Budget 2025 Ask #8 - Supporting Sustainable Communities
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global commitment to ending poverty, reducing inequalities, and tackling climate change. These internationally agreed goals urge everyone to "think globally and act locally," and communities have a crucial role to play in driving the SDG agenda. By building on existing efforts and fostering innovation, local communities can become powerful forces for change.
Ireland is committed to achieving these goals through Coalition 2030, a network of over 60 civil society organisations, including The Wheel, that are working together to ensure the country meets its promises. According to Social Justice Ireland’s Sustainable Progress Index 2024, Ireland currently ranks 8th among the EU14 in its progress towards the SDGs. However, there is still much work to be done, and civil society is key to making further advances. To help close this gap, Budget 2025 should invest in building the capacity of sector organisations to fully implement Ireland’s SDG commitments, prioritizing those who are most in need.
Expanding Sustainability Programmes
Across Ireland, organisations are actively engaged in sustainability projects, ranging from environmental conservation and biodiversity to renewable energy initiatives, the circular economy, and fostering community resilience. These efforts are essential to creating a greener and more sustainable future. A recent collaborative project between Eastern and Midlands CARO, Urban Foresight, and The Wheel demonstrated how communities can be empowered to meet the challenges of transitioning to a climate-resilient economy. Funded by the government, the project in the Midlands region offered training and mentoring, providing a blueprint for sustainable community engagement.
To build on this success, Budget 2025 should fund a "community connector" programme that fosters collaboration between organisations working on biodiversity and climate change. A shared learning space would provide these organisations with critical resources, enabling them to scale their efforts and better address environmental challenges. The Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS), which has entered its second phase, also supports this vision by simplifying the process for community projects to engage with renewable energy markets. Ensuring the active involvement of communities in these energy projects is vital, and government support is needed to remove the barriers these organisations face, such as planning, grid connections, and financing.
A Just Transition to a Green Economy
Achieving net neutrality by 2050 requires a complete transformation of how we live and work. While the challenges are significant, so are the opportunities. A just transition can lead to cheaper living costs, new employment opportunities, energy-independent communities, and an improved quality of life. One key player in this transition is the social enterprise sector, which has the potential to lead the way in renewable energy and the circular economy.
The EU Transition Pathway for the Proximity and Social Economy highlights the role of social enterprises in tackling climate change, but they need support to fully realise their potential. Budget 2025 should invest in social enterprises working in the circular economy and introduce legislation to encourage sustainable business practices. This would not only support the transition to a green economy but also ensure that the benefits are shared fairly across all communities.
A just transition also depends on the active participation of the public. People need to understand the rationale behind the transition and have the skills and capacity to engage with it. According to the European Commission, 16% of the necessary emissions reductions will come from behavioural changes. To achieve this, communities must be equipped with the knowledge and skills required for the green transition.
Civil society organisations are key to building these green skills and helping communities make the behavioural changes needed to reduce their environmental impact. Budget 2025 should fund climate literacy programmes for sector organisations, helping them understand how their work affects the environment and how they can contribute to a sustainable future. Investing in community engagement specialists and specific literacy initiatives will be critical to ensuring that the transition is equitable and inclusive.
Investing in Sustainable Communities
Local communities are central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and making Ireland’s transition to a green, sustainable economy a reality. By empowering communities through investment in sustainability programmes, supporting social enterprises, and enhancing climate literacy, Budget 2025 can ensure that the transition is not only successful but also fair. The government must prioritise funding for sector organisations that are driving these efforts and ensure that no one is left behind in the journey toward a more sustainable, resilient future.
The Wheel’s Pre-Budget 2025 submission is available HERE