This pledge is for candidates in the 2024 European Elections in Ireland to sign.
Whether we’re in Ireland or on the other side of the world, we all want similar things for our families. We want the people we love to be healthy and safe, with access to education and decent jobs, and a secure home. We want them to always have good food to eat, clean air to breathe and water to drink. We want to know our loved ones have the same opportunities as everyone else – that they aren’t discriminated against because of their income, gender, disability or the colour of their skin.
And we want to know that not only our children – but all generations to come – can look forward to a good life. That’s what the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are all about – that political decisions take into account the needs of people today, and those of future generations too.
Governments across the world – including our Government here in Ireland and the countries of the EU – agreed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. But we won’t meet this target unless our politicians take action for us all, now.
Right now, there is virtually no incentive for EU politicians to take a long-term view. Decisions are made based on what will win votes in the next election, not on how they will impact on our collective future. That’s why we have housing crises, broken healthcare systems, and growing inequalities between rich and poor. Europe is seeing climate chaos, vanishing biodiversity, escalating global conflicts reminiscent of the 1940s, rampant poverty, and a troubling surge of exclusionary politics. Human rights are being rolled back in many countries and according to the latest UN Sustainable Development Report, we are experiencing a ‘social recession’.
Achieving the SDGs requires decisions to be made with a view to how they impact on all policy areas, rather than in isolation. It requires joined-up thinking between EU Committees and institutions. And it requires an understanding that the Goals are not just about the environment; they’re about addressing every single area of policy to ensure we can build a world where everyone enjoys a decent quality of life.
To halt the burgeoning politics of disenchantment and exclusion, our new MEPs should stand up for justice, champion the cause of the marginalised, and forge a path towards a future where every individual – both present and future – is afforded the dignity they deserve. They must commit to putting a social protection floor under everyone’s feet and reorienting the finances of Europe towards meeting the human rights of all both at home and overseas.
These elections come at a make-or-break time for humanity, and the time for change is now.
Imagine the world we’d live in if the SDGs were all achieved. That world is possible.
We’re calling for your support to make it happen.
We also have asks and corresponding pledge in each policy area relevant to the SDGs: