Launching SDG Week 2024 were (l-r): Pat Dowling, Chief Executive; Alan Farrell, Director of Service; Morgan Lahiffe, Climate Action Coordinator and staff of Clare County Council. Also photographed are: Samantha McCarthy, Healthy County Co-Ordinator; Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer; Dara Dever, Community Climate Action Officer; Carol Gleeson, Manager, Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark; Padraic McElwee, Head Of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office; Darren Carroll, Rural & Community Development Officer; Brendan Boyce, Integration Support Co-ordinator; Helen Walsh, County Librarian; Deirdre Power, Human Resources; Helen Moloney, Clare Age Friendly Programme; Chris Dixon O’Mara, Climate Action Officer; Kenneth Reid, Graduate Climate Action Officer; Barry O’Loughlin, Biodiversity Officer
BABY SLING parenting classes, sewing, upcycling and gardening are just some of the events taking place across the county for the third Sustainable Development Goals Week hosted by Clare County Council.
In its third year, the Clare events form part of the wider National and European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW) nationwide, with events taking place in Clare up to October 3, 2024. The SDGs work towards ambitions such as an end to poverty; access to decent work; sustainable consumption; protection of nature; better health and wellbeing; universal access to education; gender equality; climate action; and peaceful societies.
Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF), Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council said, “Clare County Council’s involvement with the SDGs reflects our dedication to the well-being and sustainability of our communities. The events planned across the county during SDG Week highlight the diversity of efforts needed to create lasting change, from promoting biodiversity to supporting sustainable consumption. We encourage everyone to participate and learn how small actions can contribute to significant global impacts”.
Highlighting the local authority’s commitment to sustainable development goals, Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling added, “Clare County Council is proud to champion the SDGs at every opportunity. The SDGs represent our shared commitment to building a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future for all the people of Clare. Through our participation in SDG Week, we are actively engaging with communities across the county, fostering awareness, and inspiring collective action towards achieving these vital global goals”.
Climate Action Coordinator, Clare County Council, Morgan Lahiffe outlined, “SDG Week offers an opportunity for the people of Clare to engage with the SDGs in a meaningful way. From energy awareness workshops to biodiversity initiatives, the events are designed to educate, inspire, and empower our communities to act. By working together, we can make a tangible difference in addressing the challenges of climate change and sustainability”.
Having participated in the 2023 SDG Champions programme, Clare County Council now serves as an SDG Ambassador, contributing to promotion, awareness-raising, and implementation of the SDGs, at local, regional and national levels. In this role Clare County Council will continue to work to integrate and embed the SDGs into the programmes and policies across all of its directorates.
Environmental Awareness Officer, Clare County Council, Karen Foley, explained, “To date the SDG Accelerating Action Tool has been used for our Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 – 2030, Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029, Clare Tourism Strategy 2030, Cliffs of Moher Strategy 2040, as well as the Kilkee Green Business Hub initiative. This tool is currently being used for the development of Clare Litter Management Plan, Sustainable Tourism Green Team Action Plan, Clare Age Friendly Strategy, Biodiversity Action Plan, Clare Local Sports Plan 2025-2030 and forthcoming Migrant Integration Strategy 2025-2030”.
Events taking place in Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush, Ennistymon and Scarriff address a broad spectrum of sustainability topics, including upcycling, energy awareness, biodiversity and gardening.
