- within Strategy topic(s)
- within Strategy and Law Department Performance topic(s)
- in Middle East
Welcome to our final ESG newsletter of 2025, providing an
overview of recent developments related to ESG topics.
This newsletter aims to provide key insights, expert analysis and
actionable guidance to navigate a world where ESG considerations
are increasingly central to business success and legal
compliance.
In this edition, we look forward to Climate Finance Week 2025,
which takes place from 24–28 November, a few days after COP30
in Brazil. This year's Climate Finance Week adopts resilience
as a theme and events across the week will highlight how Ireland
can strengthen its climate, financial, and institutional resilience
through sustainable finance.
Our 2025 Sustainable Business Impact Report, which outlines the
firm's impact across the core dimensions of a sustainable
business programme of Environment, Workplace, Community and
Marketplace, has also been launched and you can read more about our
progress over the last 12 months below.
We also take a look back at the Environment Ireland Conference,
which explored the most pressing environmental challenges through a
series of focused and engaging sessions.
As always, if there is anything in this newsletter that you would
like to discuss further, please get in touch with a member of our
ESG Group by visiting our ESG Hub here.
Climate Finance Week 2025
Taking place from 24 – 28 November in Dublin, the week-long series of events showcases cutting-edge strategies and solutions for integrating sustainability into the financial system. This year's edition also celebrates Ireland's hosting of the new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Project Office. Climate Finance Week 2025 will explore areas such as:
- Ireland's transition: progress, financing, capital mobilisation, and transition plans aligned with the National Development Plan
- Nature finance and AI
- Financing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and strategies to de-risk private capital
Further event details will be announced soon. In the meantime, registration is open for two flagship events:
- New Horizons: Banking the Real Economy Transitions (Monday, 24 November)
- Nature Restoration and the Future of
Finance(Tuesday, 25 November)
Sustainable Business Impact Report 2025
Our 2025 report details the firm's impact across the core
dimensions of a sustainable business programme: Environment,
Workplace, Community, and Marketplace. This year's report
highlights our holistic and people-centric approach to
sustainability, with a continued focus on environmental
stewardship, community investment, and ethical governance.
Our commitment to progress is reflected in new initiatives, updated
environmental targets, and external recognition. The report also
shares updates on our partnerships, pro bono work, and the
firm's volunteering and fundraising activities.
Volunteering and Pro Bono Services Award
On behalf of a group of Irish law firms and NGOs, we accepted this year's award for Volunteering and Pro Bono Services at the Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Impact Awards 2025. The awards highlight best practice in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility by companies of all sizes across Ireland, in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Proposed Amendments to EUDR for Downstream Supply Chains
The European Commission has proposed targeted amendments to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to streamline implementation for downstream operators and traders, and for micro- and small undertakings, while preserving full due diligence obligations at the point where products are first placed on the EU market.
Renewable energy auctions: Consultation on non-price criteria
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment ("DCEE") is consulting until 21 November 2025 on implementation of Article 26 of the Net-Zero Industry Regulation (EU) 2024/1735. Article 26 requires Member States, when designing renewable energy auctions, to include:
- pre-qualification criteria on responsible business conduct, cyber security and data security, and ability to deliver the project fully and on time, and
- pre-qualification criteria or award criteria to assess sustainability, and resilience contribution.
CSRD update: Revised ESRS published for public consultation
On 31 July 2025, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), technical advisor to the European Commission, published exposure drafts of revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) for public consultation. According to EFRAG's press release, the revised drafts provide for a 57% reduction in mandatory datapoints and 68% overall.
Horizon Scanner: Infrastructure, Construction, Energy
Our recent Horizon Scanner: Infrastructure, Construction and
Energy offers a comprehensive overview of key legal and regulatory
developments impacting sectors across the economy, including
energy, construction and engineering, transport, and digital
infrastructure.
The Irish
Times Irish Exporters special report
featuring Sarah Thompson
Sarah Thompson, Partner and Head of our ESG Group, has contributed to The Irish Times special report on the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The directive now requires large companies to report annually on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Importantly, this obligation extends beyond the companies themselves to include their supply chains, making it particularly relevant for exporters.
In the article, Sarah outlines the key steps businesses need to take to comply with CSRD and notes that key pieces of work will already be complete or underway. She highlights the synergies with existing regulations, which can ease the transition.
"Like any new law or regulation, compliance with the CSRD does involve costs; companies must invest in systems, personnel and assurance processes to meet the requirements. Having said that, there are synergies with existing regulations – in Ireland and overseas – and compliance will get easier with time as internal practices mature."
To read the full article, click the button below (paywall).
I Squared Capital and the sale of Energia Group
We have advised I Squared Capital on the sale of Energia Group -
a landmark transaction for the Irish energy sector. The Arthur Cox
team was led by Niamh McGovern (Energy and Infrastructure), Amy McDermott and Cian McCourt (Corporate and M&A), and David White (Corporate and M&A Northern
Ireland).
Horizon Scanner: Finance
Our Finance Horizon Scanner takes a look ahead at legal and
regulatory developments expected this month, looking at regulatory
milestones and legislative updates across the sector.
Environment Ireland Conference 2025
We sponsored this year's Environment Ireland conference,
which took place on 9 October at Croke Park, Dublin.
Environment Ireland is the premier environmental conference on the
island of Ireland. This event brings together leading voices from
Ireland and beyond to explore the most pressing environmental
challenges through a series of focused and engaging sessions.
Mark Thuillier, Partner in our Environmental
and Planning Group, spoke at the conference, offering insights into
trends in climate litigation.
This article contains a general summary of developments and is not a complete or definitive statement of the law. Specific legal advice should be obtained where appropriate.
[View Source]