Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 27 September 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

SME Energy and Carbon Demands, Green Initiatives and Technology: Discussion

Mr. Leo Clancy:

We have not yet, although we have certain targets. To the earlier question on volume take-up, we have targeted 425 climate interventions with our clients over the three years, including 2022, 2023 and 2024. As I said, we have deployed 201 of that 425 at this point so are broadly on track in that regard. Most of the schemes were launched just over a year ago. We are gaining momentum on that. We have targets. The target we are most focused on and concerned about is the 35% reduction in process and heat emissions from our sector by 2030. That will be challenging to achieve. It is the one that has been at the core of our thinking so far.

We are doing further thinking, in the context of our next sustainability efforts, in respect of what the Deputy said, regarding things such as sustainability content and the circular economy. The targets for what we will and will not do if companies do not meet a bar that might contribute to that target, and what we will do to incentivise companies to hit those targets, are all in the mix at present.