We will decarbonise our own operations and support the screen industry to reduce its carbon impact, with the ultimate aim of getting to net-zero carbon.
We understand that to achieve net-zero carbon in a meaningful way requires a phased approach that involves a number of key steps: (1) reducing emissions to as a close to zero as possible through changing practices and behaviours and investing in efficiency measures/technologies, (2) switching to 100% renewable energy, and (3) investing in nature-based solutions to offset any unavoidable emissions. Achieving this will take time, commitment, and collaboration both within Screen Ireland and across the wider sector.
Targets
We aim to be net zero carbon across our own operations by 2025 through:
- Reducing GHG emissions by 25% by 2025 from our direct operations (scope 1 & 2), increasing to51% by 2030 (versus 2018 baseline)*
- Making meaningful reductions in our Scope 3 emissions (including from business travel)**
- Investing in nature-based solutions, or other appropriate mechanisms, to offset any emissions wecannot avoid, ensuring that we use verified offsets that are high quality and additional***
To support a move towards net-zero across the wider screen industry:
- From 2022, all Screen Ireland funded productions are to use the Carbon Calculator to track andmeasure the carbon impact of their production, with a view to implementing carbon savingactions.
*In line with government targets for public sector bodies.
**Target to be set following further scope 3 footprint analysis (see action on nextpage).
***We are aware that offsets are a temporary solution and our aim is to continueto make absolute reductions in our emissions to minimise our reliance on offsets.As currently required by government, we will continue to contribute to the Climate Action Fund to compensate for our emissions from flying where thesefunds are used to boost domestic activity to reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gasemissions.
Key Actions – Screen Ireland Operations
- Implementation of these actions will be coordinated by Screen Ireland’s Green Team – a cross-functional internal policy group.
- Complete energy audits of Screen Ireland offices to identifyopportunities for energy efficiency savings and investments.
- Procure 100% renewable energy to power our offices.
- Analyse emissions from business travel and other scope 3 categories(e.g. taxi travel, courier use). Identify opportunities for reductions viachanges to working practices and behaviours and/or switching tomore sustainable service providers. Set Scope 3 emissions reductiontarget and track and report on progress.
- Conduct employee commuting survey to understand the carbonimpact of staff commuting. Update 2018 baseline to incorporatecommuting and track as part of future carbon footprint monitoringand measurement.
- Develop remote working policy to enable the continuation of theflexible working that started during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Run staff awareness campaign to encourage positive behaviourchange on environmental issues by staff at work and at home.
- Investigate best options for verified carbon offsets in order toachieve net-zero by 2025.
Key Actions – Supporting the Screen Industry
- Continue to be an active member of the Screen Greening coalition and the Broadcasting Sustainability Network, working alongside fellow members to promote a Carbon Calculator, look for opportunities to join forces on collaborative projects and other ‘green screen’ initiatives.
- Introducing a pilot funding uplift programme which aims to encourage productions to take further steps reduce their carbon footprint.
- Mandatory use of a Carbon Calculator as a minimum requirement on all Screen Ireland funded production, together with providing practical supports to use the carbon calculator (e.g. on-site ‘sustainability advocates’).
- Calculate the carbon footprint of the full screen industry in Ireland (not just those productionsfunded by Screen Ireland) to get a complete picture of the industry’s impact so we can determine how best to support decarbonisation efforts.
- Explore opportunities for collaborative initiatives that will solve common industry-wide challenges (e.g. lack of access to renewable energy generation for on-location shoots). Consult within the industry and with relevant organisations outside the industry and convene strategic partnerships to deliver scalable solutions.
- Investigate the feasibility of establishing a screen industry offsetting scheme to enable the industry to invest in high-quality, verified offsets, ideally in Ireland, in the short term while working to reduce emissions to as close to zero as possible over the medium to long-term.