Comhar, Sustainable Development Council - Ireland

Current and Future Activities

Establishment and Mission

Council Members and Staff Members

Working Style

List of Selected Publications 

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Current and future activities

Present and Future Priority Fields

In 2010 it is clear that Ireland is in a state of flux, where the economy is in recession, and it is necessary to move from the unsustainable path of recent years to a more sustainable society. This provides an opportunity to transform Ireland to a sustainable model with investment in green jobs and longer-term sustainable development. Transformation for sustainability can be supported by Comhar SDC in building the evidence base and cross-sectoral support for change through analysis, stimulation of debate and development of creative approaches and solutions. A transformation theme will inform research, information provision, stakeholder engagement and advocacy of this work programme and will position Comhar SDC as an organisation that makes a unique contribution through partnership to sustainable development.

Some of the projects Comhar is working on in 2010 are: 

• Green New Deal: Provide concrete recommendations on implementation of a Green New Deal in several areas for Ireland that will focus on moving the Irish economy and society to a sustainable path. 
• Biodiversity Indicators: To develop a comprehensive set of biodiversity indicators for Ireland for use with the National Biodiversity Strategy and in raising awareness of biodiversity 
• Sustainable Development Indicators: To develop a comprehensive and integrated sustainable development indicator (SDI) set for Ireland for use with the National Sustainable Development Strategy and to develop a headline indicator set for Comhar SDC to be published annually to raise awareness of sustainable development. 
• Green Infrastructure: To develop a Green Infrastructure approach for Ireland and guidance  for use by local and regional authorities in planning and development and ensure widespread dissemination and uptake. 
• Local Authority Sustainability Newsletter: To provide a platform for information sharing for local authorities 
• Green Procurement: To provide recommendations to Government and concrete guidelines for public and private sectors.

Future Priority Fields 

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.

The priorities proposed for the work programme in this thematic area are: 

• Development of the integrated SDI set
• Biodiversity in the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
• SCP - Recommendations on SCP action plan and green procurement action plan
• Comhar SDC representation on NWPC (ongoing) 
• Support for the work of the Biodiversity Forum (ongoing)

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: 

• Use of Carbon Tax and ETS Revenue Recycling; 
• Guidelines for the architecture of a carbon budget, monitor Government's progress, devise projected expenditure/emissions;
• Development of recommendations for a rural transport policy for Ireland. 

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. Best practice in innovative sustainable communities, such as Cloughjordan, Kinsale or other local projects will be examined and guidance documents for implementing sustainable development at local level will be produced, including the issues of sustainable infrastructure, planning, and governance. Toolkits and case studies will be developed that can be used in training courses run for local authorities, by for example the IPA, and applied to other communities. A database of those responsible within local authorities for sustainable development activities will be compiled and updated. The concept of green infrastructures will be examined and an inventory of relevant current policies compiled. Comhar SDC will communicate and promote green infrastructures to local authorities and other related policymakers. This work should feed into the development of new regional guidelines ensuring an integrated approach.

In summary, the priorities proposed in this area in order of execution are: 

• Development of a Local Authority Sustainability Newsletter;
• Green infrastructure guidance and communication to local authorities; 
• Creation of a toolkit describing sustainable development suitable for training purposes and provision of guidance for local authority training bodies such as IPA on sustainable development; 
• Draft guidelines for best practice for communication of sustainable development at local level.

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. Comhar SDC participates in the steering group overseeing preparation and implementation of the strategy. Proposals for a draft strategy were presented to a stakeholder workshop in Croke Park in December 2007 and the final strategy is expected in 2009.

The main priorities proposed for this area are summarised as: 

• Improvement of communication with stakeholders and the public on sustainable development through the Comhar SDC website and publications; 
• Continued engagement with finalisation and implementation of the national strategy for ESD and support for work at RCE ESD in development of promotional materials for education for sustainable development.

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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.

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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.

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

• to advance the national agenda for sustainable development 
• to evaluate progress on achieving sustainable development in Ireland 
• to assist in developing tools and models that can progress Ireland towards sustainable development 
• to advice the relevant individual(s) and/or organisation(s) on how to implement the tools and models 
• to contribute to the formation of a national consensus on sustainable development.

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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.
The chair serves for five years and the Council Members are appointed for three years. The composition was renewed in 2009 and the fourth term will end in 2011. The current chair of Comhar is Professor Frank Convery. 

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Staff Members

The Chairman is assisted by a Bureau (representing each of the five pillars) in managing Comhar's business. Comhar has an executive/secretariat of seven staff. Noel Casserly is the Director.

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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 to 

• Stimulating informed debate and achieving public visibility;
• Assisting in the preparation of national strategies;
• Contributing to national and EU progress reviews;
• The involvement of civil society;
• Better linking of different policies and policies level;

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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.  

• Biodiversity Forum;
• Sustainable Development strategy and indicators;
• Green new deal (ad-hoc);
• Awareness and Education- working with the Regional Centre for Expertise in Ireland.

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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.

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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.

