Our Targets

The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate outlines the required targets:

• Reduce GHG emissions by 51% in 2030.
• Increase the improvement in energy efficiency in the public sector from the 33% target in 2020 to 50% by 2030.
• Update Climate Action Roadmaps annually in line with updated Public Sector Climate Action Mandate.

Progress to date

Reduce GHG emissions by 51% in 2030

The graphs below set out the composition and trajectory of the CSO’s energy related carbon emissions. The CSO must achieve a 51% reduction in CO₂ emissions from the baseline of 2016-2018. The CSO has reached a reduction of 52.5% in CO₂ emissions in 2024, which means the CSO must reduce CO₂ emissions by another 41.9% by 2030. The apparent discrepancy in the reduction requirements is due to the decarbonizing of the electricity grid. While the reduction required is 51%, when the decarbonizing of the grid is considered, the CSO must reduce CO₂ emissions by 79%.

Figure 1 Energy Related Co2 Emissions in the CSO

Increase the improvement in energy efficiency in the public sector from the 33% target in 2020 to 50% by 2030

CSO’s energy consumption by 2024 was 57.7% lower than the 2009 baseline. Therefore, the CSO must maintain this level to ensure the target is maintained and achieved.

Figure 2 Energy Consumption in the CSO

 

Achieving the targets

The graphs below show how far the CSO needs to go to achieve the target of 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and what the gap to that target is. With Figure 3 highlighting the total greenhouse gas target and Figure 4 highlighting the non-electricity greenhouse gas target.

Figure 3 Total GHG target for CSO

 

 

Figure 4 Total Non – electricity GHG target for CSO

 

 

Figure 5 Total GHG pathways and targets for the CSO

 

 

Overview of the CSO’s energy performance and further required savings (all figures in kgCO2)

	Baseline 2016-2018	Current (2024)	Saved to date	2030 target	Gap to target
Fossil CO2 emissions	192,585	122,278	70,307	94,367	27,911
Non-fossil CO2 emissions	660,445	282,489	377,956	140,851	141,638
Total CO2 emissions	853,030	404,767	448,263	235,218	169,549

Key Challenges and opportunities in achieving these targets

Several key challenges and opportunities face the CSO in the management of the Sustainability targets set out in the Public Sector Mandate.

One challenge is how to balance the inevitable growth of the organisation with sustainability targets.

While the CSO constantly strives to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency, organisational expansion will have an impact, for example due to increased survey and data demands and the cyclical nature of certain CSO work, such as the Census of Population, the next iterations of which are scheduled for 2027 and 2031, respectively. While the Office prioritises the use of new technologies and the reduction of our overall carbon footprint, some expansion in staffing is expected to meet customer demands and deliver statistics for Ireland's increasing population.

However, this challenge leads must be read in conjunction with the opportunities in developing future accommodation arrangements within our current office footprint. Thanks to the benefits afforded by the introduction of blended working where possible across the organisation and in conjunction with the strategic management of our IT systems, energy savings are possible. These changes will require investment but can offer longer term net benefits.

Achievements to date have been secured, for example, by completing projects such as Server room and heating upgrades, and lighting retrofits. The next tier of gains in energy efficiency figures or reduction in Green House Gas emissions will necessitate significant retrofit works. The CSO has registered with the OPW building stock plan, and we will continue to work with the OPW to progress this important area.

Current initiatives being implemented in CSO offices during 2025: 

Current initiatives

Office	Project	Project stage	Saving KwH
Cork	Replace AC units in the server room	In progress	36,573 Kwh

Consistency with section 15(1) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Act 2021

The CSO is not directly responsible for a sectoral emission ceiling, as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Act 2021. However, a key strategic priority of the CSO is to assist policy makers and inform the public by providing data and insights related to key policy areas of climate, energy, and the environment.

The CSO has produced a range of novel and new statistics which highlight important trends in energy consumption and the energy efficiency of our national building stock. It has also produced data and insights into energy generation including the growth of solar energy, as well as signalling changes in the profile of non-residential energy consumption e.g., data centres.

Recognising the importance of decarbonizing the economy, the CSO has produced an annual view of decoupling emissions from key sectors of the economy, as well as highlighting the changing profile of environmental goods, services, and subsidies.

The CSO also produces an annual view of the state of the environment through its environmental indicators report, which is supported and underpinned by a range of statistical releases including annual air emissions accounts, ecosystems accounts, forestry, etc.

The CSO is committed to continuing to develop this suite of data and insights to further support evidence-informed policy making for the climate and our environment.