We are honoured and enthused that AONTAS has been appointed by Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, as one of Ireland’s champions to help progress the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
26 organisations were selected as part of the 2023-2024 SDG Champions Programme, to raise public awareness of the SDGs and to demonstrate 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 provide good practice examples of how an organisation can contribute to the SDGs and integrate them into their work and activities.
Speaking about the launch, Minister Ryan said: “We are facing major challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, with unprecedented pressures on our planet, economy and society, as well as the impacts brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Now is the time to accelerate action towards achieving the goals, to build back better while leaving no-one behind.
“The SDG Champions Programme recognises that the SDGs are for everyone and that everyone can make a contribution to their success. Over 80 organisations applied to take part in the programme this year, underlining the readiness of Irish society to assist in ensuring that Ireland becomes a global leader in achieving the goals. Achieving the SDG targets by 2030 is a collective task that cannot be accomplished without partnership.”
AONTAS CEO Dearbháil Lawless attended the SDG Champions National Stakeholder Forum on 25 April together with the 25 other Champion organisations.
The 26 SDG Champions for 2023/2024 are:
| An Post | Fair Seas | Peter McVerry Trust |
| An Taisce | Football Association of Ireland (FAI) | RTE |
| AONTAS | Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) | Rush Tidy Towns |
| Ballyhoura Development CLG | Iarnrod Eireann – Irish Rail | Sustainable Life School |
| Chambers Ireland | Irish League of Credit Unions | TESCO Ireland |
| Clare County Council | Jiminy Eco Toys | The Heritage Council |
| Development Perspectives | Macra na Feirme | TIER Mobility |
| ECO-UNESCO | Musgrave | University of Galway |
| Failte Ireland | National Youth Council of Ireland |