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Activities in the EEAC Network

Comhar joined EEAC in 2003. It  is an active member of  the EEAC Working Groups Sustainable Development Strategy, Agriculture, Energy and Biodiversity. From 2009, the Director of Comhar, Noel Casserly, is chairing the Working group Biodiversity. Comhar is also an observer in the Working Group Governance. 

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.

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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 by Comhar since 2006: 

• Comhar SDC Recommendations-EU 2020 (2010)
• Towards a Green New Deal for Ireland (October 2009);
• Recommendation to the Regional Authorities in the Greater Dublin Area for the Greater Dublin Area Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022 (March 2009);
• Recommendation to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on Biodiversity & Climate Change (2009); 
• Recommendation to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on ESD training for local authorities (2009);
• Recommendations to Department of Finance on Carbon Pricing (2009);
• Recommendations to the Department of Transport on the Biofuels Obligation Scheme (November 2008;
• Recommendations to the Government on the Budget 2009 (2008);
• Recommendations to the Department of Transport, Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan Comhar Sustainable Development Council Response to Public Consultation (May 2008);
• Recommendations to the Commission on Taxation (2008);
• Recommendations to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the Green Paper on Local Government Reform (2008); 
• Biodiversity recommendations to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Conserving Ireland's Biodiversity, A submission on the Second National Biodiversity Plan, Biodiversity Forum Briefing Paper (April 2008);
• Recommendations to the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources, Comhar Response to consultation on National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (January 2008); 
• Submission to the Department of Finance on Budget 2008 (2007);
• Recommendations to Government for budget (2007);
• Recommendations to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the review of the National Sustainable Development Strategy, (September 2007);
• Chairman's Commentary - Adapting to Climate Change (August 2007);
• Recommendations to the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government on Communicating Climate Change and the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2007);
• Comhar SDC Recommendations to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government on proposed VRT and Motor Tax restructuring to include CO2-emissions differentiation (2007); 
• Recommendations to the Commission on the Green Paper Adapting to Climate Change (2007); 
• Recommendations to the Department of Transport on its new Strategy Statement in 2007 (2007); 
• Recommendations to the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government on its new Strategy Statement in 2007 (2007); 
• Submission on OECD Review of the Irish Public Sector (2007); 
• Recommendations to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on its new Strategy Statement in 2007 (2007); 
• Recommendations to the new Government on implementing sustainable development (2007); 
• Recommendations to the Department of Education and Science to the National Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development (2007); 
• Towards Sustainability in the National Development Plan 2007–2013, (March 2007);
• Recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Communicating climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, (February 2007);
• Consultation on proposed motor tax restructuring to include CO2-emissions differentiation (February 2007); 
• Consultation on proposed vehicle registration tax restructuring to include CO2-emissions differentiation (February 2007); 
• Recommendations on the Energy Green Paper “Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland” (December 2006)
• Recommendations on Budget 2007, “Towards Sustainability” in Budget 2007, (November 2006);
• Sustainability in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 - Capital Investment in key sectoral areas - Recommendations from Comhar, (October 2006);
• Recommendations to the Department of Finance, Comhar's analysis and recommendations on Sustainability in the National Development Plan 2007-13 (September 2006);
• Recommendations to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the review of the National Climate Change Strategy, Ireland’s Pathway to Kyoto Compliance - Commentary and Recommendations – Comprising Proposals for Inclusion in a Revised National Climate Change Strategy, (September 2006);
• Submission to the Environmental Protection Agency on Ireland's Draft National Allocation Plan for emissions trading for the period 2008-2012 (2006);
• Recommendations to the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government on proposals for a waste regulator (2006);
• Recommendations to the Department of the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on the Energy Green Paper (2006).

The following list provides an overview of internal research and commissioned research on various aspects of sustainable development by Comhar since 2006:

• Documentation of Annual Conference 2008, Implementing Sustainable Development: Empowering Local Communities (2009);
• Biodiversity and Climate Change in Ireland Briefing Paper (January 2009);
• Report Sustainable Rural Transport Policy (May 2009);
• Sub-National Sustainable Development Indicators (January 2009);
• County and City Development Boards and the proposed new environment sub-committees (December 2008);
• Adapting to Climate Change (2008);
• Climate Change and Biodiversity (2008);
• Cap and Share Workshop Outcomes (2008);
• Cap and Share, Phase 1: policy options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Interim Final Report (May 2008);
• Towards A Sustainable Rural Transport Policy (May 2008);
• Greenhouse gas emissions trading in Europe and Japan workshop outcomes (2008);
• Mobilising Market Based Instruments (2008);
• Freight Transport Policy Workshop Outcomes (2008); 
• Measuring Ireland's Sustainability (2007);
• Policy Instruments (2007);
• Sustainable Consumption & Production – The art of the state, (2007);
• Governance and Sustainability (2007); 
• Education for Sustainable Development (2007);
• Annual Conference Report 2006 (2007);
• Counting What Counts - A Report on Sustainable Development Indicators prepared for Comhar by Enviro Centre, (February 2007);
• NSDS Workshop Outcomes (2007);
• NDP Briefing papers (2006);

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