Ministers Flanagan and Sherlock welcome historic agreement on Sustainable Development Agenda

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan T.D. and Minister for Development, Sean Sherlock T.D. today welcomed an ambitious agreement reached by the United Nations to chart the course to a more sustainable, prosperous and peaceful future for all the world's citizens.

Last night, the entire UN membership reached agreement on a new Sustainable Development Agenda, Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which will be adopted by world leaders at the UN Summit in September.

At the core of this agenda is a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which aim, by 2030, to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, promote prosperity and well-being, while protecting the environment. These goals take forward the unfinished work of the Millennium Development Goals.

Welcoming the agreement, Minister Flanagan said:

"Since October last, Ireland has led the negotiations which culminated in last night’s breakthrough in global efforts to transform our world and to eradicate extreme poverty everywhere by 2030.

"The significance of the agreement is immense.  In its declaration, it is as ambitious as the landmark agreement seventy years ago to create the United Nations from the ashes of war and division.

"Ireland’s role in driving this agreement marks a very real commitment to the UN and is a tremendous way to mark the 60th anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the organisation.   

"Ireland, through our Permanent Representative to the United Nations, David Donoghue, and our Mission to the UN, have had a central role in the process, as co-facilitators of the negotiations together with Kenya.  I am grateful to them for their tremendous efforts and congratulate them on the historic achievement."

Minister Sherlock said:

"Ireland is recognised as a global leader in tackling hunger and poverty and I am confident that this historic agreement will bring fresh impetus to this critical work.

"The next steps will be important. The agreement reached last night, taken alongside the recent agreement on financing for development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as the forthcoming climate change conference in Paris represent a phase in global politics this year that gives us the opportunity to deliver the future we want.

"I also welcome the fact that the goals address a much wider series of issues which are necessary to create a more equal and sustainable world. These include issues such as sustainable cities, renewable energy, peaceful and inclusive societies and sustainable consumption and production."