Businesses hold a unique capacity to create and amplify these dynamics of change. In these webinars, leading scholars and experts will discuss tipping points, climate risk, and systems change, how to respond to emerging climate realities and apply breakthrough frameworks such as the Positive Tipping Points Toolkit and Doughnut Economics to unlock change at multiple scales.   Webinar sessions: Understanding Tipping Points Risks, Feb 26  | 14:00 Systems Thinking in Business and Climate, Mar 5  | 14:00 Triggering Positive Tipping Points, Mar 12 | 14:00 Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSDDD and performing due diligence This webinar will feature insights from the Shift team and leading businesses on practical, real‑world approaches to implementing due diligence aligned with good practice. The session will explore how due diligence requirements under the CSDDD and reporting obligations under the CSRD can be addressed in an integrated way, rather than treated as separate exercises. Companies in scope of the CSDDD or operating within their value chains are encouraged to attend. Virtual, Thursday, 26 February 2026 | 09:00 SEAI, EXEED Energy Efficient Design Training Join our exclusive free half-day training and become a leader in energy-efficient design. The SEAI EXEED team invites you to a dynamic training session designed to upskill professionals and stakeholders in the Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) process. This training is ideal for those aiming to become an Energy Efficient Design (EED) Expert. Virtual, Friday 27 February, 9am - 1pm 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. Workshops | Dates & Times • Friday, 27 February 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 20 March 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 17 April 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 8 May 2026 | Half‑day workshop Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSRD and reporting on sustainability issues The session will examine what recent changes to the CSRD and the ESRS mean in practice for how companies report on sustainability issues.  The webinar will feature insights from the Shift team, alongside leading businesses, on implementation approaches that reflect good practice, support companies in identifying and addressing key risks, and remain practical and workable in real-world contexts. The discussion will also explore how reporting obligations under the CSRD and due diligence requirements under the CSDDD should be considered together, rather than in isolation.  If your company is in scope of the CSRD, or part of the value chain of a company that is, we encourage you to join us. Virtual, 3 March 2026 | 15:00 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.

  In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin read about supports for businesses affected by flooding and findings from the Central Bank of Ireland of the emerging economic and financial costs of climate change. New guidance was issued in the UK for businesses making environmental claims, and a record amount of new offshore wind capacity was announced for new clean power projects. In the EU a public consultation on future EU climate resilience is now live, and the EU Council greenlighted a ban on Russian gas imports. The global insurance industry reported ‘growing ambition and leadership’ and AI is ‘a magic wand’ for helping organisations realize their sustainability goals. This, plus the latest articles, resources and upcoming events. IRELAND Central Bank data finds economic and financial costs of climate change already emerging The economic and financial costs of climate change are already emerging, according to data published by Central Bank of Ireland in its annual Climate Observatory Report. These reports aim to equip stakeholders with the metrics needed to understand climate related risks by integrating Central Bank analytics with third party data sources. The January 2026 update reports that roughly 6 percent of domestic business loans lie in flood risk areas, rising to 12–16 percent under future scenarios, and around half of corporate lending is to economic sectors with elevated transition risk. While the uptake of retrofits, electric vehicles and renewables is increasing in Ireland – and globally clean energy investment surpassed fossil fuel investment in 2025 – atmospheric CO2 and global temperatures have reached unprecedented levels, raising the risk of triggering several climate tipping points.   Supports for businesses affected by flooding The Government has published updates to the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme for small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations affected by flooding. The Scheme is aimed at businesses and organisations unable to secure flood insurance and provides a contribution towards the costs of returning a business premises to its pre-flood condition. This can include replacing flooring, fixtures and fittings, and damaged stock if relevant. Eligibility for the Scheme has also been extended to organisations of up to 50 employees and the upper limit for payments has been increased from €20,000 to €100,000 for the most impacted premises. Deadline for applications to the scheme, which is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, is 20 February 2026. Full details and application forms are available here. Northern Ireland/UK Updated guidance for business making environmental claims The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has released updated guidance for brands on making environmental claims. Making green claims: Getting it right, across the supply chain clarifies where responsibility sits across the supply chain. It was produced in response to requests from stakeholders in a variety of sectors seeking further clarity to supplement the Green Claims Code; this was issued for the fashion industry in September 2024 on supply chain liability in relation to environmental claims and what this means in practice for different businesses. It also comes after the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act took effect in April 2025, giving the CMA new powers to impose financial penalties on companies that mislead consumers. Record amount of offshore wind capacity secured in UK A record amount of new offshore wind capacity has been announced for new clean power projects in UK following its latest renewables auction. With enough capacity to power 12 million homes, new offshore wind farms aim to strengthen Britain’s energy security, reduce electricity bills and create a clean electricity system by 2030. The auction hopes to unlock around £22 billion in private investment, supporting up to 7,000 jobs, bringing growth and employment to all regions of the country.  