Introduction
Organisational context
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) is Ireland’s National Human Rights and Equality Institution. We are an independent public body that accounts to the Oireachtas, with a mandate established under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 (IHREC Act 2014). Our work is guided by the IHREC Strategy 2022 -2024, with a current process in its late stage to develop our next strategy 2025 – 2027.
The wider policy actions in which IHREC has a role in respect of climate action are not the focus of this roadmap; instead, this plan is focused on the organisational-level actions that IHREC could take to meet this mandate.
Progress to date
IHREC have engaged with the SEAI to seek the support of the SEAI under the SEAI Public Sector Partnership Programme to assist us to achieve the mandatory public sector targets.
In line with the provisions of circular 01/2020, IHREC records, monitors, and values the greenhouse gas emissions associated with official air travel usage and makes a payment to the Fund Manager of the statutory Climate Action Fund related to these emissions for the preceding year. IHREC submitted their Annual Return and payment in relation to 2024 in February 2025. The liability for 2024 was €509.99.
Our People - Leadership and governance
Statement demonstrating Senior management commitment
The responsibility for driving the climate action agenda within IHREC sits within the remit of the Corporate Services team. IHREC aims to adopt socially and environmentally responsible behaviours within our organisation, and to further promote and inspire other individuals and organisations to follow suit.
IHREC provide an event space to civil society organisations to support their work. IHREC will promote our aims in this event space as part of our work.
Nominated climate and sustainability champion
The roles of Climate and Sustainability Champion and Energy Performance Officer are carried out by the Head of Corporate Services, Ailish Farrelly. Ailish has the required decision-making powers in relation to corporate services functions including facilities management, procurement, governance and reporting, and will work closely with the Senior Management team and Green team in the organisation.
Governance structure and Green team
IHREC commits to putting the appropriate governance structures in place to implement the Roadmap and undertake a programme of activity for delivery.
An IHREC Green team has been established and plays a central role in this work. A terms of reference for the Green team has been established, with a direct line report to the Senior Management Team.
Our People – Engaging our staff
IHREC recognises the importance of embedding climate action into the core of our day-to-day operations. The behaviour of each staff member is the ultimate driver of corporate sustainability.
Staff training plans
IHREC is committed to providing suitable educational resources with the guidance of SEAI to raise staff awareness on energy related emissions, and over time wider climate issues to support a reduction in the organisational carbon footprint.
The newly established Green team will work with the Human Resources Learning and Development team to identify opportunities and activities to increase internal staff awareness and training opportunities to support out Climate Action Roadmap.
Targeted training will be provided to members of the Green team.
Staff Communications and Climate action and sustainability workshops
IHREC will ensure that established internal communication channels will be utilised to increase staff awareness of this roadmap and activities.
IHREC commits to the hosting of climate action and sustainability workshops as part of this roadmap.
Senior leadership training
IHREC commits to all the Senior Management Team (PO level and above) completing a climate action leadership training course in 2025 or 2026. The IHREC Human Resources Learning and Development team will support this process to determine a suitable course.
Our targets
IHREC is working closely with the SEAI and in particular with our SEAI Partnership Support Manager to analyse our data and develop our procedures to set baselines and targets as part of our future work. IHREC commits to updating this Roadmap when this work is completed.
Our Way of Working
Energy and environmental management systems
IHREC will work with our building partners and agents to monitor our energy usage and to work in partnership to ensure that our systems are appropriate to the size of our organisation and our functions.
Digitisation of processes
IHREC is committed to embracing digitisation and the reduction of paper based processes within our organisation. Corporate Services monitor the use of photocopiers for internal printing in IHREC and will implement further measures to support minimisation of printing.
Green procurement
IHREC will work to optimise opportunities to introduce green criteria into procurement projects, supporting climate action ambitions. Through our procurement processes IHREC will seek to source goods and services with a reduced environmental impact by utilising the EPA guidance on GPP (across the ten accompanying criteria) to work towards implementing sustainable and green practices into our procurement procedures.
IHREC will continue to review and update our procurement policy and procedures to ensure green criteria receives due consideration as part of the procurement process.
Low carbon construction methods
This is not applicable to IHREC as we are not engaged in any construction activities.
Our buildings and vehicles
Vehicles
IHREC does not own or operate our own vehicles.
Promoting alternatives to car use and phasing out parking
IHREC have car park spaces and bicycle stands available at our Green Street Offices. IHREC will continue to encourage staff to avail of the Cycle to Work Scheme and explore alternative transportation methods to personal car travel. IHREC will continue to work with our partners and agents to support projects to promote the use of alternatives to car use, and monitor the use of car park spaces with a view to phasing out if appropriate.
Procurement of zero emission vehicles
IHREC does not own or operate our own vehicles.
Buildings
IHREC rents a property from a private landlord.
Our focus in relation to buildings and vehicles is to work with our partners and agents to identify opportunities to progress our Climate Action Roadmap.
Our wider climate action plans
As stated under section 2, IHREC has established a Green Team who have initiated a variety of activities in 2025 under this Climate Action Mandate Roadmap and commits to updating this document as activities progress.
The Green Team have met on a regular basis in 2025, as a team and as subgroups, and will continue to meet on a regular basis; the team are progressing a number of initiatives.
In 2025, IHREC conducted an all staff survey to seek volunteers to lead on initiatives for the green team including the following:
- Promotion of Green Travel to achieve Smarter Travel Mark
- Reduce Your Use Campaign
- Indoor Plants Workshop
- Research and support efforts to reduce energy usage
- Research to ensure we have a more sustainable Event Space
- Upkeep of existing planters
- Locally based environmental activity/outing
- Staff upcycling/recycling/freecycle event
- Christmas Wreath making workshop
Actions taken to date to reduce energy usage and other green measures
| Action | Saving |
|---|---|
| Disabling of an additional fridge that was excess to requirements | 230 kWh per annum saved. |
| Disabling of additional dishwasher. Only to be used on rare occasions that main dishwasher is full. | 174-480 kWh per annum |
| Disabling of fly zapper device which is excess to current requirements. | 140 kWh per annum saved. |
| Installation of separated waste for paper, compost, bottles, cans etc | n/a |
| Encouraging all staff to disable monitors on leaving office or away from desk for long period. | Potentially 711 kWh saved (if left on outside 2 office days per week) |
Table of actions taken to date to reduce energy usage and other green measures: