European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils | Bodies

The general approach and principles to work are set out in the Comhar SDC Strategy 2007-2012. Comhar SDC work over the period 2009-2012 may be categorised into four thematic areas and each is described in brief in the next sections.

A - Natural Resources, Biodiversity, Agriculture and Waste
The overall objective of policy on sustainable use of natural resources is to break the link between economic growth and resource use and resource use and associated environmental impact - a double decoupling. The European Commission defines natural resources to include: raw materials (e.g. minerals, fossil energy carriers, biomass), environmental media (e.g. air, water, soil), flow resources (wind, geothermal, tidal and solar energy), and space (land use for human settlements, infrastructure, industry, mineral extraction, agriculture and forestry). Comhar SDC will undertake research that contributes to the development of the evidence base in natural resource use policy and make contributions to the policy responses aimed at particular sectors or resources and wider sustainable consumption and production (SCP) policy. Comhar will best add value by focusing in the areas where the team has specialist skills such as resource accounting to develop the evidence base for policy and policy development in areas such as SCP and waste.

B. Climate Change, Energy and Transport
The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG) will publish Ireland's first National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in 2010. Comhar SDC will draw together research across several thematic areas to provide evidence-based recommendations to Government on adaptation policy building on work from previous years in local adaptation policy and biodiversity. The Government will also publish a Climate Change Act in 2010 which will set the long term policy framework. Comhar SDC will investigate the best use of revenue from a carbon levy and the future emissions trading allowance auctioning in investments to make the transition to a green economy, in line with policies such as the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (released in 2009) and international justice issues. Assessment will be carried out of the potential for investment of revenue from the levy in different sectors that achieve the dual goals of transformation to a sustainable society and generation of green employment. A summary of the projects proposed for 2010 in climate, energy, and transport are:

C. Governance, Built Environment/ Infrastructure and Spatial Planning
This work strand will focus on the improvement of communication, engagement, and implementation of sustainable development policy at local level, particularly in relation to local and regional authorities. The Local Sustainability Newsletter is designed to provide a platform for information sharing for local authorities on best practice on local sustainability. With increasing financial and other constraints due to economic climate, the network will avoid duplication of work and provide a selection of tried and tested projects that local authorities can assess to meet their objectives.

D. Awareness and Education
The Comhar SDC work programme will prioritise communication and awareness-raising of sustainable development with the public and stakeholders. This work is crucial to increasing the probability of implementation of sustainable development principles by policymakers and acceptance by the public once proposed. European governments are required to prepare a national strategy for education for sustainable development (ESD) The Department of Education and Science retains the overall coordinating role for policy development and implementation for ESD. The main priorities proposed for this area are summarised as:

Background and Mission

Establishment

Comhar SDC was first set up in 1999, as Comhar the National Sustainable Development Partnership. It is now known as Comhar, the Sustainable Development Council (SDC). Comhar is the Irish word for partnership. Comhar SDC works in three year cycles and began its forth term in January 2009.

The Irish Government has commitments on sustainable development which come from an international, EU and national level. Sustainable development is based on active participation with key stakeholders and sectoral interests. Comhar SDC is the key organisation in Ireland providing for sectoral and stakeholder engagement on implementing sustainable development.

Mission

Comhar SDC conducts research on the best ways to achieve sustainable development in Ireland. Comhar SDC may undertake this work at the request of any Minister or on its own initiative. It is an advisory council that provides guidance to the Government on measures that can moves us to a sustainable, equal and low carbon society.

Comhar SDC also conducts outreach work to inform people more generally on sustainable development. We sponsor programmes such as the Eco-Unesco Young Environmentalist awards, TidyTowns and run a Media Fund to increase awareness on sustainable development within the wider public.

Comhar SDC's terms of reference, as agreed by Government, give it a broad and flexible remit. In summary, they are:

Council Members

The Council is multi-stakeholder. It is made up for 25 people drawn from five sectors: the State sector, economic sectors, environmental NGOs, social/community NGOs and the professional/academic sector. Comhar's council members are appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, for a period of three years, on the basis of nominations made by a range of bodies. The council meets four times a year at plenary. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government also appoints the Chairperson of Comhar.

Chair vacant
Pillar 1	State/Public Sector
Jackie Maguire	OLAM
Matt Crowe	EPA
Shirley Clerkin	The Heritage Council
John McCarthy	DOEHLG
Mary Stack	Failte Ireland
Pillar 2	Economic Sectors
Dr Claire Penny	Business in the Community Ireland
Mairead Cirillo	Small Firms Association (Environmental Business Advice)
Neil Walker	Irish Business and Employers Confederation
Emer Dunne	Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association
Pat Farrell	Irish Famers' Association
Pillar 3	Environmental NGOs
Jack O'Sullivan	Irish Environmental Network
Frank Corcoran	Irish Environmental Network (An Taisce)
David Korowicz	Irish Environmental Network (Feasta)
Pat Finnegan	Irish Environmental Network (Grian)
Molly Walsh	Irish Environmental Network (Friends of the Earth)
Pillar 4	Social/Community NGOs
Elaine Nevin	National Youth Council of Ireland
Seamus Boland	Irish Rural Link
Niamh Garvey	Dochas
Fr Sean Healy	Social Justice Ireland
Ann Irwin	Community Workers Co-op
Pillar 5	Professional/Academic Sector
Prof. Vincent O' Flaherty	Royal Irish Academy (UCG)
Sue Scott	Royal Irish Academy (ESRI)
Deirdre McGrath	Royal Town Planning Institute (Limerick County Council)
Ray Bates	Royal Irish Academy (UCD)
Ciaran Bates	Royal Dublin Society (Coillte)

▲Top

Staff Members

Comhar SDC has an executive/secretariat of five staff. Mairead Ryan is the Director.

Work Style

Tasks of the Council

Tasks of the Council The council meets four times a year at plenary meetings. The secretariat carries out most of the in-house research and organises other commissioned research. All research is edited and approved by the council members. The main tasks of Comhar are:

Substructure and Working Groups

Many of the issues highlighted in the work programme are actively pursued through Comhar SDC's working groups. The working groups are focus on specific issues- such as climate change, biodiversity or education and awareness. They are made up of Comhar SDC council members, secretariat members and outside members. Ad hoc groups may be established from time to time to address particular items. The following working groups are currently active. Other working groups will become active once specific projects in the work programme commence.

Type of Advice

Comhar SDC publishes its reports, opinions, and other products, using a range of relevant means for their dissemination, including electronic media. It also submits its reports to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, for appropriate referral to Government, to the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment and Local Government, and to relevant Government Departments and other bodies.

Council Meetings

Comhar meets in plenary session four times a year, at roughly quarterly intervals. This is the main forum in which work is finalised and decisions are taken. Minutes of the plenary meetings once adopted by the following Plenary, are available to view.

Activities in the EEAC Network

In 2004, together with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Comhar co-hosted the Irish EU Presidency Conference on Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development in EU 25 in Kinsale. Further information on the outcome of the Conference is available on www.Comharconference2004.ie.

List of Selected Publications

You can search for the full list of policy advice in our Search Engine which also includes the titles in English of publications available in original language only.

The following list provides an overview of the recommendations and internal research and commissioned research on various aspects of sustainable development by Comhar since 2009. A list of publications dating back to 2006 is available here.

Comhar, Sustainable Development Council - Ireland

Current and future activities

Present and Future Priority Fields

Future Priority Fields