Offshore renewable energy generation and strong inter connections were highlighted in the Hamburg Declaration signed in January 2026, as essential to the long-term competitiveness of industries on the global stage. EUROPE Public consultation on future EU climate resilience by European Commission The European Commission is inviting citizens, businesses, regional authorities, and all stakeholders to take part in a new public consultation on climate resilience. The consultation aims to fill knowledge and evidence gaps in areas such as climate risk assessments and disclosure, regulatory frameworks and standards, governance and oversight, incentives and enforcement, financial frameworks, cross-border cooperation and consistency, sector policy commitments and contributions, stakeholder engagement and participation, emerging socio-economic trends, and technological innovation. The public consultation is open until 23 February. EU Council gives final green light to a stepwise ban on Russian gas imports The 27 EU member states have formally adopted the regulation on phasing out Russian imports of both pipeline gas and liquified natural gas (LNG) into the EU. The new rules – described as “a key milestone in delivering the REPowerEU objective of ending the EU’s reliance on Russian energy” – also include measures on effective monitoring and diversification of energy supply. Non-compliance may result in maximum penalties of at least €2.5 million for individuals and at least €40 million for companies, at least 3.5 percent the company’s total worldwide annual turnover, or 300 percent of the estimated transaction turnover.  The ban will start to apply six weeks after the regulation enters into force, with existing contracts will have a transition period, a so-called ‘stepwise’ approach which aims limit the impact on prices and markets. A full ban will take effect for LNG imports from the beginning of 2027 and for pipeline gas imports from autumn 2027. WORLD Report finds growing ambition and leadership across the insurance industry A report published by the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership has shown a growth in ambition and leadership across the insurance industry. The 2025 ClimateWise Principles Independent Review,  which has provided a framework for the insurance industry to disclose climate-related risks and opportunities since 2007, claims increasing capability in the industry to build resilience, support the transition and drive meaningful action on climate change. Areas where there were notable improvements in 2025 included strategic integration and a growing focus on double materiality, with 58 percent of members having conducted, or plan to conduct, double materiality assessments. The review also points to improved governance of nature-related risks and opportunities, with nature considerations becoming more firmly embedded (39 percent of members are now integrating nature-related risks into board-level governance processes). ‘Like a magic wand” – report finds AI helping organisations realize their sustainability goals A report published by Reuters in collaboration with Siemens has found that AI-driven sustainability is no longer ‘emerging’ but is delivering measurable results and benefits. The report, From Pilots to Performance, drew on contributions from over 260 senior executives, and found that 65 percent of organisations report energy savings from using ‘industrial AI’, with 59 percent achieving CO2 reductions averaging 24 percent. According to the findings, 81 percent of manufacturers believe future sustainability innovation will be AI-driven. They also expect it to drive sustainability gains across multiple operational areas, from improving energy efficiency across operations, to optimizing supply chains and logistics for lower emissions, to enabling predictive maintenance and reducing equipment downtime. Commenting, Dr. Eva Riesenhuber Global Head of Sustainability Siemens AG said: “AI is like a magic wand—it opens up possibilities we’ve never had before... enables us to orchestrate complexity across entire value chains—transforming energy systems, supply chains, and infrastructure from fragmented parts into intelligent, sustainable ecosystems”. The research also found that organisations lack internal expertise to implement cutting-edge industrial AI and explores how successful organizations are navigating the talent and change management challenges that technology alone can't solve. RESOURCES Energy Upgrades for your Business - New module for SMEs from SEAI Energy Upgrades for your Business, the latest module in SEAI’s Energy Academy free, online learning resource for Irish businesses is now available. The 20-minute free module gives a short overview of what energy upgrades are explains why you need to start thinking about them for your business (i.e. business and compliance benefits) simplifies ‘business decarbonisation’ gets you up to speed with how energy upgrades can make your business cheaper to run helps you figure out what energy upgrades your business needs explains the grant supports available through SEAI.   