COVER STORY
Local actions, global impact Cork Chamber named SDG Champion, leading the charge for a more sustainable future June 2024 marked a significant milestone for Cork Chamber as it was appointed a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champion by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) for the 2024-2025 term. This prestigious recognition aligns Cork Chamber with a select group of organisations dedicated to advancing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Ireland. As an SDG Champion, Cork Chamber is poised to amplify its commitment to sustainability, leveraging its influence within the business community and beyond to foster a deeper engagement with sustainable practices. This appointment underscores the Chamber’s pivotal role in shaping a resilient, sustainable future, not just for Cork but for the wider community it serves.
What are the United Nations’ SDGs? The SDGs are a set of 17 interconnected global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This landmark agreement, adopted by all 193 United Nations Member States, represents a comprehensive plan of action designed to address the most pressing
16
challenges facing our world today. The SDGs serve as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
A vsion for a better world The SDGs are underpinned by a commitment to leave no one behind, recognising that eradicating poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth—while also tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. The Goals are both ambitious and urgent, reflecting the global consensus on the need for transformative change in how we live, work, and interact with the environment.
The 169 targets: detailed pathways to achievement Each of the 17 SDGs is accompanied by a set of specific targets, 169 in total, that provide detailed benchmarks and indicators to measure progress. These targets cover a wide range of issues, from improving