COALITION 2030 HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING PRESS RELEASE AND SAYS NEW LEGISLATION MUST DELIVER REAL PROTECTION FOR IRELAND’S SEAS AND INCLUDE ONGOING MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE, ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION.
A coalition of leading humanitarian, trade union, international, domestic and environmental non-governmental organisations says Ireland has a once in a generation opportunity to protect, conserve and restore our unique marine environment in line with international targets set under the Sustainable Development Goals.
Coalition 2030 is appearing before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs today (Tuesday, November 10th) to push not only for Irelands Commitment to SDG 14 Life Below Water: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development” but also to utilise SDG16: “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” to include real and ongoing stakeholder engagement to protect the seas, species and habitats off Ireland’s coast.
New laws to give a legal framework to designate and manage Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are at the pre-legislative stage and are being scrutinised by the committee. MPAs are areas of our seas and coasts designed to legally protect the habitats and species from activities that damage them.
Coalition 2030 has welcomed the publication of the General Scheme of the MPA bill which is being introduced as amendments to Ireland’s existing marine planning legislation.
However, the coalition has expressed concern that the proposed legislation doesn’t go far enough and wants to see comprehensive management and accountability structures including the commitment to SDG target 14.5 to “conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information.”
Jenny Bortoluzzi, Irish Environmental Pillar said “it is crucial that the delay in legislation for MPAs does not result in a missed opportunity for proper marine spatial planning which is ecosystem-based and follows international best practice. Areas likely to become MPAs, that are ecologically important, or important blue carbon habitats, which are already helping to mitigate the climate crisis, must be taken into account early in this process and these different sectors and interests should be planned simultaneously, if not together.”
Niall McGuirk, Co-ordinator of Coalition 2030 added “Ireland’s maritime territory is vast, and yet, it faces significant threats from overfishing, habitat destruction, and the impacts of climate change. Coalition 2030’s vision is for Ireland to fully implement the SDGs at home and to contribute to their achievement internationally. Sustainable Development Goal target 16.7 aims to “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels”. The 2030 Agenda also highlights the importance indicators have for decision-making. Ireland’s commitments in the ‘Compromiso de Sevilla’ agreed last year, involve strengthening inclusive partnerships with Civil Society. This goes beyond just the consultation phase but being any active part of the monitoring and reporting phase. “
Coalition 2030 is an alliance of more than 75 civil society organisations and trade unions, working together to hold Ireland accountable for its commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
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For more information, please contact
Niall McGuirk, co-ordinator, Coalition 2030