David Carlin's Digest: Your Guide to a Changing World This update from global sustainability authority David Carlin has good pieces on: the EU’s taxonomy simplifications signal for companies and financial institutions new research showing climate transition and physical risks are now affecting borrowing costs in the European repo market the UNEP’s latest State of Finance for Nature report showing that the world’s capital flows are still overwhelmingly aligned with nature destruction, not restoration with a ratio of 30:1 between harmful and helpful investments, and new evidence showing that politicians consistently underestimate public support for climate policy. PODCAST RTÉ, Can nature stop flooding? Professor of Geography at TCD, Mary Bourke explains how nature could help prevent some of the worst flooding RTÉ Behind the Scenes  (25 mins) - worth your time ARTICLES UK voluntary sustainability assurance oversight regime announced (ICAEW Insights) Fossil fuel firms may have to pay for climate damage under proposed UN tax (The Guardian) Dutch government discriminated against Bonaire islanders over climate adaptation, court rules (The Guardian) Trump administration unlawfully suspended EV charger infrastructure program, US judge rules (Reuters) Climate tipping point will be reached by the end of this decade, Copernicus institute warns (The Journal) Most companies are staying the course on ESG — just talking about it less (ESG Dive) European EV sales overtake petrol for first time in December (Financial Times) EVENTS 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, 8:00am – 9: 00am | 4.00pm – 5.00pm SEAI, Introduction to Energy Management Training for SMEs This workshop is aimed at the owners, senior managers and facilities managers of small and medium enterprises who have recently started out on their energy saving journey. This is a free 2-hour online workshop, delivered by an energy consultant, which supports SMEs in creating an energy action plan. Virtual, Thursday 12 February from 2–4pm, Free 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, 4 - 5pm CET Reuters Events, Practical Implications of the Omnibus A webinar hosted by Reuters Events in partnership with Professor Andreas Rasche, Associate Dean, Copenhagen Business School. The session will explore the practical implications of the EU Omnibus package and what these changes mean for organisations preparing their 2026 sustainability reporting strategy. Virtual | Thursday, 19 February 2026 | 10:00 am–11:00 am GMT / 11:00 am–12:00 pm CET UN Global Compact Network UK Webinar Series, The Business Role in Systems Change, Feb/Mar 2026 Businesses are facing escalating risks as the world approaches critical tipping points. Corporate resilience now depends on the transformation of markets, supply chains, and business models needed to steer the system towards stability. There is also potential for positive tipping points - moments when small, well-directed actions accelerate large-scale transitions towards sustainability. Businesses hold a unique capacity to create and amplify these dynamics of change. In these webinars, leading scholars and experts will discuss tipping points, climate risk, and systems change, how to respond to emerging climate realities and apply breakthrough frameworks such as the Positive Tipping Points Toolkit and Doughnut Economics to unlock change at multiple scales.   Webinar sessions: Understanding Tipping Points Risks, Feb 26  | 14:00 Systems Thinking in Business and Climate, Mar 5  | 14:00 Triggering Positive Tipping Points, Mar 12 | 14:00 Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSDDD and performing due diligence This webinar will feature insights from the Shift team and leading businesses on practical, real‑world approaches to implementing due diligence aligned with good practice. The session will explore how due diligence requirements under the CSDDD and reporting obligations under the CSRD can be addressed in an integrated way, rather than treated as separate exercises. Companies in scope of the CSDDD or operating within their value chains are encouraged to attend. Virtual, Thursday, 26 February 2026 | 09:00 SEAI, EXEED Energy Efficient Design Training Join our exclusive free half-day training and become a leader in energy-efficient design. The SEAI EXEED team invites you to a dynamic training session designed to upskill professionals and stakeholders in the Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) process. This training is ideal for those aiming to become an Energy Efficient Design (EED) Expert. Virtual, Friday 27 February, 9am - 1pm Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSRD and reporting on sustainability issues The session will examine what recent changes to the CSRD and the ESRS mean in practice for how companies report on sustainability issues.  The webinar will feature insights from the Shift team, alongside leading businesses, on implementation approaches that reflect good practice, support companies in identifying and addressing key risks, and remain practical and workable in real-world contexts. The discussion will also explore how reporting obligations under the CSRD and due diligence requirements under the CSDDD should be considered together, rather than in isolation.  If your company is in scope of the CSRD, or part of the value chain of a company that is, we encourage you to join us. Virtual, 3 March 2026 | 15:00 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.  

  In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin read about the Hamburg Declaration to bolster energy security across Europe, Northern Ireland’s first annual progress report on its Environmental Improvement Plan and a report arguing that natural capital should be formally recognized as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) in the UK. Also covered is how renewables generated more power than fossil fuels in Europe in 2025, how corporate climate action momentum remains high globally, the ECB’s research into climate and nature risks, an OECD analysis of climate change mitigation policies, the new IPSAS standard for governments to account for tangible natural resources, and the latest articles, resources and upcoming events. IRELAND The Hamburg Declaration Ireland has signed a historic clean energy security pact – the ‘Hamburg Declaration of Energy Ministers’ – that aims to bolster energy security across Europe and the UK in an era of global instability. The deal – agreed at the Future of the North Seas Summit – sets out a commitment to a more regional approach to cross-border infrastructure planning, closer cooperation on the protection of offshore energy infrastructure, and the development of an Offshore Financing Framework to strengthen the business case for offshore wind in the North Seas. In the second half of this year, Ireland's EU Presidency will emphasise the need for accelerated deployment of renewable energy, particularly wind, solar and emerging offshore technologies, to deliver clean and affordable power for citizens and businesses. Increased renewable availability reduces exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets and strengthens Europe’s strategic autonomy. Parliamentary Budget Office publishes paper on Global