Chambers Ireland, the body which represents 40 chambers of commerce in Ireland, has called on Irish business to become leaders in the effort to create a more sustainable society.

The organisation has today released an extensive Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Toolkit for Business to encourage employers of every size to advance their sustainability journey by integrating the goals into their day-to-day activities.

Mags Brennan, President of Chambers Ireland said:

“With fewer than nine years remaining to reach the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, all sectors of Irish society need to get serious about reaching our targets. To support this effort, Chambers Ireland and its network have taken a leading role to engage businesses across the country on the SDGs. This toolkit is an important next step in our work.”

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland said:

“Our SDG Toolkit for Business will equip business with the knowledge to take leading action across a range of issues and signal the direction to achieve a sustainable society in Ireland. We encourage SMEs and larger companies to engage with our SDG Toolkit and their local chamber in support of our collective work to secure a better, greener and fairer planet in the years ahead.”

The toolkit was based on significant contributions from the Sustainable Business Council, a Chambers Ireland-led group of experts from across the NGO and corporate sectors.

Sinéad Hickey, Head of Sustainability Ireland & Europe at John Sisk & Son, and Chairperson of the Sustainable Business Council said:

“We know it’s important to provide a clear and accessible path for businesses of all sizes to participate in our efforts towards building a more sustainable future. The UN SDGs is an internationally recognised framework and clearly outlines the interconnected nature of sustainability. The SDGs provide businesses the opportunity to focus on the goals that are most closely aligned with their work and where they can have the greatest impact.”

 In 2019, as part of its efforts to be the leading business representative group to embrace sustainability, Chambers Ireland placed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the heart of its long-term strategy.

In the coming months, Chambers Ireland will partner with its member chambers to deliver research, training and virtual events to further support businesses in Ireland on their sustainability journey.

The Chambers Ireland SDG Toolkit for Business is available to download Here

The 17 UN Development goals were adopted by all UN Member States – including Ireland – in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.