Message from Jennifer Banim, Director General, CSO
As Ireland’s national statistical institute, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is an independent office providing free, independent statistical information to support and promote understanding and debate across government, business, and society.
Our vision is Independent Insight for All and we provide critical information including on how we live our lives, our economy, and our environment. Climate Change is the defining issue of our time, and the CSO has a key role to play in informing society with independent and trusted information, as well as making its own contribution through its people and operations.
This contribution is outlined in our Climate Action Roadmap, an annual report published by the CSO setting out our targets and how we intend to reach them.
Our Climate Action Roadmap is aligned with and informed by the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2024 which sets out the national ambition over the coming decade in line with the 2020 Programme for Government and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021. This mandate requires all public sector organisations to lead by example in reducing energy efficiency targets and reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions.
The CSO therefore has a dual role, to deliver on its own climate actions and sustainability through its buildings and people, as well as informing decision-making on a national level.
At a local level, the CSO works to ensure the organisation and its buildings are meeting the required targets, as laid out in the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate. This also includes extensive engagement with staff on how we work and embedding climate leadership in our day-to-day activities. For example, a key element established during 2023 was getting our staff on board in the form of a Climate Action Team. In the first quarter of 2024, each member completed specific training, displaying their commitment and interest in the CSO’s efforts around Climate Action. As this group is newly developed, we look forward to the results of working together during 2024 and beyond.
At Assistant Director General level, we have appointed an Energy Performance Officer/Climate Sustainability Champion and a Climate Action Sponsor, establishing the top level of our internal governance framework for Climate Action and Sustainability.
Operationally we have also assigned Facilities Management as a key area to manage our buildings energy use, Greenhouse gas emissions and our key relationships with external public bodies such as the OPW, SEAI and Aramark. Fostering these relationships will assist us in achieving our goals and staying on track.
At a national level, the CSO undertakes several specific statistical studies and delivers information and data services in relation to the Environment and Sustainability in Ireland. We also report on Ireland’s progress in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With this valuable information, we help to form the conversation around climate, which informs the government's sustainability agenda, contributing to policy development and sector performance.
I am delighted to support our efforts within the Climate Action Roadmap, which paves the way for the CSO to contribute to our wider public sector goals. The CSO is committed to reaching our 2030 targets and while we have made excellent progress, there is always more to do. In addition, we will continue to play our role in providing independent and trusted insight on this subject to all users of our information.
Message from Jennifer Banim, Director General, CSO
As Ireland’s national statistical institute, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is an independent office providing free, independent statistical information to support and promote understanding and debate across government, business, and society.
Our vision is Independent Insight for All and we provide critical information including on how we live our lives, our economy, and our environment. Climate Change is the defining issue of our time, and the CSO has a key role to play in informing society with independent and trusted information, as well as making its own contribution through its people and operations.
This contribution is outlined in our Climate Action Roadmap, an annual report published by the CSO setting out our targets and how we intend to reach them.
Our Climate Action Roadmap is aligned with and informed by the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2024 which sets out the national ambition over the coming decade in line with the 2020 Programme for Government and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021. This mandate requires all public sector organisations to lead by example in reducing energy efficiency targets and reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions.
The CSO therefore has a dual role, to deliver on its own climate actions and sustainability through its buildings and people, as well as informing decision-making on a national level.
At a local level, the CSO works to ensure the organisation and its buildings are meeting the required targets, as laid out in the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate. This also includes extensive engagement with staff on how we work and embedding climate leadership in our day-to-day activities. For example, a key element established during 2023 was getting our staff on board in the form of a Climate Action Team. In the first quarter of 2024, each member completed specific training, displaying their commitment and interest in the CSO’s efforts around Climate Action. As this group is newly developed, we look forward to the results of working together during 2024 and beyond.
At Assistant Director General level, we have appointed an Energy Performance Officer/Climate Sustainability Champion and a Climate Action Sponsor, establishing the top level of our internal governance framework for Climate Action and Sustainability.
Operationally we have also assigned Facilities Management as a key area to manage our buildings energy use, Greenhouse gas emissions and our key relationships with external public bodies such as the OPW, SEAI and Aramark. Fostering these relationships will assist us in achieving our goals and staying on track.
At a national level, the CSO undertakes several specific statistical studies and delivers information and data services in relation to the Environment and Sustainability in Ireland. We also report on Ireland’s progress in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With this valuable information, we help to form the conversation around climate, which informs the government's sustainability agenda, contributing to policy development and sector performance.
I am delighted to support our efforts within the Climate Action Roadmap, which paves the way for the CSO to contribute to our wider public sector goals. The CSO is committed to reaching our 2030 targets and while we have made excellent progress, there is always more to do. In addition, we will continue to play our role in providing independent and trusted insight on this subject to all users of our information.
Jennifer Banim
Director General