The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton T.D. today (Wednesday the 18th of September) appointed 12 leaders from across all aspects of society to drive forward Ireland’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals at the Ploughing Championships in Fenagh, Co. Carlow.
The chosen champions are organisations who are leading by example in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They will raise public awareness of the Goals, and illustrate practical ways in which organisations and individuals can contribute to achieving the Goals.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are an ambitious set of targets, covering the social, economic and environmental requirements for a sustainable future. They cover policy areas such as poverty eradication, economic development, protection of the environment, access to health and education services, gender equality, peaceful societies and human rights. The government are committed to fully implementing the Goals by 2030.
This year is the first year the Minister is appointing SDG Champions. The Champion programme will continue, with new Champions being appointed on an annual basis.
The 2019/2020 Champions are:
- An Post
- Bord Iascaigh Mhara
- The GAA
- Irish Congress of Trade Unions
- Irish Men's Sheds
- Musgrave
- National Women’s Council of Ireland
- Smart Farming
- Union of Students of Ireland
- Vodafone
- Carlow County Council
- ECO Unesco
Minister Bruton said,
“We need to take actions in a broad range of policy areas to put us on a more sustainable pathway. The Sustainable Development Goals draw those together in an integrated way. Achieving them will be a challenge. We need everyone to get involved and play their part in whatever way they can. The Champions chosen here today will be beacons of best practice for the coming year. They will lead the way with practical examples for how we can all contribute.”
Each Champion organisation will primarily focus on a select number of SDGs each, resulting in all 17 SDGs being championed in total. However, all twelve Champions’ campaigns will be built around the core message that the Sustainable Development Goals are for everyone in society and that everyone can make a contribution, large or small, to their success.
Climate Action and Sustainability will be a key focus for the Government at the National Ploughing Championships this year. Minister Bruton is also today leading a discussion on the recently published All of Government Climate Action Plan today in the Government of Ireland Marquee at 2pm.
Minister Bruton said:
“Our society must take action now to ensure that our homes, our enterprises, our farms and our communities are resilient in a very challenging and fast paced world. Agriculture is Ireland’s largest single source of greenhouse gas but is also Ireland’s single greatest carbon sink. I look forward to discussing how new farming methods and new opportunities in the bio economy can strength the resilience and sustainability of our land use.”
Notes to the Editor
The 12 Champions PR contacts are as follows: