Pressure to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is mounting. Complex global challenges and existential risks such as climate change, biodiversity loss, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions are adding to the urgency. With the adoption of the United Nations Pact for the Future in September 2024, countries committed to act collectively in a number of critical areas, including sustainable development and financing for development; international peace and security; science, technology and innovation and digital co-operation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance.
Ireland is taking important steps to achieve the SDGs. Its Third National Implementation Plan for the SDGs presents an opportunity to scale up efforts and strengthen mechanisms to enhance policy coherence for sustainable development (PCSD) – a key enabler for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – across national and local government in Ireland. This is critical for integrated policymaking that leaves no one behind.
This report provides an overview of Ireland’s legislation, institutional mechanisms, policy tools and processes for promoting PCSD. It identifies strengths, weaknesses and possible ways forward. Ireland’s efforts are reflected in several strategies and plans that help integrate sustainability into the policymaking process, supported by a network of government entities and structures.
This report is part of the EU-funded project “Building Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) across national and local government in Ireland”. The project originates from a request from Ireland’s Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE) under the European Commission’s Technical Support Instrument. It is being implemented as a multi-country project together with Belgium and Portugal, with a view to stimulating peer learning and exchange of good practices on enhancing PCSD in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The project as part of the work of the OECD Public Governance Directorate to provide targeted support for PCSD to countries.