Carbon Taxes 2025 The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) has published a new paper Global Carbon Taxes in 2025. Carbon pricing - through carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes (ETS) - is widely recognised as an effective tool for reducing emissions. The paper explains these two pricing mechanisms, outlines key design differences, and examines how they interact. The supporting note, Identifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions, aims to help readers understand emissions measurement methodologies and the challenges they present for carbon pricing policy. Calls for clear, consistent, and practical sustainable finance rules The Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) is calling for clear, consistent, and practical sustainable finance rules to enable banks to channel capital effectively and efficiently into green investments without excessive burdens or ambiguities; this, it says, requires greater harmonisation of sustainability rules across the various pieces of EU legislation. Other recommendations it makes for Ireland’s EU Presidency 2026 are in the areas of retail participation in capital markets while safeguarding investor protection, creating a more proportionate & simplified regulatory framework, creating a fair, open and innovative digital infrastructure and ensuring the effective delivery of housing. €500m climate transition equity fund launched Aon plc, a global professional services firm, has announced the launch of a new climate transition fund in Ireland, with Irish-based, global asset management company Irish Life Investment Managers Limited (‘ILIM’). The €500m Climate Transition Equity Fund aims to enable investors in Ireland to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. The fund will tilt towards companies that are working to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals relating to climate action, resource scarcity, healthy ecosystems and basic social needs. NORTHERN IRELAND/UK Northern Ireland’s first annual progress report on Environmental Improvement Plan The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published Northern Ireland’s first Annual Progress Report on the Environmental Improvement Plan. The report provides the first assessment of what has been achieved by the Department and across government since Northern Ireland’s first Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) was launched in September 2024. The report demonstrates progress across all six SEOs, while acknowledging the scale of the challenge and the need for accelerated action to meet a number of commitments, including a continued reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, with 2023 emissions falling by 7.1% compared with 2022, bringing overall emissions to 31.5% below 1990 levels. Global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity A policy paper from the Institute for Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) has called for the protection, enhancement, and restoration of natural capital to be placed at the heart of the UK’s economic growth and national resilience strategy. The report, Natural Capital is Critical Infrastructure highlights that the UK’s economic success is fundamentally dependent on natural capital - the stocks of nature such as forests, rivers, biodiversity, land, and minerals - which provide essential ecosystem services vital for human well-being and economic stability, and argues that natural capital should be formally recognized as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). More recently, the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs published an assessment of how global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse could affect UK national security. With high analytical certainty, it states that global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity, with cascading risks likely to include geopolitical instability, economic insecurity, conflict, migration and increased inter-state competition for resources.  The assessment, which aims to support long-term resilience planning, highlights opportunities for innovation, green finance and global partnerships that can drive growth while safeguarding the ecosystems that underpin our collective security and prosperity. EUROPE Report identifies ‘new milestone’ for EU’s electricity transition European Electricity Review 2026, the report from the independent, UK-based non-profit energy think tank Ember, has found that the EU’s electricity transition reached a new milestone in 2025 with wind and solar generating more power than fossil fuels. Renewables provided nearly half of EU power, gas generation rose by 8 percent compared to 2024, which pushed the EU power sector’s gas import bill up to €32 billion, and coal power fell to a new historic low of 9.2 percent. Battery deployment accelerated significantly in 2025, with grid-scale projects announced across the EU. The report called for member states and governing institutions to prioritise implementing rules for clean flexibility, boosting electrification through clear policy signals and support, and improving energy security. Overheated and underprepared: Europeans' experience of living with climate change A new joint report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and Eurofound on implemented climate resilience measures – both at the household and local authority level has found that while most Europeans have already been directly affected by extreme weather and are highly concerned about future climate impacts, yet their preparedness remains limited. The report, which draws on data collected from over 27,000 respondents across EU-27 countries, will be launched on 4 February at a webinar: 'Overheated and underprepared: Europeans' experience of living with climate change'. Accountancy Europe Sustainability Update Accountancy Europe has published its January Sustainability Update with the following highlights: Commission announces members for the Platform on Sustainable Finance EU Deforestation Regulation postponed by one year ESMA outlines principles to follow to address greenwashing risks EFRAG shares first insights into VSME market acceptance (Also, see this Op-ed by Iryna de Smedt, Policy Manager Accountancy Europe: Omnibus won’t stop the climate clock: only sustainable businesses will compete tomorrow) WORLD CDP and SBTi 2025 figures show corporate climate action momentum building CDP – the environmental disclosure platform – has revealed its 2025 ‘A List’, the top performers among the companies disclosing sustainability information on the platform in 2025. Over 800 companies achieved the recognition this year, following a 70 percent year-on-year rise in companies achieving it across climate, forests and water security. According to the CDP’s press release, “the sustained global demand for high-quality environmental data from companies, cities, states and regions”, with markets continuing to signal the critical importance of reliable environmental information. 