Overview
Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP21) introduced a new requirement for public sector bodies to complete a ‘Climate Action Roadmap’.
The purpose of the Roadmap is to encourage strategic vision, coordination, organisation, mobilisation, and planning by each organisation.
This Roadmap was prepared in line with the updated guidance document issued by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June 2025, which is available on the SEAI website (PDF).
Public bodies were advised to initially focus most attention on their plans for reducing total energy related emissions and fossil fuel related emissions from their operations in line with the targets in CAP21.
Regarding NTA operations, the emissions and energy performance within our control primarily relates to the office building we occupy, while we also have a significant influence over the Public Service Obligation (PSO) transport services that we contract out to transport operators.
Anne Shaw CEO of the National Transport Authority stated: “This updated Climate Action Roadmap represents the fourth iteration of our plans to reduce emissions across all parts of our business.
It demonstrates our commitment as a public sector body and as the leading agency in sustainable transport provision, to energy efficiency and the transition to a low-carbon economy. This roadmap will be a live document which I expect to update annually as we get to understand our emissions better and can measure them more accurately.”
Public Sector Climate Action Mandate
The Public Sector Mandate requires public sector bodies to show leadership in climate action by progressing, and reporting on, the actions of the Mandate based on four key pillars:
- Our Targets;
- Our People;
- Our Way of Working; and
- Our Buildings and Vehicles.
The Mandate is dynamic and regularly updated in line with the annual Climate Action Plans.
Changes in the 2025 guidance for the Climate Action Roadmaps include new and enhanced requirements related to:
- Green Public Procurement,
- Construction methods and materials,
- ICT Equipment,
- Water,
- Paper,
- Waste,
- Organic Food,
- Procurement of energy-related products, and
- Cleaning Services.
