During our visit I felt a lot of recurring themes came up that we have already covered in class. Examples being the Green deal, cutting carbon emissions, the idea of materiality, and attracting talent to the company. 

Going to a bank with more of an emphasis on the economic sphere of ESG brought up a lot more sustainability related issues that I was unaware of. Starting with the housing market and sustainability issues involving real estate. As an American there is a lot of polarization between tenant and landlord. With the practices deployed by AB Architecture (sustainability organization for housing) they have protocols to keep the landlord responsible. It fosters a better quality of life for the tenant which creates less stress and a more healthy, fit working force. The landlord has incentive to contribute to implementing sustainable measures with their housing investmens because there is a possbilty they face repercussions from the bank. It seems like a nice checks and balances approach.

Something I found interesting is my talk with John in regards to LEED certification. He is aware of it but I found out it is mostly prevalent in the UK. I also seemed to surprise him as he did not realize how far LEEDs has cemented itself in sustainability and architecture in the States. 

Finally, I would like to learn more about AB Architecture, the organization similar to LEEDs but is more prevalent in Ireland that AIB mentioned.

Stepping through the largest revolving glass door I’ve ever seen, I was immediately struck by a wave of pressure. Allied Irish Bank (AIB), one of Ireland’s “big four” banks, has an imposing presence—but this isn’t the kind of pressure I’m referring to in the title.

The pressure comes from the extensive EU sustainability regulations organizations like AIB must follow, and the reward is the long-term benefit to our people and our planet.

We began our meeting with a discussion of the two major directives AIB follows: The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

While some organizations might panic and oppose such heavy legislation, I was inspired by how positively our speakers spoke of them. They were not just ticking a box; they wanted real change.

I asked Paul Kelly of AIB and Katie Heston of Goodbody Clearstream what change they would like to see in the next 10 years in terms of sustainability regulation in the EU. Their responses both mentioned having a genuine desire for sustainable practices and reporting, rather than simply following rules. This is something I’d love to be adopted into the U.S., as it’s clear a large chunk of our sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives are performative and not measurable.

Despite not necessarily seeing myself working in the banking industry, I left AIB with a stronger grasp on how to implement meaningful sustainability campaigns in other professional settings.

I Can’t wait for own next trip!

– Graeme Duffey

Posts in this category will focus on what students learn in a variety of meetings, workshops, and other experiences.