640 investors with US$127 trillion in assets called on companies to disclose through CDP while over 270 major buyers requested environmental data from approximately 45,000 suppliers via CDP’s Supply Chain program. Separately, the number of companies with science-based targets validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) globally has reached 10,000 worldwide, reflecting the growing scale of corporate climate action across sectors and regions. Headquartered across all continents and in more than 90 countries, the 10,000 companies represent more than 40 percent of global market capitalization and include many of the world’s leading businesses, spanning nearly every major sector, region, and company size. To be validated by SBTi Services—the SBTi’s validation arm—a company must set targets using the criteria laid out in the SBTi’s standards, tools, and guidance. Validation by SBTi Services confirms that a company’s targets are ambitious and aligned with SBTi-approved pathways to achieve net zero by 2050. ECB findings on higher borrowing costs for banks with higher exposure to transition risks and climate and nature plan 2024-2025 The European Central Bank (ECB) has published a paper which finds that banks with higher exposure to transition risk face significantly higher borrowing costs. The paper, Climate change, bank liquidity and systemic risk, examined the relevance of banks’ exposure to climate transition risk in the interbank lending market and identified this “transition premium” as “a combination of a risk premium, compensating lenders for increased credit risk, and an inconvenience premium”, reflecting the sustainability preferences of key dealer banks. It also found that the transition risk premium intensifies during periods of financial stress, indicating that climate-induced risks amplify existing vulnerabilities in financial markets. UN High Seas Treaty and AI for seafood supply chain companies Companies in seafood supply chains must now integrate treaty compliance and AI-enhanced traceability into sourcing strategies, after the United Nations High Seas Treaty became legally binding January 17. This landmark treaty aims to – among other things – strengthen the transparency and enforcement of marine biodiversity governance. The effectiveness of the measures will depend on the implementation of the Treaty, as enforcement gaps and inequalities in technology access could limit environmental outcomes. Analysing the international spillovers of climate change mitigation policies A new paper from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has analysed ‘international spillovers’ from domestic climate mitigation policies - specifically economic, technology, and policy spillovers - and their impacts on global emissions and economic outcomes. These effects can be positive - such as accelerating low-carbon technology diffusion or the implementation of mitigation policy adoption abroad - or negative - such as shifting emissions across countries, i.e., carbon leakage, and fragmenting international markets. Advancing a shared understanding of international spillovers is essential to the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA)’s objective of enhancing the global effectiveness of mitigation efforts. To this end, the report provides a typology of spillover effects and transmission channels, reviews tools available to analyse them, synthesises the existing evidence, and explores policy design and responses to manage spillovers. This framework forms the analytical foundation for the upcoming IFCMA work to deepen the evidence base and support more co-ordinated international climate action. New IPSAS Standard Helps Governments Account for Tangible Natural Resources Held for Conservation The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) has issued a new standard to address the need for guidance on tangible natural resources held for conservation. IPSAS 51, Tangible Natural Resources Held for Conservation introduces new, public sector-specific accounting guidance on accounting for natural resources with physical substance, such as land, trees, and water, often held by governments to preserve or protect them. IPSAS 51 also highlights guidance in other standards that applies to natural resources that are held for other purposes. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… Davos 2026: Special address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada (World Economic Forum) (Video: 33mins) TECHNICAL ROUNDUP (From our colleagues in Professional Accounting on 23 January) The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a second thematic note on sustainability-related claims focusing on ESG strategies. This publication offers practical guidance for making sustainability claims ensuring clear, fair and not misleading sustainability-related claims are made by market participants and also addressing greenwashing risks in support of sustainable investments.   The European Central Bank (ECB) announced that it has advanced its climate and nature work based on the 2024-2025 plan embedding climate and nature-related risks into its core work.  