Mayo County Council named a Sustainable Development Goal Champion for 2024/25

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has appointed 20 new organisations from across Irish society to become Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champions.

Organisations ranging from the Irish Girl Guides to Sligo Rovers and from ALDI to Mayo County Council are joining the movement to drive forward Ireland’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the 17 Goals which aim to deliver sustainable development for people and the planet.

This brings to 54 the number of SDG Champions in Ireland now. Already, 34 organisations and groups – large and small – have become SDG Champions across the 2019/20 and 2023/24 programmes, including Musgraves, the GAA, Macra na Feirme and Chambers Ireland, among others.

Announcing the new appointments, Minister Ryan said: “The world is currently off track to achieve the SDGs and accelerated action is needed. However, in this decade of action for the SDGs, Ireland is determined to play a leading role in delivering on the goals – locally, nationally and internationally.

“Over 90 organisations applied to take part in the programme this year, demonstrating the growing commitment of Irish society to live up to and promote the goals which have at their heart equality, access to basic right like clean water, clean energy, food and shelter for all, and climate justice.

“It is great to see such a variety of commercial organisations, academic institutions, those working with young people, and environmental organisations joining the SDG collective this year. It’s like looking at a cross-section of Irish society, all with a common aim to make our collective future better.

“Sometimes, international goals can seem daunting or removed from our everyday experiences. However, international goals come down to improving people’s lives and outcomes locally. The SDG Champions, through their work, help show that the SDGs belong to everyone, in every community, in every country across the world, and that everyone can play a role.”

Appointed as part of the 2024/25 SDG Champions Programme, the chosen organisations will help raise awareness of the importance of the SDGs as a roadmap for a safer, fairer, more prosperous and sustainable future for all that leaves no-one behind. The champions will show through their own actions that everyone in society can make a contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The organisations appointed under this year’s programme have been selected from across the public, private, community, voluntary, youth and NGO sectors, and are represented by larger, national organisations and smaller, community groups.

In addition, former SDG Champions have chosen to take up the role of SDG Ambassadors, and are continuing to raise awareness and promote the SDGs.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications will work with this year’s champions and with SDG Ambassadors throughout the year to achieve the SDGs and the overall Sustainable Development 2030 Agenda in Ireland.

Find out more about the 2024/25 SDG Champions Programme here.