Progress Report Highlights Strong Cross-Sectoral Engagement in Education for Sustainable Development
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From: Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Published on: 22 September 2025
- Last updated on: 22 September 2025
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, and Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley, have welcomed the joint publication of the second progress report on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
The report documents activities across all education sectors on the implementation of the ESD to 2030 national strategy, highlights include;
- 2,400 learners enrolling in 107 green skills courses;
- New Leaving Certificate curriculum, Climate Action and Sustainable Development;
- €450,000 was awarded to 30 local authorities under the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation, helping children with diverse needs to enjoy outdoor play.
The report is the second progress report under ESD to 2030, the Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development and covers the period July 2023 – December 2024. It is being published today during the United Nation’s Global Goals Week - an annual week of action, awareness, and accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals. ESD is a key element of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for people, planet, peace, prosperity and partnership.
ESD to 2030 spans all the levels and sectors of education in Ireland, from early learning and care to third level education and research, and to local communities and youth groups through lifelong learning.
Welcoming the publication, Minister Lawless said:
"ESD is about equipping learners with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to navigate an increasingly complex world and to lead the way in tackling global challenges like climate change and growing social inequalities.
"As Minister, I want to commend the leadership shown by our institutions of Further and Higher Education for the progress made on the implementation of ESD to 2030. Through initiatives such as the Human Capital Initiative and Micro-Credentials, and sustained investment in programmes like the Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement (SATLE) Fund and N-TUTORR, we are embedding ESD at the heart of our education system.
"By continuing to invest in our people, our greatest natural resource, we are ensuring that thousands of students and staff are equipped to contribute meaningfully to climate action and to succeed in a sustainable, knowledge-driven economy."
Minister McEntee said:
“The Department of Education and Youth is committed to ensuring that our learners have the knowledge and skills necessary to take action for sustainable development throughout their lives, locally, nationally and globally.
"ESD to 2030 is a key enabler for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and much progress has been made since the publication of the first ESD strategy in 2014.
"In my department, a new Leaving Certificate subject “Climate Action and Sustainable Development” has just commenced in 42 schools across the country. The new primary curriculum includes a new area of learning “Social and Environmental Education”. Both will further enhance and embed existing cross curricular ESD content.
"My department recently delivered over €465,000 to 21 organisations supporting the delivery of ESD in our classrooms including the Farmer Time programme, the Biodiversity in School programme, the Heritage Keepers programme, the Grow It Yourself programme. Funding has also been provided for student led initiatives including the Irish Second Level Students “Debate your Decision Makers” event and for increased resources and Teacher Professional Learning for ESD.
"I have also recently invited schools to apply for ESD funding for ESD projects in their schools with a particular emphasis on projects that include Local Level Action for sustainable development. The departments Inspectorate also published a report in August 2024, Living Today for a Better Tomorrow: Insights into effective practice in education for sustainable development in early learning and care settings and schools.
"Education plays a key role in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the 2nd progress report demonstrates the breadth of work underway in schools, in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, to ensure that continue to progress this key area.”
Minister Foley said:
“As Minister with responsibility for children, disability and equality I am proud of the work that my Department has made towards achieving the objectives of the ESD to 2030 Strategy. Significant achievements over this phase of implementation include:
The launch of an updated version of Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. A key learning goal of the updated Aistear is learning about the natural environment and children’s responsibility as carers. We know that children need time and positive experiences with nature to develop respect for the environment and biodiversity. The Framework emphasises young children’s role as active learners, the importance of learning by interacting with the world, and the development of a sense of belonging within the
community including a sense of rights and emerging responsibilities. All of this is part of ESD, supporting children to develop the knowledge and skills to live sustainably.
"During the year, €450,000 was awarded to 30 local authorities under the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation, helping children with diverse needs to enjoy outdoor play.
"A key success was the co-hosting of the National Youth Assembly on Climate 2024, where approximately 70 young delegates from Comhairle na nÓg (Local Youth Councils), various youth organisations and climate organisations provided youth input into the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications’ Year of Engagement campaign and the Climate Action Plan 2025.”
NOTES
ESD to 2030 is the Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development and provides a framework to steer and support the contribution that the education sector is making towards a sustainable future by 2030.
The strategy was published in June 2022 and is co-sponsored by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, the Department of Education and Youth, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
ESD to 2030 spans the continuum of education in Ireland, from early learning and care to third level education and research, and extends beyond to engage with local communities, and youth groups through lifelong learning. It is accompanied by an Implementation Plan 2022 – 2026.
The strategy aims to ensure that all learners are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values that will motivate and empower them throughout their lives to become informed active citizens who take action for a more sustainable future.
ESD to 2030 is part of an international agenda, aligned with UNESCO’s ESD to 2030 agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 4.7.
Implementation is overseen by an ESD Steering Group comprising representatives of relevant Government departments, education bodies, students, teacher unions and civil society organisations. Individual advisory groups comprising key stakeholders have also been established for the different sectors under the Departments.
The ESD to 2030 strategy, Implementation Plan, First Report on Progress and Terms of Reference for the Steering and Advisory Groups are available here: National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland.
The Human Capital Initiative (HCI), was established in 2019/20 as a ringfenced investment of €300 million from the National Training Fund, allocated over a five-year period (2020–2024). The initiative was designed to increase capacity in areas of key skills need, while also driving innovation and agility across the higher education sector. The HCI directly addresses national strategic priorities such as: The Climate Action Plan; Housing for All; and Ireland’s Industry 4.0 Strategy.
The HCI consisted of 3 main pillars - graduate conversion and specialisation courses, additional places on undergraduate provision, and an innovation and agility fund.
The Micro-Credential Course Learner Subsidy, under the HCI Pillar 3, offered a subsidy rate of 80 per cent for courses addressing skills in key priority areas, including renewable energy, sustainability, construction and planning, artificial intelligence, cyber security, ICT, and electronic engineering. Other courses were provided a 50 per cent learner subsidy rate.
Micro-credential courses offer small, accredited programmes awarding between 1 and 30 ECTS and provided awards at Levels 6-9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The inherent flexibility of micro-credentials allows learners to access education in small, manageable units, accommodating their life and work commitments.
SATLE, the Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding in Higher Education, is administered by the National Forum in partnership with the Higher Education Authority, to drive teaching and learning innovation and enhancement across the higher education sector. The funding focuses on innovations in education for sustainable development, digital transformation and academic integrity. In September 2024, the HEA allocated €5 million in SATLE to support institution wide initiatives embedding ESD as one of its themes across teaching and learning, building on €6.1 million allocated in 2023 and €7.7 million in 2022.
N -TUTORR was a national project designed to transform learning, teaching, and assessment by focussing on transforming the student experience. €40m in funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) was invested in the project, which involved all seven
institutions in the technological sector. The project commenced in April 2022 and concluded in December 2024.