About SDSN Ireland

SDSN Ireland is a network of universities and institutions across the island of Ireland. The network is focused on high quality education and research, where the Sustainable Development Goals are at the core of our work.

Established in 2022 by University College Cork (UCC) and Queens University Belfast (QUB) the network encompasses partners across the island of Ireland. SDSN Ireland promotes collaborative approaches to sustainable research solutions and education.

Our Vision

SDSN Ireland is a north-south network focused on developing solutions and local action for the SDGs. The network works with:

• Universities
• Research centres
• Local authorities
• NGOs
• Civil society organisations
• Policymakers

This will bring the latest research and expertise to bear on producing solutions to the challenges as set out by the SDGs. We aim to empower individuals and organisations through education and engagement.

University College Cork and Queen’s University Belfast will ensure that an all-island approach is taken to implementing the SDGs. The network also intends to develop a close connection with SDSN UK.

The activities of SDSN Ireland

Activities will be focused on the following objectives:

(i) To work with universities in support of SDG implementation locally, nationally and transnationally.

(ii) To support SDG capacity building within communities through training and knowledge sharing.

(iii) Build wider partnerships and research collaborations for the SDGs with a North-South focus.

(iv) Integrate relevant national and regional policies into local policy implementation. Working with with policy makers north and south to the aim of streamlining policy implementation at an all-island level.

(v) To provide a public leadership role in the societal transition towards the 2030 SDG agenda. Demonstrate co-produced solutions to these global challenges. This will include the highlighting of best practices for the implementation of SDGs at local, regional, and national level.

(vi) Build on initiatives currently being undertaken at both universities. Such as:

• QUB Social Charter Communities and Place project,
• QUB Centre for Shared Education
• UCC City Lab
• UCC CARL Science Shop

This will:

1. Support educational institutions to better engage with policy makers and the third level sector.
2. Provide students with opportunities to undertake research and projects which will support communities.

(vii) Provide expertise to organisations, individuals and the wider community. Support the understanding of how the SDG’s can be integrated into their day-to-day lives.

(viii) Build links between the All-Ireland SDSN and the UK SDSN. Use this linkage to share expertise and collaborate, where appropriate.

Contact us

University College Cork

• john.barimo@ucc.ie

Queen’s University Belfast

• k.kavanagh@qub.ac.uk

Background

The SDGs and the island of Ireland In 2018

In 2018 Ireland adopted its first SDG National Implementation Plan. The plan sets out the Government's response to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It commits Ireland to fully achieving all 17 of the Goals by 2030. The SDG National Implementation Plan builds on Ireland’s current national strategies and polices:

• Our Sustainable Future
• One World, One Future

The plan commits Ireland to mainstreaming the SDGs across national policy. The plan also identifies the government ministries and agencies responsible for each of the SDG targets:

The Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment reports on the plan's progress.

The Irish Central Statistics Office manages the data for the SDG Indicators.

The Irish government has allocated 21.8 billion euro to SDG related projects. This includes projects related to renewable energy and energy security (SDG 7).

The Northern Ireland (NI) Executive is developing a long-term Programme for Government. This will be underpinned by a budget and supported by key Executive strategies. As part of this, a draft strategic Outcomes Framework has been produced. Once finalised this will set a clear direction of travel for the NI Executive. The Outcomes Framework will progress towards the achievement of the SDGs.

Governments have primary responsibility for implementing the SDGs. But they do not belong to Governments alone. Achieving the SDG's will require a concerted and integrated effort from:

• Governments
• Businesses
• Local authorities
• Communities
• Individuals

Ireland has established a national SDG Stakeholder Forum. This is chaired by the Department of Communications, Climate Action, and Environment. The aim of the forum is to facilitate dialogue among representatives from:

• Government entities
• Civil society
• NGOs
• The private sector
• Trade unions
• Academia

Other networks have also facilitated collaboration on the SDGs, such as Coalition 2030 and Business in the Community Ireland.

In NI a variety of networks have also been established to address responsibility for achieving the SDGs. These include networks such as:

• Business in the Community
• Sustainable NI
• Northern Ireland Environment link
• The Belfast Climate Commission.

Ireland is currently developing its second SDG National Implementation Plan. In 2020 the Irish Government set out the government’s vision and priorities for the Shared Island initiative. This involves working with the NI Executive and the British government to address challenges faced on the island of Ireland.

The SDGs at University College Cork (UCC)

University College Cork was the first university in the world awarded a Green Flag from the Foundation for Environmental Education in 2010. UCC is currently 8th in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact ranking (contribution to the SDGs). UCC was awarded a Gold STARS rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. It is the only Irish university to hold observer status on the UNFCCC. UCC has an active research community working on multiple aspects of sustainability. The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) is UCC's flagship institute dedicated to facilitating a transformation to a sustainable society. The institute brings together over 450 researchers to address the global sustainability challenges. UCC hosts the UNEP GEMS/Water Capacity Development Centre. This centre aims to provide global capacity development in water quality monitoring and assessment. This directly addresses Sustainable Development Goal 6.3.2. The University also hosts hosts MaREI, the SFI-funded Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine research.

The SDGs at Queen’s

Queen’s as an institution has committed to embedding the SDGs across all activities. From research and education, to adopting a leadership role in the promotion of the SDGs. Sustainability is embedded across its operational activities. Queen’s ranked 43rd in the 2021 THE Impact Rankings. This compared to a rank of 87 in 2020, thus reflecting the clear commitment of the university to the SDGs. The University has been awarded Platinum level in the Business in the Community Environmental Benchmarking Survey. This award covers organisations and businesses across NI. Queens recently received a UK and Ireland Green Gown Award for Student Engagement activities.

Queen’s has prioritized Engaged Research with partners in:

• Industry
• Government
• Public policy
• Social and healthcare,
• The arts
• The voluntary sector

Queens has also developed a series of Engagement Hubs. These hubs are dedicated to establishing sustainable long-term relationships with external partners. The SDG Hub will become an integral part of this network. The Queens Social Charter acts as a platform to showcase research with impact, including projects such as Queen’s Communities and Place Initiative. This is a new initiative based on partnership between communities, policymakers and academics. The university’s Social Charter will commit university resources to work with disadvantaged children, young people and communities. The initiative will seek to develop a more durable model of community and place-based working.

Other leading centres at Queen’s involved in sustainability research include:

• The Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy
• The Bryden Center in Advanced Marine and Bio-energy Research
• The Center for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action.

Our Vision

SDSN Ireland is a North-South cooperative network. It is focused on developing context-specific solutions and mobilising local action for the SDGs. SDSN engages with universities and a ranges of stakeholders. The network will bring the latest research to bear on producing solutions for the SDGs. It will empower individuals and organisations to achieve impact through education and engagement.