Shay Cloherty, MD, iQuest & Business Post LIVE

Change is happening but just not fast enough. How do we scale up the implementation of climate action? We open our event with global and national perspectives on climate action.

The link between sustainability and profitability is increasingly influencing corporate strategies. As companies embrace this agenda, it’s vital they engage with all stakeholders to create a more resilient and sustainable business.

As the ferocious summer of 2023 has vividly illustrated, the climate and biodiversity emergency is now fast approaching critical tipping points. The key target of keeping global average temperature rise from breaching the 1.5C “red line” is now in jeopardy. What political decisions do we need now to ensure meeting today’s needs does not compromise the interests of all future generations?

In a world shaken by the economic and geopolitical fallout of the war in Iran, the path to net zero has become more complex—but also more urgent. John opens our event exploring how energy instability, supply-chain pressures and shifting global alliances are reshaping climate strategy and discusses the critical choices leaders must take to keep decarbonisation on track in an era of global instability

The shift to a global net zero economy has begun, but strong policies are needed to accelerate the transition and reap the benefits. More governments and companies are making net-zero commitments, but those decarbonisation targets must now be turned into tangible action. David will also reflect on the potential impact of the US’s withdrawal again from the Paris Agreement and its potential to slow down international cooperation

Ireland is set to miss its legally binding emissions reduction targets by a wide margin. With the potential cost of EU fines running as high as €28 billion, the question is: could that money be better spent cutting emissions instead? Has attention shifted toward making deeper cuts after 2030, or are we backing away from meaningful climate action altogether?

Global headwinds, regulatory shifts and a new chapter for ESG – what does it all mean for the future of sustainable business? David unpacks what’s changing, why it matters and what your organisation should be doing now and provides his insights on what COP30 means for ESG

We answer your questions on how to navigate the latest ESG regulations and compliance challenges. Bring your questions to our panel of practitioners and experts for practical insights implementing genuine, effective sustainability practices

Progress in renewable power generation is a vital step towards climate action. A discussion on how the acceleration in development of renewable energy projects is needed if the State is to come anywhere close to the target of a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030.

There has been a step change in attitudes towards sustainability as CEOs increasingly view it as a driver of value-creation rather than a reporting burden. John shares his top tips for Boards and CEOs to achieve Sustainability 2.0 and lead a truly sustainable and successful business

Extreme weather events are already causing significant economic losses, proving that emission cuts are insufficient without preparing for unavoidable climate impacts. Hear how adaptation is now a priority for governments and organisations in the developed and developing world

Learn how to approach double materiality in practice:

• What exactly does it mean?
• How is it integrated in the CSRD?
• What are investors looking for?
• How companies should approach it in their sustainability reporting

How to create transition plans that stand up to investor scrutiny, inspire your industry and decarbonise your business. 

• To what extent have net-zero transition plans been developed and executed?
• Where are the climate commitment gap hotspots and what are the practical solutions to close the commitment gap?
• How do you understand the risks and opportunities for access to finance?
• What role should government and policymakers play in the development and execution of climate transition plans?
• How do you anticipate incoming mandatory disclosure rules can help accelerate businesses’ transition to net zero operations?
• What are the talent and skills gaps to deliver Net Zero and how will we fill them?

Sustainability is a team effort at Munster Rugby – becoming part of the club culture, not just club operations.

• Engaging teams and partners through shared language
• Translating ESG concepts into meaningful stories
• Balancing aspiration with practical action

Although a significant number of Irish CEOs recognise climate change as a factor impacting their business, there’s a gap between awareness and concrete action, particularly regarding adaptation measures. The best businesses aren’t just adapting to the changing landscape; they’re leveraging sustainability to drive innovation, reduce costs, and build stronger relationships with their customers and stakeholders. Our panel will discuss how business leaders are turning sustainability into a growth driver rather than a cost centre by adopting the right practices

The regulatory landscape in Europe is changing. For investors, new and revised regulations are going to demand considerable changes to how they make and manage sustainable investments. Where are the opportunities and risks? What kinds of data will investors be expected to handle, and how can they remain compliant while continuing to grow returns? 

What existing legislation does it propose to amend? What does this mean for businesses preparing for sustainability reporting? What steps should businesses be taking now?

With sustainability remaining high on the EU’s legislative and policy agenda, businesses should be aware of the broad range of legal obligations coming down the track. Jill will discuss:

• how to manage the changing legislation
• understanding the key issues
• the potential impact on business operations
• taking steps to ensure regulatory compliance

Our panel of sustainability professionals share their insights on CSRD reporting… what are their top tips for getting ESG reporting right?

Safe operating thresholds in 7 of the 9 planetary boundaries are now exceeded, social inequality is growing both nationally and internationally and responsibility for sustainability is increasingly being assigned to the Board. 

• What is the sustainability elephant in the room?
• How should boards prepare for long term resilience and viability, while also dealing with short term responses to current geopolitical events? 
• How do boards develop sufficient sustainability competencies to meet their fiduciary responsibilities? 
• How can sustainability be seamlessly integrated into existing governance, strategy and risk management processes?

