Latest publication: Grounding the Recovery in Sustainable Development

The National Economic and Social Council (Ireland) published today (18/2/2021) a council statement ‘Grounding the Recovery in Sustainable Development’. In it statement the Council argues that ‘rising to the challenge and seeing the possibility of change, as demonstrated by our response to Covid-19, is needed to tackle the climate change and biodiversity crises. The Council also sets out the importance and value of grounding the recovery in sustainable development.

The Council, which represents interests and stakeholders from across the private sector, Government, social and community organisations, independent experts and the environmental pillar, believe that ‘we as an society are at a moment to reset.  Government has set out its committed to more ambitious action on climate in the Programme for Government’. Such reset could be reached through ambition and action to reduce emissions and restore biodiversity. Such action is necessary and urgent and can also drive the recovery, while also meeting our commitments in the Paris Climate Agreement and deliver the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the Council argued.

The Council will continue to contribute to the framing and analysis of sustainable development and climate action, including the importance of just transition and engagement. It is probing what cities need to do to be resilient; exploring what will enable communities to be more economically resilient and how to place conditions on State investment to make it greener. Read More