Credit Unions announced as Sustainable Development Goal Champions
Posted on: 03 May 2023
The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) is delighted to announce that credit unions have been appointed Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) champions by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications for 2023 and 2024.
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, today announced the appointment of 26 organisations from across society as part of the 2023-2024 SDG Champions Programme, to serve as leaders in driving forward Ireland’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The ILCU, working in partnership with representative organisations from across the sector applied for the SDG Champions programme on behalf of the credit union sector in January of this year.
Sustainability is today deeply embedded in every aspect of the Credit Union Operating Principles, aligning closely with the UN SDGs and the following goals are of particular relevance to the sector and role of credit unions.
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SDG 1. No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
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SGD 2. Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
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SDG 4. Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
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SDG 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
Welcoming the achievement, David Malone CEO of the Irish League Credit Unions stated, “This is a very significant appointment for credit unions and recognition of their importance to communities across Ireland. As the only financial institution in Ireland owned and governed by the members, credit unions are by their structure, designed to be sustainable.
“Our sectoral focus on sustainability is well established, with operating principles that map easily against the UN SDGs as well as our continued focus on social reporting. Building on this achievement, we will continue to support credit unions over the next twelve months and beyond, to foster knowledge sharing, and further embed sustainability within every aspect of their operations”.
The 2023-2024 SDG Champions Programme has been developed to raise public awareness of the SDGs and to demonstrate that everyone in society can make a contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The role of an SDG Champion is to act as an advocate and promoter of the SDGs and a good practice example of how an organisation can contribute to the SDGs and integrate them into their work and activities.
ENDS