Carol McGee, ESG Business Consultant

The outcome of a productive Easter break!

On the 22nd February 2022 the European Council finalised its position proposal for a corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD), representing another decisive step in the development of a European regulatory framework for sustainable finance.

This article outlines the main areas/headings for reporting and the updated timelines for implementation.
https://www.carolmcgee.ie/csrd-101-update

CSRD 101 - Update - Carol McGee % On the 22nd February 2022 the European Council finalised its position proposal for a corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD), representing another decisive step in the development of a European regulatory framework for sustainable finance. This article outlines the main areas/headings fo...

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/yet-another-plan-for-climate-action

Yet another 'Plan' for Climate Action! - Carol McGee This image illustrates how I felt after reading the governments most recent ‘edition’ of Ireland’s plan to tackle the existing climate crisis. You know when you need customer ‘support’, and speaking to an actual person seems impossible, never mind someone who knows the answer to your quest...

A huge welcome to my amazing sister to the business! Susan provides valuable sustainability training and mentoring services, helping SMEs introduce practical sustainable practices into their everyday operations

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/welcome-the-team

Welcome to the team! - Carol McGee I would like to introduce the newest member of the team, Susan O’Reilly PhD. We started working together during the summer and quickly realised that our offerings complimented each other, and made the decision to formalise the partnership! Susan provides training and advisory services on the adapt...

The UK have implemented strict public procurement selection criteria, forcing businesses to calculate and report on their carbon emissions. Ireland is likely to follow suit.

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/responsible-procurement-uk-lead-the-way

Responsible procurement - UK lead the way. - Carol McGee The UK have implemented strict public procurement selection criteria, forcing businesses to calculate and report on their carbon emissions. Ireland is likely to follow suit.

Later this week, world leaders will be attending the G7 summit in Cornwall, to discuss global issues including climate change. My latest article considers the reality of complying with the EU Sustainable Finance Regulations, and the risk that compliance will overshadow critical change.

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/dont-let-compliance-overshadow-change

Don't let Compliance overshadow Change! - Carol McGee One of the primary objectives of SFDR is the standardisation of environmental data and performance indicators allowing transparent comparability for end investors. Not surprisingly there is a concern is that the ‘compliance burden’ could be considerable, and indeed for some smaller organisations...

Commissioner Mairead McGuinness wastes no time in requesting work to begin on drafting Sustainability Reporting Standards.

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/work-to-begin-on-sustainability-reporting-standards

Work to begin on Sustainability Reporting Standards - Carol McGee Commissioner Mairead McGuinness wastes no time in starting work on drafting Sustainability Reporting Standards for the proposed Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

In my latest article I have outlined the main points of the European Commission's proposed Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, making recommendations as to what companies can do now to help them address the imminent challenges of implementation and compliance.

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/corporate-sustainability-reporting-directive-101

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive 101 - Carol McGee On the 21st of April the European Commission released its proposal for a new corporate reporting directive that focuses on sustainability issues. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will replace the existing Non Financial Disclosures Directive (NFD), which requires certain large....

This is a great article and a must read for anyone who is engaged in investment transactions.

https://www.irishtimes.com/special-reports/green-finance/five-trends-in-green-finance-1.4538406

Five trends in green finance To adequately respond to an issue such as climate change it is crucial to monitor the authenticity of green claims made by organisations

Coinbase is the first major cryptocurrency company to list its shares on a stock exchange in the United States, the share price soared! Researchers estimates that mining Bitcoin, uses more electricity than entire countries. I believe the blockchain technology used by Bitcoin has huge potential, but we really need to sort out the carbon footprint of this technology before it becomes mainstream.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/climate/coinbase-cryptocurrency-energy.html

In Coinbase’s Rise, a Reminder: Cryptocurrencies Use Lots of Energy The company’s stock market arrival establishes Bitcoin and other digital currencies in the traditional financial landscape. It also elevates a technology with astonishing environmental costs.

My latest article discusses balancing the need for data and information in the fight against climate change against the massive carbon footprint of data centres.
https://www.carolmcgee.ie/is-sustainable-finance-ironic

Is Sustainable Finance Ironic? - Carol McGee The EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulations will result in a material increase in the demand for data collection, storage and processing from all organisations that are either directly or indirectly effected by the legislation.

This is a very good article and highlights the need to consider the full life cycle of products and services when measuring sustainability.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/climate/electric-vehicles-environment.html

How Green Are Electric Vehicles? In short: Very green. But plug-in cars still have environmental effects. Here’s a guide to the main issues and how they might be addressed.

This article examines the impact of the EU's recent Taxonomy and Disclosures Regulations on ESG/Sustainability Policies.
https://www.carolmcgee.ie/eu-taxonomy-can-esg-policies-be-credible

EU Taxonomy-Can ESG policies be credible? - Carol McGee This article examines the impact of the EU's recent Taxonomy and Disclosures Regulations on ESG/Sustainability Policies.

