Galway East TD and Minister for Rural Affairs Seán Canney has congratulated the 12 organisations which have been appointed champions to drive forward Ireland’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The leader organisations include the GAA, the Union of Students of Ireland, Irish Men’s Sheds and Smart Farming, which is voluntary initiative by the Irish Farmers’ Association in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Minister Canney said: “This is a great initiative by my department, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment.
“These are key organisations within Ireland and it is absolutely essential if we are to achieve our sustainability goals that they show leadership in this way.
“Each champion will raise public awareness of the sustainability goals and show practical ways in which organisations and individuals can achieve them.
“The GAA is embedded into every community and its participation makes a huge statement that sustainability is an issue for all aspects of society.
“The Union of Students of Ireland and the Men’s Sheds involvement demonstrates the contributions that can be made from all demographics and the importance of a cross-community approach in terms of initiatives and ideas.
“The nomination of the IFA’s Smart Farming initiative underlines our farmers’ commitment to playing a positive role in both sustainability and climate action by embracing innovation and new methods of production.”
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are a set of targets covering the social, economic and environmental requirements for a sustainable future.
They cover policy areas such as eradicating poverty, economic development, protection of the environment, access to health and education services, gender equality, peaceful societies and human rights. The target date for fully implementing Ireland’s goals is 2030.
The other Sustainable Development Goal champions named were An Post, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Carlow County Council, ECO Unesco, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Musgrave, the National Women’s Council of Ireland and Vodafone.
EDITORS NOTE
Smart Farming is a voluntary resource efficiency programme run by the IFA in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency.
It focuses on delivering improved farm returns while enhancing the rural environment though better resource management.
Farmers who participate in the programme identify ways to reduce their costs by at least €5,000 and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 5-7%.

For more information, contact Minister Canney on 086-2513639
October 3 2019