RESOURCES Recording & slides - webinar on latest Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) landscape On 14 January 2026, the Ulster Society hosted a webinar on the latest Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) landscape, and the challenges and opportunities this brings for chartered accountants in business. Speakers from NIE Networks Ltd, Encirc, Graham Group and Firmus Energy discussed the growing responsibilities of finance professionals, the skills required to navigate ESG effectively, and how chartered accountants can add value in an increasingly sustainability-focused business environment. A recording of this webinar is available to view, for free and on demand, HERE Global natural capital accounting standard: Why it matters for finance professionals In this article from ICEAW find out about ISO 14054, the first global standard for natural capital accounting, which recognises the role that nature plays in sustaining business value. Digital and emerging technologies and human rights This new content from the United Nations Global Compact explains how digital and emerging technologies create both opportunities and significant human rights risks. It provides definitions, examples, and human‑rights considerations relevant for companies. Science-based targets e-learning collection The United Nations Global Compact is offering five new and enhanced e-learning modules developed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)—guiding companies through every step of target setting and preparing for validation. Each course features interactive content, real-world examples and knowledge checks to help companies build credible decarbonization strategies in their journey to science-based targets. Guide: Procurement: A Catalyst for Sustainable Growth and Resilience With 40 practical tools and frameworks, plus global case studies and company insights, this publication from the United Nations Global Compact equips organizations to embed sustainability across the procurement lifecycle. It highlights how collaboration between buyers and suppliers, including SMEs, is central to success, and it explores the shifting landscape of regulatory demands, business risks, and market opportunities, positioning procurement as a strategic lever for advancing ESG priorities and sustainable growth. ARTICLES Small businesses’ big impact on sustainability reporting (Accountancy Ireland) Preparing for the new rules in pay transparency (Accountancy Ireland) Climate action plan delayed for second year despite emissions cuts falling behind target (Irish Times) New Research Warns Physical Climate Risk Can Drive Default (David Carlin’s Digest: Your Guide to a Changing World) Financial institutions are underestimating climate risks, actuaries warn (Sustainable Views FT – subscription needed) Smart boards incorporate climate and nature into their core strategy(Sustainable Views FT – subscription needed) Modern slavery is increasing, so too are its regulatory and reputational risks (Sustainable Views FT – subscription needed) How AI is helping to bring nature into the boardroom (Reuters) How will the new duty on electric cars work? (ICAEW Insights)   EVENTS UN Global Compact Network UK Webinar Series, The Business Role in Systems Change, Feb/Mar 2026 Businesses are facing escalating risks as the world approaches critical tipping points. Corporate resilience now depends on the transformation of markets, supply chains, and business models needed to steer the system towards stability. There is also potential for positive tipping points - moments when small, well-directed actions accelerate large-scale transitions towards sustainability. Businesses hold a unique capacity to create and amplify these dynamics of change. In these webinars, leading scholars and experts will discuss tipping points, climate risk, and systems change, how to respond to emerging climate realities and apply breakthrough frameworks such as the Positive Tipping Points Toolkit and Doughnut Economics to unlock change at multiple scales.   Webinar sessions: Understanding Tipping Points Risks, Feb 26  | 14:00 Systems Thinking in Business and Climate, Mar 5  | 14:00 Triggering Positive Tipping Points, Mar 12 | 14:00 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, Wednesday 4 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, 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, 4 - 5pm CET Reuters Events, Practical Implications of the Omnibus A webinar hosted by Reuters Events in partnership with Professor Andreas Rasche, Associate Dean, Copenhagen Business School. The session will explore the practical implications of the EU Omnibus package and what these changes mean for organisations preparing their 2026 sustainability reporting strategy. Virtual | Thursday, 19 February 2026 | 10:00 am–11:00 am GMT / 11:00 am–12:00 pm CET Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSDDD and performing due diligence This webinar will feature insights from the Shift team and leading businesses on practical, real‑world approaches to implementing due diligence aligned with good practice. The session will explore how due diligence requirements under the CSDDD and reporting obligations under the CSRD can be addressed in an integrated way, rather than treated as separate exercises. Companies in scope of the CSDDD or operating within their value chains are encouraged to attend. Virtual, Thursday, 26 February 2026 | 09:00 Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSRD and reporting on sustainability issues The session will examine what recent changes to the CSRD and the ESRS mean in practice for how companies report on sustainability issues.  The webinar will feature insights from the Shift team, alongside leading businesses, on implementation approaches that reflect good practice, support companies in identifying and addressing key risks, and remain practical and workable in real-world contexts. The discussion will also explore how reporting obligations under the CSRD and due diligence requirements under the CSDDD should be considered together, rather than in isolation.  If your company is in scope of the CSRD, or part of the value chain of a company that is, we encourage you to join us. Virtual, 3 March 2026 | 15:00 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.

  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: CBAM Compliance Essentials for Importers and Indirect Customs Representatives as from 1 January 2026 CBAM Quick Guide List of National Competent Authorities for CBAM 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: Basis for Conclusions Cost–benefit analysis Logs of amendments for the 12 standards and for Annex II (Aggregated acronyms and glossary of terms) Comparative table of texts (Set 1 / ED / Technical Advice) for the 12 standards and for Annex II (Aggregated acronyms and glossary of terms) Explanatory note on Article 29b and its Annex 🎙️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.

