Ireland can play key role in global sustainability, panel hears

The coming year is set to "shape the future of humanity" according to Dóchas, as world leaders decide on new strategies to fight climate change, hunger, poverty and inequality.

The group spoke ahead of the Irish launch of the European Year of Development at Dublin Castle, which highlighted the responsibility of all citizens, regardless of nationality or financial status, to ensure the future of our planet.

Dr Lorna Gold, head of policy and advocacy with Trócaire, says 2015 is a "golden opportunity" to address issues such as inequality, climate injustice and environmental destruction. Dr Gold also highlighted the importance of the new UN Sustainable Development Goals, which will replace the Millennium Development Goals later this year.

“These goals are different to any other goals that have been set globally in the past,” Dr Gold told The Irish Times. “In the past, we had development goals for poor countries and then the rich countries basically did what they wanted, we set our own agenda.”

“The Sustainable Development Goals are about saying: we have one planet and we all need to live sustainably on that planet.”

Emer Hickey, Ciara Judge and Sophie Healy-Thow from Kinsale, Co Cork, who won first place at the Google Global Science Fair in 2014 for their research into a cereal growth aid, say young people must use their voices to move the sustainable development agenda forward through 2015. The three 17-year-olds, who took part in a panel discussion at the launch, highlighted the important role Ireland can play as co-chair with Kenya in negotiating the post-2015 UN development goals.

“Ireland is well known in terms of blazing the path of development,” said Ms Judge. “By channelling the energy and optimism that we seem to have on this island, you can see that solutions will be found and people will actively create change.”

‘A seminal year’

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Development Seán Sherlock echoed President Michael D Higgins’s words that 2015 would be “a seminal year for the future of human development”.

“This year will mark a turning point in the world’s development,” said Mr Sherlock. “The European Year of Development is an important opportunity for us to reflect on our place in the world, and how we contribute to ensuring that world is a fairer and more sustainable place for all of us to live.”

He highlighted the role Ireland could play in bringing about this change, saying the Irish psyche had an in-built desire to help the world’s poorest countries.

"Ireland can act as an honest broker and trusted partner in these talks . . . it is vital that every Irish citizen sees themselves as co-equal to someone living in sub-Saharan Africa."

Sharan Kelly, chairperson of Dóchas, the network of Ireland's overseas development NGOs, said 2015 would provide an "unparalleled opportunity" for ordinary people to show their "collective commitment to eradicating poverty".

“It’s the year in which all ordinary people, including those most affected by poverty, inequality and injustice, have a positive role to play in influencing future global strategies by their actions and having their voices heard.”