Meaghan Carmody
Senior Sustainability Adviser, Business in the Community
Every business, large or small, depends on a functioning climate and ecosystems: clean water, pollination, carbon storage and temperature regulation. These aren’t luxuries; they’re the backbone of economic stability.
However, carbon levels are the highest in 800,000 years (World Meteorological Organisation, 2025), and we have lost a staggering three-quarters of the wildlife that existed in the early 1970s (Living Planet Report, 2024). The costs of inaction are rising fast.
Business pledge for sustainability
At Business in the Community Ireland, we’ve seen Irish companies step up. Many are committed to decarbonising and setting net zero targets across Scope 1, 2 and 3. Having a full understanding of a company’s impact on nature is vital to achieving these targets.
That’s why we’ve launched ‘Accelerate: The Business Pact for Climate and Nature.’ It builds on the success of our Low Carbon Pledge, which had over 60 signatories. Now, our collective campaign is more ambitious as signatories are asked to not only set net zero targets by 2050 by 2030 or earlier, but also develop Climate Transition Plans to guide implementation to achieve these targets.
This campaign also sees the creation of a Centre of Excellence to support companies in creating robust Climate Transition Plans across nine key areas. Signatories benefit from guidance, insights and assessment to ensure maximum impact. Because while ambition is important, delivery is what matters.
Failure to protect the planet and biodiversity
within it will affect a business’s ability to
future-proof and operate in a net zero
economy and an inclusive society.
Commitment to leadership and planet protection
We are proud that signatories to our Accelerate, The Business Pact for Climate and Nature already span multiple sectors including transport, catering, construction and facilities management. It shows their commitment and leadership to being ‘best in class.’
The reality is, despite the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape and attempts to dilute prioritisation of the sustainability agenda, we know it is companies that collaborate and innovate across supply chains that will prosper and grow into the future. Failure to protect the planet and biodiversity within it will affect a business’s ability to future-proof and operate in a net zero economy and an inclusive society.
For more information on Accelerate, check out www.bitc.ie
