Organisation information
Sustainability in the Department of Justice
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We are delighted to publish our first Climate Action Roadmap.
The latest Public Sector Climate Action Mandate was approved by Government in May as part of CAP23.
The Mandate requires public sector bodies to show leadership in climate action, by taking and reporting on the actions of the Mandate.
Our first Climate Action Roadmap, sets out how the Department plans to deliver on its commitments towards 2030 Climate targets, for its Head Office Buildings.
Our climate target is a reduction of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 51% in 2030, and an increased improvement in energy efficiency to 50% by 2030.
The Roadmap outlines a number of actions in relation to Our targets, Our people, Our way of working, Our buildings and vehicles.
Under DPER circular DPE 019-001-2020, beginning in 2020, the Department of Justice is required to record the carbon emissions associated with all official flights made within a calendar year, and to pay a corresponding amount into the Climate Action Fund, based on the prevailing rate of carbon tax (€41 per tonne in 2022). The Department has made the required payment for 2022.
The number of flights, combined carbon total and resulting carbon offset for the Department, for 2022, is shown in our chart.
| 2022 Month | # Total Flights | Combined carbon total in kg | Combined Carbon offset cost € |
| Jan | 11 | 1,839.40 | €75.42 |
| Feb | 17 | 2,945.30 | €120.76 |
| Mar | 33 | 4,548.30 | €186.48 |
| Apr | 51 | 7,757.30 | €318.05 |
| May | 65 | 17,346.10 | €711.19 |
| Jun | 69 | 10,343.80 | €424.10 |
| Jul | 41 | 6,355.70 | €260.58 |
| Aug | 17 | 4,157.10 | €170.44 |
| Sep | 97 | 18,534.10 | €759.90 |
| Oct | 87 | 12,890.40 | €528.51 |
| Nov | 87 | 13,877.100 | €568.96 |
| Dec | 38 | 6,848.30 | €280.78 |
| Total | 613 | 107,442.90 | €4,405.16 |
The Department of Justice is committed to achieving a reduction in energy use of 33% (over a 2009 baseline) by the end of 2020. The department actively participates in the Optimising Power @ Work programme, administered by the Office of Public Works. Monitoring and reporting of energy used is conducted in cooperation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The department completes its reporting obligation to the SEAI by May every year, for the previous calendar year. The resulting report becomes available each November.
The department's most recent scorecard for reduction in energy use is available below:
Department of Justice and Equality Energy Performance Scorecard
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Scorecards for previous years are available in the department’s annual reports.
The Government Decision S180/20/10/0434C of 3 January 2019, on the topic of Single Use Plastics, Prevention of Waste and Green Public Procurement, instructed that each public body must report to its respective Minister, by end-November 2019, on the measures it is taking to minimise waste generation and to maximise recycling.
The Decision also instructed departments to eliminate single-use plastic beverage cups, cutlery and drinking straws from end January 2019.
This Decision also included an instruction to government departments to publish a Resource Efficiency Action Plan (REAP) for their headquarter buildings. A REAP is the output arising from an on-site assessment or audit of how an organisation uses its energy, water and waste resources. This exercise allows for the proper benchmarking of data relating to these three areas.
An Energy Managers’ Forum was also established for Facilities and Accommodation Managers with day-to-day responsibility for energy use, recycling, waste disposal and other environmental considerations. Within the Department of Justice itself, a Green Team has been established, drawing its membership from across various grades and business units, with the aim of advancing the sustainability agenda through awareness campaigns, events, and actions.
The department has completed a REAP for its Head Office at 51 St Stephen’s Green, and plans to extend this to other buildings in its portfolio in 2020.
Resource Efficiency Action Plan: 51 St Stephen's Green
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Measures taken to minimise waste and maximise recycling: Report to Minister by Justice and Equality Sector Bodies
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The department's Energy Team can be contacted at facilities@justice.ie