TANAISTE LAUNCHES FIRST SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE, TRADE & EMPLOYMENT

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Ms. Mary Harney, T.D., today (Friday 3^rd January, 2003) launched the first Sustainable Development Strategy for the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

The Tánaiste said that publication of the Strategy represented a major step forward, as it is the first sustainable development strategy to be produced by any of the Government Departments. She explained that sustainable development means integrating economic, environmental and social dimensions in a balanced way. The Tánaiste added that "from my Department's perspective, sustainable development is about finding more environmentally and socially responsible and sustainable ways of doing business, both within the Department itself and for enterprises in Ireland. The Strategy shows our willingness and commitment to make sustainable development a reality".

The Tánaiste acknowledged that implementation of the strategy will pose challenges as well as providing opportunities but that there will be significant benefits in the long-term, not just for enterprises, but for society as a whole.

The Strategy builds on the 1997 National Sustainable Development Strategy published by the Department of the Environment & Local Government and the 2001 EU Sustainable Development Strategy. Its overall aim is to enable the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment to address the challenges posed by sustainable ways of doing business, while also maximising the business and competitiveness opportunities presented. To this end, the Strategy provides a path for both the Department and enterprises to achieve sustainable development by setting tangible objectives and actions, which will be reviewed and revised at regular intervals.

Four priority strategic areas have been selected for focus over a three-year period (2003 - 2005) and these are:

• Climate change
• Competitive sustainability
• Corporate social responsibility
• Departmental sustainability

"It is our belief", said the Tánaiste, "that integrating sustainability and competitiveness has the potential to deliver reduced production costs and also to stimulate both innovative design and more efficient production processes. Achieving such results links well with other Departmental objectives regarding competitiveness, productivity and profitability, particularly for small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs). I look forward to the initial targets in the Strategy being implemented over the next three years and I am determined that my Department will do all it can to lead by example in ensuring that sustainable development becomes an integral part of doing business".

Copies of the Strategy and further information on the Strategy are available from:

The Environment Unit, Dept. of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Tel: 01 631 2229/2232

The Strategy will also be available on the Department's website at http://www.djei.ie/trade/environment/sustainabledevelopmentstrategy.htm

Notes for Editors

DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE, TRADE & EMPLOYMENT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2003-2005

1. Introduction

Sustainable development is a form of development that encompasses economic, social and environmental dimensions in a balanced way in order to ensure that society can meet the needs of the present generation while allowing for future generations to be able to meet their needs. There is a growing consensus that economic growth, social cohesion and environmental protection must be integrated in order to achieve balanced and sustainable development. This was reflected in the publication by the Department of Environment in 1997 of Ireland's first sustainable development strategy, which set tangible objectives and actions for sustainable development in all sectors. It is also reflected in the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment's overall mission statement for 2001- 2003, which is "to promote the sustainable development of a modern competitive enterprise economy based on quality employment, social inclusion and enhanced working and living conditions". Sustainable development presents both opportunities and threats for enterprise development; if it is not addressed in a structured and focused way, from an enterprise perspective, there is a danger that the opportunities will be missed and the threats realised. In this regard, the Department decided to develop a strategy on sustainable development. A draft version of the strategy was published in May 2002, followed by a consultation process with government departments and agencies, social partners, NGOs and the general public. The submissions received were taken into account in the production of this final strategy document.

2. Goals and Objectives

The overall aim of this strategy document is to enable the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment to address the challenges posed by sustainable ways of doing business, while also maximising the business and competitiveness opportunities presented. To this end, the Strategy provides a path for both the Department and enterprises to achieve sustainable development by setting tangible objectives and actions over a period of time, which will be reviewed and revised at regular intervals. The strategy document selects four priority strategic areas, with tangible objectives and actions, for focus over a three-year period (2003 - 2005) and these are outlined in more detail below:

Goal 1 Climate Change

Pursue the establishment of appropriate mechanisms to ensure that the enterprise sector can meet its obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the National Climate Change Strategy as cost-effectively as possible.

Objectives

• Facilitate optimum participation for enterprises in the EU emissions trading scheme.
• Pursue the establishment of structures and mechanisms to ensure that enterprises can engage in negotiated agreements where appropriate.
• Facilitate optimum participation for enterprises in Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects abroad and consider the implications of JI projects to be based in Ireland.
• Ensure that mechanisms are in place to assess the impact of inward and indigenous investment projects on greenhouse gas emissions.
• Contribute to the development of appropriate taxation measures as part of the policy mix for achieving greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
• Improve the availability and take-up of information for enterprises on actions that can be taken to address greenhouse gas emissions and climate change issues.

Goal 2 Competitive Sustainability

Integrate sustainability and competitiveness by supporting the move to more sustainable forms of production through promoting knowledge, research and development and innovation in areas such as clean technologies, green business opportunities and design of sustainable products and processes.

Objectives

• Enable companies to reduce their environmental impact and improve productivity through the development, diffusion and use of eco-efficient technologies and practices.
• Maximise the potential for innovation to contribute to both competitiveness and sustainability goals.
• Support and develop policy instruments for sustainable development that also contribute to enhanced competitiveness, innovation and economic efficiency.

Goal 3 Corporate Social Responsibility

Encourage and support the adoption of socially and environmentally responsible attitudes and practices by enterprises.

Objectives

• Actively promote the adoption of good corporate practices by enterprises.
• Continue to promote the implementation of sustainable trade policies and practices at national, EU and international level.
• Enhance the capacity of enterprises to move towards sustainable management principles and practices.
• Support sustainable consumer choices through ensuring the provision of accurate and credible social and environmental information on products and services.

Goal 4 Departmental Sustainability

Integrate sustainable development principles and practices into departmental and agency policy-making and operations management.

Objectives

• Build up internal expertise on how to integrate sustainable development into departmental decision-making and policy development.
• Incorporate best environmental practice into the Department's operations.

3. Implementation Process

The Strategy will be implemented by the incorporation of objectives and actions into the Annual Business Plans of the Department and agencies and by the incorporation of the Strategy into Departmental Strategy Statements. Progress on implementation will be reviewed in the Department's Annual Report, with an overall evaluation being conducted as the strategy draws to a conclusion at the end of 2005.