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Waterways Ireland is one of the 20 organisations selected to be a part of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champions programme run by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The chosen organisations, representing a wide range of sectors, demonstrate the commitment to sustainable development across the public, private, community, voluntary, youth and NGO sectors.
The SDG Champions Programme was developed to raise public awareness of the SDGs and to demonstrate, through the examples provided by the SDG Champions, that everyone in society can make a contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Waterways Ireland’s vision is to create inspirational inland navigations and waterways experiences through conservation and sustainable development for the benefit of all.
This is demonstrated by, among other things,
- management of the canals to meet Good Ecological Potential under the Water Framework Directive
- implementation of climate initiatives such as energy audits and adoption of green fuel for vehicles, reducing carbon footprint
- enhancing awareness on the importance of the waterways as ecological corridors
- improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption associated with water management
Climate action, environment and heritage form one of the key strategic priorities in Waterways Ireland’s 10-year strategic plan. The plan outlines Waterways Ireland’s commitment to embedding the UN SDGs throughout the organisation.
John McDonagh, CEO of Waterways Ireland said: “We are honoured to be chosen as one of the SDG Champions by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This recognition underscores Waterways Ireland's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship as highlighted in our 10-year strategic plan. Protecting and enhancing our waterways is at the heart of what we do, and being a part of the SDG Champions programme reinforces our efforts to align our activities to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We look forward to continuing our work in promoting sustainable development and preserving the natural beauty of our waterways for future generations.”
Waterways Ireland has a dedicated Climate Action Plan and Heritage & Biodiversity Plan that clearly communicate how the organisation’s objectives are aligned to the SDGs.