UN SDG SPOTLIGHT
IAPCO Destination Partner
Cork: Sustainable City
Nestled in the South-west of Ireland between the signature visitor experiences of Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork, recently voted the 2nd friendliest city in Europe (Condé Nast), offers visitors an authentic experience, through our history, heritage, landmarks, landscape and our people. Cork’s reputation for high quality, artisan food and drink production, alongside a strong cultural, musical and artistic vibe, provide an extensive choice for the visitor experience.
neutral, smart cities by 2030. As part of this initiative, Cork is developing a Climate City Contract, which will include an overall plan for climate neutrality across all sectors including energy, buildings and transport. Cork is a place of dramatic natural landscapes, riverscapes, harbours, bays and seascapes. A place of mountains, river valleys and coastlines, therefore protecting our status as
Committed to Sustainability In order to preserve our social, environmental and economic heritage, stakeholders across the region are strongly committed to sustainability and the UN SDGs. Cork Convention Bureau (CCB) is the business tourism and events arm of the Visit Cork structure, which also includes the region’s ‘Pure Cork’ leisure destination brand. CCB aspires to ensure that all meetings and events programmes are developed through the lens of sustainability by employing the GDSI Regenerative Event Checklist when planning meetings. CCB seeks to lead the way for the tourism sector throughout the region promoting and implementing environmental, economic and social sustainability programmes that will ensure a sustainable and regenerative future for the sector and Cork was proud to rank 26th out of over 100 destinations in the 2023 Global Destination Sustainability Index. Cork city is also 10
one of the EU Mission Cities that are aiming to be climate-
December 2023
a ‘green’ region is vital. Cork Convention Bureau ensures that environmental awareness is automatically built into the business and conference tourism offerings in Cork, highlighting a variety of local CSR activities (from hands-on nature conservation to forest exploration) that can offset the impact of business tourism and cement an organisation’s global citizen credentials.
A City of Welcomes As Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, the tourism sector has a responsibility to act ethically and drive social innovation. In order to provide an authentic welcome, any reputable tourism destination must demonstrate a commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI). Cork city is the first and only city on the island of Ireland to have become a member of the International Rainbow Cities Network, that pledge to protect and enhance LGBTI+ rights and inclusion.