  In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin from Chartered Accountants Ireland read about the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and funding for the Women in Finance Charter. Also covered is criticism of the Government’s sectoral adaptation plans for extreme weather events, funding allocated for enterprise decarbonisation, international recommendations for Ireland’s energy future, private wires legislation, and a new package to boost circular economy and strengthen Europe's plastic recycling, as well as the latest articles, resources, jobs and upcoming events.   IRELAND Definitive phase of CBAM begins The Definitive Phase of CBAM – the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (‘CBAM’) – began from 1 January 2026, with importers of more than 50 tonnes of CBAM goods needing to apply for the status of authorised CBAM declarant to continue doing so. CBAM is an EU instrument for preventing carbon leakage, i.e. shifting the production of goods to non-EU countries where there is a lower or no carbon cost associated with their production. The mechanism is applied to so-called CBAM goods imported to the EU from outside the EU and specified in an EU Regulation (EU) 2023/956. Its objective is for the prices of certain goods imported to the EU to reflect more accurately their carbon content. The CBAM also aims to encourage third countries, foreign producers and EU importers to reduce their emissions. The CBAM commenced in its transitional phase as of 1 October 2023. Only reporting obligations arise during the Transitional Period (1 October 2023 to 31 December 2025).  More information on CBAM can be found on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency, the CBAM National Competent Authority in Ireland. Minister Troy announces Government funding to ensure continuation of Women in Finance Charter Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance, Robert Troy, T.D. has announced direct Government support for Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter, which seeks to improve female representation in financial services firms operating in Ireland. Led by industry and supported by government, the Charter, which originated under the Ireland for Finance strategy in 2022, will receive €50,000 funding to support continued research and data gathering. Women now account for 43.4 percent of senior management amongst signatory firms, compared to 36.2 percent when firms signed up. Over 72,000 employees in financial and insurance sector are now represented in the Charter through 104 signatories. A public procurement process is underway to identify a data partner for the 2026 period. Criticism of the Government’s plan to cope with extreme weather events In a letter to the Government, the Climate Change Advisory Council has criticised the Government’s Sectoral Adaptation Plans (SAPs), published in November 2025, as lacking sufficient ambition, resourcing and systemic approach to prevent, among other things, increased negative economic impacts from extreme weather events. The independent advisory group highlighted, in particular, “the deep uncertainty around the levels of finance available to support meaningful adaptation action”, and the lack of clarity in the prioritisation of actions to address the risks highlighted during the recent National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA).  In January 2025, Storm Éowyn reportedly caused an estimated €301 million, making it the most expensive insurance event in Irish history, revealing weaknesses in the country’s power, communications and water infrastructure. Globally, the 10 most costly climate-related disasters in 2025 were responsible for an estimated €100 billion in damages. €300 million to support industry to reduce emissions and transition to low-carbon operations €300 million has been allocated in the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment’s Sectoral Capital Plan 2026-2030 to support industry to reduce emissions and transition to low-carbon operations. The allocation is part of a €4.7 billion investment in the Department’s capital plan, which sets out how it will spend €4.7 billion in capital investment over the next five years in order to strengthen Ireland’s enterprise and employment base, attract foreign direct investment, promote innovation and support tourism development across all regions. The Sectoral Capital Plan is part of the Government’s National Development Plan 2026-2030, which aims to provide €275 billion to boost the Irish economy’s competitiveness and growth potential across the key areas of water, energy, transport and housing. 2026 renewable fuel rates announced Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has signed regulations giving effect to transport elements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive, including the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) rates for 2026. Regulations come into effect on 1 January 2026. The Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025–2027, published in June 2025, sets out a pathway for increasing renewable transport fuel use. This is to support achievement of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and EU Renewable Energy Directive 2030 targets, for an increased share of renewable energy in transport and transport decarbonisation.  Ireland a ‘frontrunner in integrating wind power’, international report finds The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published an assessment of Ireland's Energy Security to 2035, in which it states that Ireland is a global frontrunner in integrating renewables, but that strategic choices lie ahead to ensure energy security in the coming decade. The report, 'Powering Ireland's Energy Future',  notes that as Ireland's energy, climate and socio-economic goals align around the electricity system, this could lead to demand potentially doubling and require faster delivery of infrastructure and renewables. There are significant challenges and opportunities ahead to align planning and policies across key sectors of the economy to support a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system. The report sets out five pillars for policy action: establishing a cross-sectoral energy security strategy for the 2030s; delivering the enabling infrastructure to accommodate the growth of electricity demand and supply; accelerating the delivery of generation capacity, storage and demand-side flexibility; enabling secure system operation under high renewable penetration; advancing workforce skills, and strengthening partnerships and facilitating electrification. Government approves the drafting of the Private Wires Bill Government has approved the drafting of the Private Wires Bill, which will amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to enable private development of electricity wires in specific circumstances, including – among other things – to allow on-street charging solutions for Electric Vehicles and to allow a customer that self-supplies electricity to provide electricity to a separate customer in a contiguous premises. Private wires legislation will aid the build-out of Ireland's electricity grid, whilst simultaneously accelerating the roll-out of renewable energy and electricity storage solutions. This bill is the next step in implementing the Private Wires Policy Framework, an action in the Climate Action Plan and Programme for Government 2025. Separately, investment of up to €18.9 billion has been announced for Ireland's energy infrastructure. The aim of the investment is to provide for Ireland’s growing population and to facilitate investment in Ireland’s economy. The programme, which will be supported by €3.5 billion government equity investment in the country’s electricity infrastructure, will facilitate a wide range of infrastructure delivery including increasing capacity on the network and upgrading existing infrastructure to meet the growing electricity demand from homes and businesses, as well as the electrification of public transport projects. 