As a member of the BNI networking group I get to do a 10 minute presentation on an aspect of my business. This is my most recent presentation to my chapter on "The Art of Pricing". The objective is to give you an broad overview of the process involved in developing an effective Pricing Strategy and the value of a pricing toolkit tailored to your business needs.

For more information or to book your free consultation please email: [email protected]

https://youtu.be/lxh23FWa0O0

The Art of Pricing As a member of the BNI networking group I get to do a 10 minute presentation on an aspect of my business. This is my most recent presentation to my chapter ...

The purpose of this info-graphic is to illustrate to businesses how my experience and training in Finance, Quality and Economics compliment each other across my range of consulting services (in particular LEAN and ISO).

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/how-my-services-compliment-each-other

How my services compliment each other! - Carol McGee What do you get when you combine Finance, Quality and Environmental Economics?

My latest article looks at the role ISO:14001 plays in SMEs and questions whether compliance is really voluntary for the smaller players!

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/iso14001-is-it-really-voluntary

ISO:14001 - is it really voluntary? - Carol McGee SMEs represent the largest sector in the global economy. Therefore it is essential that this cohort understand the growing need and expectation for improved sustainability, and how they as a sector can contribute through the implementation of relevant and effective Environmental Management Systems (...

This is a very insightful article that explains some of the reasons why successful pilot projects fail on roll out!

https://hbr.org/2021/01/how-to-scale-a-successful-pilot-project?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=dailyalert_actsubs&utm_content=signinnudge&deliveryName=DM113969

How to Scale a Successful Pilot Project Challenge teams to continue building on successful experiments.

Bloomberg have published a succinct summary and analysis of the main terms of the Brexit deal. I have posted the article on my blog, listing the main points relevant for business operations.

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/the-key-terms-of-brexit

The Key Terms of the Brexit Deal - Carol McGee Whilst the agreement ensures that trade won't be subject to new tariffs or quotas there now exists new regulatory barriers that make it more costly and burdensome for the UK to trade with the EU.

Thanks to all my clients, friends and colleagues for your continued support in 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXXkGO3F9uk&feature=youtu.be&li_fat_id=c2a84a8a-8231-4c86-be4c-da684141daa7

Carol McGee Executive Business Consultant Want to know how I help businesses succeed? Book you free 40 minute consultation today https://www.carolmcgee.ie/bookings

My new and improved website went live today. My personal favorite feature is the aerial view of Dublin City! Also clients can now access my online calendar to book their free consultation at a time that suits them.
https://www.carolmcgee.ie/

Homepage About Carol McGee On receiving a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and Finance from DCU I proceeded to qualify as a Management and Cost Accountant in 1999 and remain a member of the Association of Chartered Management Accountants. Having spent the initial part of my career acquiring extensive and proje...

Which Brand best describes your company and how can you communicate it?

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/post/what-is-your-brand-type

What is your Brand Type? https://www.carolmcgee.ie/post/revisiting-your-customer-needsThis is a really nice table from Harvard Business Review on the 9 types of Brands and the communication strategy for each. Watch my video on 'revisiting your customer needs'.

Enjoy my very macro crash course on the economics of COVID-19. The purpose of the video is to give assurance that there is light at the end of this awful tunnel we find ourselves in!

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/post/carol-s-crash-course-in-covid-economics

Carol's Crash Course In COVID Economics

at last....a positive to being 45 and eleven twelfths!

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/post/a-personal-favorite

A personal favorite!

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/post/what-skills-founders-need

Harvard Business Review have recently published some interesting research on home working and productivity, comparing the results directly to the same research carried out in 2013. Enjoy!

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/post/knowledge-workers-are-more-productive-from-home

completed this at the weekend....what else is there to do in lock down? This was a comprehensive course that focused on important issues such as the governance of blockchain and risks that enterprises need to be aware of and manage.

For those who are interested will write an article on the risks of blockchain towards the end of the week!

https://www.carolmcgee.ie/post/blockchain-fundamentals-for-accounting-finance-professions

Blockchain Fundamentals for Accounting & Finance Professionsals I completed this at the weekend....what else is there to do in lock down? This was a comprehensive course that focused on important issues such as the governance of blockchain and risks that enterprises need to be aware of and manage. For those who are interested I will write an article on the risks...

It was a pleasure to work with this innovative technology company who are blazing a trail in the energy sector! Congratulations to Cathal and his team.
https://www.carolmcgee.ie/post/ultan-technologies-iso-9001-certified

Ultan Technologies ISO:9001 Certified It was a pleasure to work with this innovative technology company who are blazing a trail in the energy sector! Congratulations to Cathal his team.

Why would any country ever want to partner with the UK in any form again with this totally unprofessional carry on!!

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/sep/06/five-weeks-clinch-brexit-deal-uk-move-boris-johnson-to-say

Brexit: Boris Johnson to override EU withdrawal agreement Move threatens to collapse talks that PM has said must be completed within weeks