Our panel shares insights into best practices, and actionable steps to foster an investment environment that supports global sustainability goals. What are the driving factors for sustainable investment? What kind of sustainable investment is possible? Are what are good examples?

In this presentation, Enda will explore the changes in the energy sector as the focus on sustainability has grown in recent years and will give some insights into how some of Ireland’s corporates and SMEs are creating their sustainable future through better energy strategies and reporting.

Steps to creating a credible, impactful climate transition plan: By assessing your current emissions, setting ambitious targets and taking action to reduce your carbon footprint, you contribute to a more sustainable future for both the planet and your business.

This year businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of their impact on nature, with disclosures on nature-related risks and impacts gaining prominence alongside climate reporting. We open with a talk on why businesses need to expand their sustainability beyond greenhouse gas emissions.

How Digital Twin technology has been used to reduce the carbon emissions of European airports from the terminal buildings to the resource networks and electrification of the aircraft fleet. Plus, how internal barriers were overcome.

Join us to discover how zero-emission ambition can drive your organisation forward. Fleet operations sit at the centre of many organisations’ environmental impact. This creates a unique opportunity for fleets to lead the way in achieving ESG commitments while delivering meaningful business benefits

• Explore how sustainability trends are reshaping fleet strategy, what challenges organisations are encountering, and the practical actions that can accelerate fleet decarbonisation
• Approaches to support broader ESG performance, facilitate the transition to electric vehicles, and reduce both the number of vehicles required and the mileage driven through smarter mobility solutions.
• Learn how to better understand, measure, and report true fleet emissions to support credible progress toward carbon-neutral operations.

Join us for an engaging and participatory discussion on the role of nature in business with a great panel to share their insights and answer your questions.

• Understand why nature is critical to business viability
• Learn how to start the journey towards being nature-positive 
• Hear about relevant case studies 
• Investing in nature – why credibility and integrity are critical for business and nature  
• Nature Tech:  using technology to understand, quantify and act on nature risks

Hear about the new flexible, user-friendly micro qualifications recently launched by Educational Training Boards around the country to upskill staff on the sustainability skills your business needs

• How are businesses reshaping strategies to create business models that unite commercial success with positive social and environmental impact?
• How can you build a better kind of business that serves workers, communities, customers and essential ecosystems?
• Discover how businesses are shaping the new agenda using sustainability as a strategic lever for resilience, cost control, and growth

ESG is becoming the new measure of business credibility. Major buyers now expect their suppliers to match their own environmental, social, and governance standards. Procurement reviews will act as trust tests, examining whether your policies and data stand up to scrutiny. SMEs that build ESG into daily operations will secure faster approvals, stronger partnerships, and longer contracts. In today’s accountability‑driven economy, readiness is your license to compete. In this session we’ll discuss:

• Supply chain demands
• Commercial risks & opportunities
• Funding challenges
• Resource strain
• Voluntary reporting trends

• The sustainability skills gaps
• The importance of knowing your environmental impacts, risks and opportunities
• The key skills for a sustainable future

How the circular economy can move your business forward

A discussion between a large company and their challenges on supply chain climate action and sustainability and an SME company

Julia and Ellie discuss the business case for investing in up and downstream sustainability efforts, how data can inform decision-making and how sustainability teams should move away from a compliance mindset if they want to generate business value

When developing transition plans, companies should consider the full range of interactions and impacts associated with their business model, both up and down the value chain. This presentation describes how to use transition planning to drive decarbonisation in the value chain and in turn drive value for the company, its investors and stakeholders.

If you don’t have an age strategy, you don’t have a growth strategy. Hear how the ‘S’ of ESG can unlock business value by addressing our aging population. Hear how leading companies are focussing on the 50+ demographic as an integral component of their ESG and growth strategies and the business case outcomes they are receiving.

Working collaboratively to establish sustainable supply chains is vital to the transition to a net zero economy.  Learn how the All-Ireland Climate Action Pilot Programme led by Business in the Community Ireland together with Bank of Ireland, SSE and Musgrave helped upskill a sample of their SME’s in carbon literacy, carbon calculation and also explored how large companies can collaborate to support the decarbonisation of their supply chains. Hear how Bank of Ireland, through this programme, is supporting its SMEs to decarbonise.

How can finance and sustainability departments collaborate to ensure the accuracy and transparency of ESG reporting? Is it time to consider merging the two?

Navigating the complexities of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data collection, tracking, and assurance is a significant challenge, especially with the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requirements. While 85% of companies recognize the need for IT transformation to achieve CSRD compliance, only 14% of Irish companies have implemented a comprehensive value chain reporting system. 

Join us for a presentation on how AI-powered software can help you address your ESG data challenges to meet regulatory requirements, respond effectively to investor and customer demands, and position your organization as a strategic leader in sustainability. 

• How HaPPE Earth is revolutionising healthcare with compostable PPE and cost-saving, eco-friendly, end-to-end waste management for a cleaner future
• How Arcology Systems is unlocking the circular economy within commercial real estate
• Bean Around, an award-winning sustainable and affordable soap company
• Sustainability in motion at Irish Rail

Our panel explores Scope 3, data and decarbonisation strategy plus harnessing data and tech to power sustainable supply chains