20 new Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champions for 2025-2027 20 new organisations from across Irish society have been appointed to become Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champions for the next 18 months. Organisations ranging from Galway City Council to Grant Thornton, are leading by example in driving forward progress to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This brings to 74 the number of SDG Champions in Ireland now. EUROPE New package of measures to boost circular economy and strengthen Europe's plastic recycling The European Commission has unveiled a set of pilot actions to accelerate Europe's transition to a circular economy, with a particular focus on the plastics sector. By optimising the recycling of plastics, these measures will further unlock the potential of the Single Market and enhance the EU's economic security, strategic autonomy, competitiveness and environmental sustainability. This is in line with the analysis of the Draghi report, which highlights circularity and resource efficiency as key levers for strengthening Europe's industrial competitiveness. Joint Declaration on EU legislative priorities for 2026 signed The Presidents of European Parliament, Council and Commission have signed a Joint Declaration on EU legislative priorities for 2026, focusing on boosting the EU's competitiveness and resilience, safeguarding citizens and businesses, while pursuing ambitious simplification goals and working towards agreement on the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Utmost priority will be given to key policy objectives for a new era for European defence and security, to secure Europe's sustainable prosperity, competitiveness and simplification, to strengthen our societies and our social model and quality of life, to ensure comprehensive approach to broader management and migration, to protect our democracy, uphold our values and to leverage our global influence and partnerships. TECHNICAL ACCOUNTING UPDATE (From our colleagues in Professional Accounting on 19 December) In the EU, Omnibus I concluded on 16 December 2025 when the European Parliament (EP) approved a provisional agreement to simplify and reduce the scope of sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies. Only EU companies with over 1,000 employees on average and a net annual turnover exceeding €450 million will be in scope for the CSRD. The CSDDD will apply only to EU companies with over 5,000 employees and a net annual turnover above €1.5 billion. Please see the final text of the proposal which provides further details.   Accountancy Europe has shared some of its views in relation to the political compromise on the  Sustainability Omnibus Proposals.   The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has issued targeted amendments to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disclosure requirements in IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures in response to specific application challenges that were identified as companies started to apply the Standard.   The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the German Standard-Setter (ASCG) are jointly hosting the second Sustainability Standards Conference in Frankfurt on 18 May 2026.   The ISSB has published its December 2025 update and podcast.   IAASA has published its observations on Wave 1 CSRD reporting, summarising key findings from their supervisory work during the first year of CSRD implementation in Ireland.   The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group(EFRAG) has published three guides to help SMEs report on disclosures identified as particularly challenging in the public consultation and field test on VSME, as well as a report into the VSME Market Acceptance. This explores the level of awareness in relation to the VSME, as well as its acceptance as a voluntary sustainability reporting tool.   GRI, the Global Reporting Initiative, has conducted research into the value of sustainability reporting. In 22 of the 30 studies reviewed by GRI, a positive correlation was found between companies who disclose their sustainability impacts and improved financial performance. ARTICLES How to begin your sustainability journey- Practical steps, lessons learned and what really matters, by Dr Rosie O’Neill, director of sustainability with IFAC (BusinessPlus) SustainabilityWorks top trends shaping corporate sustainability in 2026 - and why they matter for business performance: (SustainabilityWorks) Powering transport and heating with electricity instead of fossil fuel could save the Republic €2.8 billion a year, experts say (Irish Times) The solution to tackling the climate crisis? We need everything - Wind, solar, green hydrogen - every scalable option shown to work at reasonable cost is required (Irish Times) Ireland’s faltering switch to clean energy laid bare by increase in oil and gas use (Irish Times) Ireland had its warmest spring and summer since 1900 last year (The Journal) Green Debt Sales Hit Record Levels - Investors have piled into climate-friendly assets this year despite policy and regulatory rollbacks in the US and Europe, as artificial intelligence drives a boom in energy infrastructure demand (Bloomberg) Climate insurance legal action surges as property damage costs rise (Financial Times) New York Releases Regulation Requiring Mandatory GHG Reporting for Large Emitters from 2027 (ESG Today) PODCAST “Ireland can’t be sustainable without biodiversity.”   Trinity’s Professor Jane Stout unpacks some of the risks for businesses: supply chains, compliance, reputation and financial exposure (The Energy Canvas, 40 mins, 13 seconds) EVENTS Chartered Accountants Ireland Ulster Society, CAB Series ESG Webinar The Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) landscape is evolving rapidly, bringing both challenges and opportunities for chartered accountants in business. This webinar will explore how ESG is influencing corporate strategy, performance measurement and stakeholder trust. Speakers will discuss the growing responsibilities of finance professionals, the skills required to navigate ESG effectively, and how chartered accountants can add value in an increasingly sustainability-focused business environment. Virtual, Wed 14 January, 1-2pm 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  |   8:00am – 9:00am | 4.00pm – 5.00pm Dublin Chamber, The Sustainability Network - Creating Business Value Through Sustainability Join us on Wednesday the 4th of February for This January, Dublin Chamber is introducing a new Sustainability Network event created for organisations that are facing growing sustainability expectations and are unsure how to turn pressure into progress. Many teams are trying to balance commercial priorities with sustainability planning, often without clear guidance. This interactive event is designed to support that work. In person |  Tue 13 Jan 2026 |  08:30am - 11:00am  |  Dublin Chamber, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2 D02 F 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 4 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.

  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.

  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.