Social Justice Ireland published Measuring Progress: The Sustainable Progress Index 2022 which ranks comparable EU countries based on their delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Written by Prof Charles M.A. Clark of St John’s University, NY; Dr Catherine Kavanagh of UCC; and Colette Bennett of Social Justice Ireland, the index compares 15 EU countries across all UN SDGs, assesses their performance on each individual SDG; creates a ranking table for performance overall; and provides national and local-level policy proposals to improve Ireland’s progress towards the Goals
The Environment Index compares Ireland’s progress on the following SDGs:
- SDG 6 Water and Sanitation, Ireland ranked 10th ;
- SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, Ireland ranked 11th;
- SDG 22 Sustainable Cities and Communities, Ireland ranked 4th;
- SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, Ireland ranked 11th;
- SDG 13 Climate Action, Ireland ranked 10th;
- SDG 13 Life below Water, Ireland ranked 4th of 12,
- SDG 15 Life on Land, Ireland ranked 8th.
The evidence suggests that Ireland with an overall ranking of 9, continues to face significant challenges in meeting our commitment to several of the environmental sustainability goals set out in Agenda 2030. We are in the lowest third for affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production, climate action and clean water and sanitation. Successful implementation of the SDGs requires a balance between economic and social progress and sustaining the planet’s environment and resources as well as combatting climate change and biodiversity loss.
Some of Social Justice Ireland’s recommendations for addressing the challenges include:
- For social wellbeing is to introduce local social dialogue mechanisms to ensure that all communities have a say in their own Wellbeing.
- For climate adaptation a plan should be developed with the collaborative input of local communities and Public Participation Networks, supported by dedicated sustainable funding in the medium to long term.
The Water Forum’s Framework for Integrated Land and Landscape Management policy supports both of these recommendations and supports engagements with communities that aim to find solutions to addressing sustainable objectives in all of the environmental spheres water, air, biodiversity, soils and climate. The ideal opportunity to begin such a process is the development of the 46 catchment plans proposed in the draft River Basin Management Plan. It is only through such deliberative democratic and participative processes that we will achieve the sustainability required by Agenda 2030.
A public consultation is currently open on the draft River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027 until 31st March 2022
LAWPRO Virtual Consultation Room (drbmp-vcr.ie)
Social Justice Ireland Report
Framework for Integrated Land and Landscape Management
