Sustainability in the Department of Justice

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We are delighted to publish our second Climate Action Roadmap.

The latest Public Sector Climate Action Mandate was approved by Government earlier this year as part of CAP24.

The Mandate requires public sector bodies to show leadership in climate action, by taking and reporting on the actions of the Mandate.

Our first Climate Action Roadmap in 2023 set out how the department planned to deliver on its commitments towards 2030 Climate targets.

This second roadmap provides an update on progress against that plan and looks ahead, incorporating new actions included in the 2024 mandate as well as areas where we are progressing work to deliver climate benefits that go beyond the Public Sector Mandate. Actions are grouped under headings of Our people, Our ways of working and Our buildings and vehicles.

Our climate targets are a reduction of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 51% in 2030, and an increased improvement in energy efficiency to 50% by 2030.

This roadmap covers the core functions of the Department of Justice and those agencies sharing our buildings, which are all owned or leased by the OPW.

Other agencies under the department’s aegis, produce their own roadmaps for their respective operations. The Department of Justice ensures that these agencies are provided with the appropriate guidance and support to do so and tracks their submissions, in line with the Climate Action Mandate.

The Department of Justice is committed to achieving a reduction in energy use of 50% (over a 2009 baseline) by the end of 2030.

We actively participate in the Optimising Power @ Work programme, administered by the Office of Public Works.

Monitoring and reporting of energy used is conducted in cooperation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The department's most recent scorecard for reduction in energy use is available below:

Under DPER circular DPE 019-001-2020, beginning in 2020, the Department of Justice is required to record the carbon emissions associated with all official flights made within a calendar year, and to pay a corresponding amount into the Climate Action Fund, based on the prevailing rate of carbon tax (€48.50 per tonne in 2023). The department has made the required payment for 2023.

The number of flights, combined carbon total and resulting carbon offset for the department, for 2023, is shown in our chart.

The department's Energy Team can be contacted at JustGreen@justice.ie