Public Sector Climate Action

The Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP21) envisages the public sector leading by example on climate action to reach the target of reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and becoming climate neutral no later than 2050.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 gives legal underpinning to climate action by the public sector. It requires all public bodies to perform their functions in a manner consistent with national climate ambitions.

Although its share of emissions is relatively small nationally, the public sector plays an important leadership role as a catalyst, advocate, and proof-of-concept for ambitious climate action across buildings, transport, waste, and energy categories. Further, as a large purchaser of good and services, the promotion of green procurement practices is important to incentivise more sustainable product lines and supply chains, as provided for in actions under the Climate Action Plan 2021.

To support public sector bodies in leading by example, a Public Sector Climate Action Mandate applies to public bodies covered by the Climate Action Plan (CAP) decarbonisation targets, with the exception of local authorities, commercial semi state bodies, and schools. The Mandate highlights the main climate action objectives for public bodies and is reviewed annually.

The first Public Sector Climate Action Mandate was included in Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP21) and was approved by Government in July 2022.

The current Public Sector Climate Action Mandate was reviewed and updated as part of the preparation for Climate Action Plan 2025 (CAP25). The Mandate will be reviewed again as part of the drafting process for Climate Action Plan 2026 (CAP26).

Climate Action Roadmaps

Each public sector body to which the Mandate applies will develop a Climate Action Roadmap setting out how it will deliver on its energy efficiency and emissions reduction targets. The Roadmap is the pathway by which the body will implement the Climate Action Mandate and should be reviewed annually in line with the updated Public Sector Climate Action Mandate.

The SEAI and the EPA have produced guidance for preparing Climate Action Roadmaps. This guidance can be found on the SEAI website.

Bodies not covered by the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate

Local Authorities

Local Authorities have a key role in the delivery of climate action. This is reflected in the provisions of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, which requires each Local Authority to prepare a Local Authority Climate Action Plan (LA CAP), specifying the adaptation and mitigation measures to be adopted by the Local Authority. A number of work programmes, including LA CAPs, are being supported by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in collaboration with the local government sector to drive emission reductions locally. See here for more information on local authorities and their role in climate action.

Commercial Semi-State Bodies

In July 2022 the government approved a Climate Action Framework for commercial semi-state bodies (CSBs), reflecting the exemplar role they are to play in decarbonisation, supporting the objectives of the Climate Action Plan, while also recognising the need for commercial independence in their respective operating environments.

The Framework sets out five commitments by CSBs in relation to their climate action objectives:

• Governance of Climate Action Objectives
• Reduction Target and Emissions Measurements
• Measuring and Valuing Emissions in Investment Appraisal
• Circular Economy and Green Procurement
• Climate Related Disclosures in Financial Reporting

The Framework has now been adopted by the boards of all CSBs currently within the scope of the Framework.

Based on information received by NewERA from the CSBs, many are well advanced in their implementation of the five climate action Commitments in the Framework, while others are at earlier stages of implementation of the Commitments:

Commitment 1: Governance of Climate Action Objectives

The majority of CSBs are already implementing the Framework Commitments under Commitment 1.

Commitment 2: Emissions measurement and reduction target

Emissions reporting via the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Monitoring and Reporting (M&R) system is well established amongst the CSBs.

Commitment 3: Measuring and valuing emissions in investment appraisals

Half of the CSBs intend to monetise GHG emission impacts using publicly-available data on the price of carbon. This is a new area of focus for many CSBs.

Commitment 4: Circular economy and green procurement

Over half of the CSBs have developed a circular economy strategy and initiatives. Almost all intend to provide information on their green procurement practices in one of their publications.

Commitment 5: Disclosures in financial reporting

Preparations for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (Directive (EU) 2022/2464) are commencing amongst the CSBs. Further information on progress to date is available online on the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) website.

Schools

The 2nd National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development to 2030 was published in June 2022. Its publication provides a framework to support the contribution that the education sector can make towards a more sustainable future at individual, community, local, national, and international levels. Embedding climate action is important throughout all educational cycles to facilitate understanding and support for change and develop necessary skills and innovative solutions.

School Sector Climate Action Mandate

The Department of Education has developed a School Sector Climate Action Mandate in fulfilment of Climate Action Plan 2021, Action 55. This dedicated School Sector Climate Action Mandate recognises the variance between large public bodies and the school sector and the distinctive role schools are playing in the areas of Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Change.

To support public sector bodies leading by example on climate action, the Public Sector Climate Action Strategy 2023-2025 has been developed. The Strategy was approved by Government in March 2023 and its publication is in fulfilment of actions 53b of Climate Action Plan 2021 and PS/23/2 of Climate Action Plan 2023.

The Strategy:

• provides consistency in climate action across the public service
• focuses on governance, which has been identified as a key pillar in supporting the leadership role that public sector decarbonisation must play in the broader nationwide net-zero transition, and
• addresses green public procurement, sustainable travel, a strategic approach for buildings, and financing

The public sector has a vital role to play in leading Ireland’s transition to a sustainable and carbon-neutral economy and society. Public procurement is one of the primary ways in which public bodies will help to shape this transition, and to meet the 2030 targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency. Green Public Procurement (GPP) is a process whereby public bodies can meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities by choosing solutions that have a reduced impact on the environment throughout their life-cycle, as compared to alternative products/solutions.

To assist in the provision of green criteria that can be incorporated into public procurement, the Environmental Protection Agency published updated Green Public Procurement Guidance for the Public Sector in September 2021. In 2022, the Office of Government Procurement led the development of GPP Criteria Search , an online search tool that allows the user to rapidly find, select, and download the Irish GPP criteria relevant to a specific procurement project. The site was designed to facilitate use of green procurement and is available at gppcriteria.gov.ie

Examples of successful retrofitting and energy efficiency projects can be found through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Public sector bodies also measure their emissions using SEAI’s Monitoring and Reporting System.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working constantly to protect and improve our environment.

Phasing out fossil fuel heating from public buildings, including disallowing the installation of new fossil fuel systems, is important to decarbonise the public sector and allow it to lead by example. The Office of Public Works (OPW) issued its final report early in Q2 2022 highlighting 29 recommendations for implementing the phase-out using a combination of proven and emerging technologies. This published approach is important to provide direction across public services.