Sustainability/ESG bulletin, Friday 15 September 2023

In this week’s Sustainability/ESG bulletin, read about a policy workshop on sustainable finance and biodiversity, CSO figures showing continued growth in the number of electric vehicles licensed in Ireland, and new public sector funding for climate action. Also covered is the new Ireland-UK energy cooperation agreements, a report showing how 80 percent of UK businesses are ‘unprepared’ for reporting requirements under CBAM, and the usual roundup of technical updates, articles and events.

Sustainable finance and biodiversity

Last week, Institute’s Sustainability Officer Susan Rossney spoke at the South-East Technological University and Queen's University Belfast Policy Workshop Addressing Biodiversity Loss with Sustainable Financial Solutions. The provision of finance is crucial for achieving the ambitious goals set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Diversity Framework and the EU’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy. Opened by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan, TD, this fact-finding workshop was among several organised to explore how sustainable finance solutions can address biodiversity loss on the island of Ireland. Other speakers included Dr John Finn, Teagasc; Lucy Gaffney, Business for Biodiversity in Ireland; Paul Harris, Bank of Ireland and Dr Shane McGuinness, University College Dublin.

Ireland and UK signs new energy cooperation agreements

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, T.D., has signed two new Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Claire Coutinho, the UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The MoUs will increase cooperation for developing offshore renewable energy, explore further electricity interconnection opportunities and enhance security of gas supplies. The announcement comes as the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar T.D. and Minister Ryan met with Ireland’s four largest Energy Retailers this week to reiterate the Government's concern at persistently high energy prices and to discuss how customers could be best supported for the coming winter. Separately, a public consultation has been launched by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to help inform the design and delivery of a ‘Private Wires’ policy, to be launched in 2024, and which provides a potential off-grid solution for the generation and supply of electricity.

Growth continues in number of electric vehicles licensed in Ireland

The Department of Transport has published its new Statement of Strategy 2023 –2025, which includes a focus on ‘Sustainability: Economy, Environment and Society’. The strategy was published as figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveal that in the first eight months of 2023, 19 percent of all new cars licensed for the first time were electric, compared with 13 percent in the same period in 2022.

Public sector funding for climate action in Ireland’s southern region

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, has committed to provide €2.9 million to support the Climate Action Regional Office (CARO) in the southern region over the next six years. The funding will help local authorities to deliver climate policies and behavioural change within their own organisations and to empower citizens, businesses and neighbourhoods to better understand the impacts of climate change and to embrace the need for climate action.

CSO publishes Gender Balance in Business Survey 2023

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has released Gender Balance in Business 2023 which provides statistics on gender representation in top management teams and Boards of Directors in Ireland. Findings included that one in four members of Boards of Directors in Ireland were female, up from almost 22 percent in 2021, and that female Chairpersons increased from 14 percent to almost 19 percent over the same period.

Transforming the profession – the future of accountancy

This week marks 15 years of the Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) Accounting Bodies Network. The ABN was established to support the global professional accounting bodies to share knowledge, collaborate to overcome common barriers, and champion the need for change within the accounting community. To mark this milestone, member bodies, including Chartered Accountants Ireland, have collaborated on a project to explore how the future of the profession can, and is, transforming to help build and support a sustainable economy. Transforming the profession – the future of accountancy focuses on three areas – skills, systems and technology.

UK businesses ‘unprepared’ for EU trade

80 percent of UK manufacturers who are also exporters have no knowledge of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), according to new research carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce. The research – which surveyed over 700 SMEs – reportedly found that the majority of SMEs are unaware of reporting requirements under CBAM, under which EU companies must compile reports on the carbon emissions attached to some imported goods, including steel, aluminium and fertilisers, from October 2023. Businesses will have to buy certificates to cover pollution embedded in products from 2026. This lack of knowledge and preparation for the changes indicates that some traders with the EU may face a new delays and unexpected costs. In some cases, exporters could also find their goods unable to be transited to EU customers. Find out more about CBAM here.

MEPs back plans to boost use of renewable energy

The European Parliament has voted to boost the deployment of renewable energy, in line with the Green Deal and REPowerEU plans. The update of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), already agreed upon between MEPs and Council, raises the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42.5 percent by 2030, and member states should strive to achieve 45 percent. There will be faster approval procedure for deploying renewables, and new fuels in the transport sector should lead to a 14.5 percent reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation will now have to be formally endorsed by Council in order to come into law.

Taking stock of the Sustainable Development Goals

This week saw the launch of a report bringing together the results from the first UN Global Stocktake, since the Paris agreement was signed in 2015.

This goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and to scale up climate finance. To measure progress against this goal, the global stocktake examines the efforts of Paris Agreement signatories to cut their carbon emissions, adapt to climate change, and mobilise finance and technology to help poorer nations respond to the crisis.

Representing the culmination of two years’ work, the report provides critical information for countries and stakeholders to identify what needs to be done, any remaining gaps and opportunities for increased action. The report will be discussed at COP28, the annual global climate summit which takes place this year in November in Dubai. 

Articles

• Cost ‘a barrier’ to sustainable product choices for 2 in 5 people, survey finds (Irish Times)

• Why did the EPA delete a tweet about eating meat? (Irish Times)

• NHS website records 552 percent surge in heat exhaustion queries (The Guardian)

• A really simple guide to climate change (BBC News)

• What to Watch at COP28 (Bloomberg Green)

• Small islands take case to protect oceans from climate change to UN court (The Journal)

• John Walsh: GDP is out of date – it’s time we found another way to measure economic growth (The Business Post) 

Certificate in Sustainability Strategy, Risk and Reporting

Upcoming events  

Dublin Chamber – Sustainability Academy Workshops
Dublin Chamber has announced it will offer Sustainability Academy workshops in Autumn. Beginning with a workshop on Sustainability/ESG 101 in September, the 3-hour Zoom workshops includes a free one-hour, post-workshop one-on-one advisory consultation per company with an expert advisor. Find out more here.
Online, September 2023 

Business Post LIVE/iQuest: Energy Transition Summit
In person: 19 September, Croke Park, Dublin

ESDN: European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW) 2023
18 September – 08 October. 113 initiatives in 10 countries.

IFAC & WMBC: Achieving Investor-Grade GHG Reporting: The Role of Accounting and Finance Professionals
Virtual: 19 September, 9:00am ET for Climate Week NYC

Chartered Accountants Ireland Virtual CPD Update – Career Progression and Transition (ROI/NI)
Morning plenary session followed afternoon sessions, run and delivered by the District Societies, including the Western Society session on Sustainability and ESG Reporting (Catherine Duggan, Orla Carolan, Peter Gillen, Susan Rossney).

Irish Museum of Modern Art: EARTH RISING
Four-day festival of free events and experiences aimed at addressing the climate crisis and aiming to provoke, empower and inspire collective action in audiences to become agents of change for a sustainable and hopeful future.~
In person: 21–24 September, IMMA site, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin 8, D08 FW31.

DETE: Building Better Businesses North-East Event, Dundalk Institute of Technology
The latest in the series of Building Better Business events organised by DETE across the country to help businesses focus on the opportunities and challenges presented by the green economy and digital transformation. This event is open to businesses based in the North East.
In person: 22 September, 9.00 - 1.00 -  Multi-Purpose Centre (MPC), Faulkner Building, Dundalk Institute of Technology.

EPA: Circular Economy Conference
This hybrid event will be an opportunity to learn about recent developments in the circular economy and the opportunities and challenges in implementing a circular economy in Ireland. There will be opportunities to network and participate in polling and Q&A sessions.
In person: 27 September, The Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

Green Team Network: ESG Networking Breakfast
An intensive session tailored for Ireland's industry leaders seeking to understand and act upon the financial implications of climate change, this event aims to bridge the gap between climate financial risk and sustainability education.
In person: 27 Sept, 08:00 – 9:45, Dean Hotel, 33 Harcourt St, Saint Kevin's, Dublin 2, Ireland

Women in Business (Northern Ireland) Women in Finance
Women in Business is running a wide-ranging programme of female entrepreneurship events over the upcoming months. The events include sectoral networking, webinars, and training courses for essential skills. A specific session on women in finance will focus on work in finance departments, small scale accountancy or work for yourself, both members and non-members are welcome to join this online event.
Virtual: 25 October, 10.00-11.30am

Sustainable Finance Skillnet is offering funded training opportunities until October 2023 to Irish employees in the financial services sector at 30 percent of course fees (with 70 percent funding available for members of the International Sustainable Finance Centre of Excellence).
Virtual: September-October 2023

Accountancy Europe: Preparing for high-quality sustainability assurance engagements
In person: 3 October, 14.00-17.00, ACE events - Av. d'Auderghem 22, 1040 Brussels

Climate Finance Week Ireland 2023
In person and virtual: Monday, 20 November – Friday, 24 November

Network for Chartered Accountants working on ESG projects

Are you a Chartered Accountant working in ESG or working on ESG-related projects? Would you like an opportunity to engage with other Chartered Accountants working in this space to share insights, challenges and opportunities?

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

• 3rd or 4th Wednesday of every month
• Next: 27 September 2023 
• 14.00-15.00/30
• Teams

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

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