Chambers to lead the way on SDGs

The Chambers Ireland and Chamber network SDG Pledge

In September 2019, on the fourth anniversary in of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all affiliated Chambers across Ireland announced that they have pledged their commitment to the SDGs.

This involved all our Chambers, including Chambers Ireland, making a commitment to uphold, promote and implement the SDGs throughout the work that they carry out. Chambers will integrate the framework of the SDGs into their daily operations, advocate for the goals locally and create or support policies that reflect the SDGs. Our network values the necessity of sustainable development and believes in the need to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the communities around them.

Each Chamber plays an integral part in creating a sustainable environment to work and live, and they collectively work together on achieving a prosperous future for Ireland.

While this is the first collective effort by our Network to embrace the UN goals, Chambers are no strangers to the pursuit of sustainable development. Catering for their wide business membership, they host events and seminars, create partnerships with other local organisations and advocate for policies that will make their communities a good place to do business.

This can be seen through various initiatives such as establishing women’s networks linked to gender equality (SDG 5) to calling for public transport reflective of sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11). Through the work of our member chambers championing the SDGs, Ireland will be in a better position to lead on the SDGs globally and achieve some of the key national targets such as around climate action and gender equality linked to the goals.

We hope that Chamber activities, in addition to the global effort, would see all of the 17 goals achieved and implemented by 2030.

United Nations and the International Chamber of Commerce

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes the 17 SDGs, was adopted by the 193 Members States of the United Nations (UN) in September 2015. The SDGs cover a range of commitments that seeks to end poverty, protect the environment, develop a sustainable economy and many more. The 2019 SDGs Progress Report found that progress has been made on a number of goals and targets over the past four years.

They have become a pivotal benchmark for sustainable development in Ireland and abroad. Chambers are also well represented internationally through our membership of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The ICC is the only business representative organisation with UN Observer status, and as a result has been very proactive in the implementation of the SDGs within the business community, including the production of a Business Charter for Sustainable Development.

For more information on our work and the work of our sister organisation the ICC, visit the dedicated SDGs section of our website at https://www.chambers.ie/policy/sustainable-development-goals/