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Help for Public Sector

Eager to embed sustainability across your services and operations?

or keep reading for more information

Inform, reform,
transform

Sustainable NI occupies a unique position in the public sector. We facilitate change by working impartially and collaboratively across all parts of central and local government and with public bodies to help them achieve their climate and sustainability ambitions at scale and pace.

Inform

We provide sustainability education which teaches us to think about the long-term impact of our actions on the planet and to make choices that help protect it for future generations. Through tailored communications, engaging events, and interactive forums, we strive to inspire individuals to adopt eco-conscious habits and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Resources

Our helpful resources, guides and toolkits share the latest in sustainability. Explore our public sector resources on the Knowledge Hub.

Go to Knowledge Hub

Training

Building knowledge is critical to achieving a credible Net Zero transition. Explore our range of courses that can be tailored to suit your needs.

Go to Training Academy

Sustainable Development Forum

Join a network of sustainability practitioners from across the public sector dedicated to accelerating the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy.

Go to SDF

Reform

We advocate for policy reform to enact significant legal advancements in environmental and social justice. This includes advocating for greater accountability in both public and private sectors regarding sustainability practices. Additionally, we engage policymakers to reconsider the existing economic framework, emphasising a shift towards prioritising the well-being of both people and the planet. We share our policy stances with our partners to foster transparency and collaboration.

Advocacy

We provide impartial, evidence-based policy advice in a wide range of specialist subject areas including:

Climate change
Circular economy
Green growth

View all our policy positions

All Party Group on Climate Action

We provide the secretariat for the All Party Group on Climate Action which is a forum to advance climate action in Northern Ireland through legislative and regulatory change.

Learn more about the APG

Transform

We specialise in empowering public sector organisations to seamlessly integrate sustainability into their operations. From crafting bespoke sustainability and climate strategies to conducting an independent review of your governance structure, we offer comprehensive support every step of the way. By leveraging our expertise, we not only alleviate the need for external hires but also deliver exceptional value for money.

Advisory Services

Sustainability is a complex issue. To help you make continual progress and demonstrate impact, we have a team of experts who can provide advice, workshops and bespoke planning to help you on your sustainability journey.

Strategy and Action Plan

Climate compliance is a challenging process for any organisation. It requires business strategy and decision making to be aligned fully with net zero ambition, and for processes and polices to be put in place to support the transformation. Our team of experts has assisted numerous public sector organisations in delivering ambitious sustainability and climate change strategies. We believe in a collaborative approach, working closely with you to develop a clear strategy that aligns with your goals.

Carbon Reporting

Calculating your carbon footprint can help you identify opportunities for emission reductions, set targets, track progress over time, and demonstrate your commitment to environmental responsibility. Our team of experts can help you identify and quantify sources of greenhouse gas emissions associated with your organisation's activities. We'll use this data to calculate total carbon emissions over a specific time period so that you can report your carbon footprint and mitigation efforts in accordance with climate change reporting regulations.

Ready to start creating a sustainability strategy for your organisation?

What our clients
have to say

"The staff training provided by Sustainable NI was positively received, with many senior members of staff valuing the practical ideas and suggestions to integrate sustainability into everyday decision-making at the Council."
Emma Adair
Ards and North Down Borough Council
"The APG is a great way to keep abreast of climate and environmental policy and legislation, and influence policy makers at the highest level in Northern Ireland."
Ciaran Fox
Royal Society of Ulster Architects
"Sustainable Northern Ireland is a mine of information, experience and knowledge on sustainability and climate issues. They supported us in writing our Sustainable Development and Climate Action Plan and challenged us to be ambitious in our commitments and targets."
Alison McCullagh
Chief Executive, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
"The Forum is a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration. The Housing Executive gains valuable updates and information from Councils and other public bodies to learn how to incorporate sustainability into our work across Northern Ireland."
Kelly Devlin
Environmental Lead Auditor, Northern Ireland Housing Executive
"Sustainable NI is an invaluable resource. We use the Forum to collaborate with other public sector stakeholders committed to sustainability and connect the Council to a wider movement of change."
Debbie Caldwell
Climate Commissioner, Belfast City Council

Who you'll be working with

Nichola Hughes

Executive Director

Nichola Hughes is Director of Sustainable NI (SNI), leading a team that supports organisations to adopt sustainable practices through audits, training, workshops, and strategy. She also acts as secretariat for the All-Party Group on Climate Action.

A climate scientist by training, Nichola brings over two decades of experience to the role, including a 15-year career managing climate and sustainability programmes in local government in England before joining SNI in 2017.

Want to learn more about our team, our ethos and our history? Visit our About Us page.

Looking for inspiring sustainable initiatives from Northern Ireland's public sector?

Explore relevant public sector case studies on the Knowledge Hub.

Go to the knowledge hub