Over 600 representatives from across the public sector attended the annual Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Public Sector Energy Conference at The Helix, Dublin City University.
The theme of this year’s conference was Leadership in Action with attendees including Chief Executives, Energy Performance Officers, Energy Managers, and key members of energy project teams from across Ireland’s government departments and public bodies.
This was the sixth annual conference and the first in-person event following COVID-19 restrictions.
Welcoming delegates to the conference, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD said, “the public sector has demonstrated remarkable leadership and commitment in responding to our national and EU energy and climate targets, as demonstrated by the 34% improvement in energy efficiency between 2009 and 2021. But now, as a nation, we need to go further. We need to scale up and speed up our transition to both greater energy efficiency and more renewable energy capacity.”
“Within our Climate Action Plan 2023 we commit to a 51% reduction in greenhouse gases and a 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030 for our public sector. This will require continued committed leadership and innovation at every level of the sector. In addition, however, the public sector has a critical role to play as leaders or role models in this new industrial revolution of our time. If we are asking people and communities to step up to the plate, it is vital that they see that their public sector is doing the same or is ahead of the climate action curve. It is this leadership that will help drive Ireland’s clean energy transition and create a greener, more sustainable future for everyone.”
Conference delegates benefitted from hearing from leaders across the public sector in the opening session hosted by Science Communicator and Broadcaster Kathriona Devereux.
The conference programme covered a range of topics including the latest policy and financial planning to support Ireland’s Climate Action ambitions, successful models that are delivering results and opportunities for the public sector to decarbonise and improve their assets and services.
The conference showcased leadership examples from across the public sector outlining how those organisations are working on their decarbonisation targets. Additionally, they presented ideas and projects that promote shared learnings and potential solutions that can work across various sectors.
The afternoon session looked at how each sector can scale up resources, plans, and projects and what each sector and individual organisations must do in the short and medium terms to mobilise towards achieving the 2030 targets.
Speaking at the event, William Walsh, CEO of SEAI said, “I want to acknowledge the leadership of the public sector organisations, in particular all of those who are here with us, who are planning and implementing substantial decarbonisation projects and showcasing how the public sector can achieve their 2030 targets. The examples profiled here should motivate all public bodies to take responsibility for their own organisation’s decarbonisation roadmaps and inspire them to be ambitious in their vision.”
“Our role in SEAI is to bring public bodies together and support them so they can learn from each other, think bigger, and collaborate to achieve their carbon and energy efficiency targets. This way the public sector can be at the vanguard in ensuring Ireland delivers on its ambitious targets.”
Source: SEAI