From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is now seeking Expressions of Interest for participants in the 2023 SDG Champions Programme.
As part of the 2023 programme, 20 organisations and groups from across the country will be appointed 'SDG Champions' to raise public awareness of the SDGs and to demonstrate, through example, that everyone in society can make a contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said:
"I am delighted to announce the relaunch of the SDG Champions Programme. This programme helps make the SDGs real for people — demonstrating that they are not just aspirations but that they are living goals that are all about ensuring that communities and individuals can thrive and flourish in a more sustainable and progressive environment. It also helps promote leadership for the SDGs, giving a diverse range of groups the opportunity to showcase and share best practice examples and learnings from their experience of the SDGs in action.
"Building on the previous success of the programme, we are increasing the number of champions appointed from 12 to 20 to ensure even wider participation this year. I encourage all groups and organisations to apply for this important initiative. The SDGs are about people, planet and prosperity — they belong to everyone and have the greatest impact when they are driven locally."
Applications are sought from all organisations and groups who would like to act as an advocate for the SDGs and a good practice example of how to promote and utilise them.
Applications will be accepted in written or video format up until 5pm on Friday, 20 January 2023.
For further information on the SDG Champions Programme and how to apply, please go to gov.ie/SDGs.
ENDS
On 25 September 2015, Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted at the United Nations. Ireland co-led the 2030 agenda negotiations alongside Kenya. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to “end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity”, are an integral part of the 2030 agenda.
The SDGs cover the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion and protection of the environment. They are universal in application and aim to address poverty, hunger and food systems, health, education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, energy, economic growth, decent jobs, industrialisation, inequalities, cities and human settlements, sustainable consumption and production, climate change, oceans, ecosystems and peace and justice.
The 2030 agenda is voluntary and not legally binding, but every country has agreed to implement the SDGs and every country is expected to develop a national framework setting out how they will be achieved.
Ireland has adopted a whole-of-government approach to SDG implementation, with overall political oversight provided through the Cabinet. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has responsibility for promoting the SDGs, and for overseeing their coherent implementation across Government.
The new plan sets out Ireland’s SDG governance and implementation strategy for 2022-2024 and is the second in a series of consecutive implementation plans, each building on the previous iteration, to work towards achieving the SDGs. The plans set out the overarching national governance, coordination and monitoring framework for the SDGs. The detailed policy approaches to progress individual SDGs and targets are addressed in relevant national policies as set out in the SDG Policy Map.
Established in 2019, the SDG Champions Programme was developed to raise public awareness of the SDGs and to demonstrate, through the examples provided by the SDG Champions, that everyone in society can make a contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The role of an SDG Champion is to act as an advocate and promoter of the SDGs and as a good practice example of how an organisation can contribute to the SDGs and integrate the SDGs into their work and activities.
Strategic Objective 3 of Ireland’s Second SDG National Implementation Plan 2022-2024 (NIP) is 'Greater partnerships for the Goals'; the SDG Champions Programme is a key mechanism towards achieving this. Action 35 and related measures of the NIP is to relaunch the SDG Champion’s Programme.
The key message of the Champions Programme is that the SDGs are for everyone in society and that everyone can make a contribution to their success.