An Introduction to The Environmental Forum (formerly Cork Environmental Forum)
FOREWORD
Inspired by the Rio Earth Conference in 1992, The Environmental Forum (as Cork Environmental Forum) came into being in 1995. It was supported by Cork County Council as an instrument for applying the principles of Local Agenda 21/ now Local Agenda 2030[1] (otherwise known as the Sustainable Development Goals) as agreed by the United Nations Global Conference on Environment and Development. Our initial brief was to bring various stakeholders together at a local level throughout Cork City and County, who would not ordinarily have occasion to meet to discuss local sustainability and environmental issues and agree on an appropriate action plan. Its primary purpose remains to foster, promote and implement sustainable development at a local level.
The Environmental Forum sets an example for the delivery of Local Agenda 2030 and the SDGs through log-term implementation of the LA21 process which recognises that all sectors share responsibility for the environment and opportunities must be developed for them to work in cooperation and agreement and that sustainable development can only be achieved by partnership ‘of all stakeholders, sharing ideas, information and resources, consultation and joint action.
Our own structure and representation (at both membership and executive level) of the four pillars of society – Business & Commercial, Public Sector, Community & Voluntary and Individuals lends to collaboration and a way of working in partnership with all stakeholders. The Environmental Forum is both an insider – influencing by sitting on local and national boards and committees and an outsider – tapping into local people’s power and knowledge and influencing people’s behaviour.
[1] Agenda 2030, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals, was a set of goals decided on at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015.[3] It takes all of the goals set by Agenda 21 and re-asserts them as the basis for sustainable development, saying, “We reaffirm all the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development…”[4] Adding onto those goals from the original Rio document, a total of 17 goals have been agreed on, revolving around the same concepts of Agenda 21; people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.[5]
Local Agenda 21 (an agenda for the 21st Century) was an important agreement reached at the United Nations Global Conference on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro in1992. This milestone agreement acknowledged that environmental care is most effective at a local level and that individuals and communities must be supported in caring for the environment. It recognised that all sectors share responsibility for the environment and opportunities must be developed for them to work in co-operation and agreement and that this can be achieved by partnership of all stake holders, sharing ideas, information and resources, consultation and joint action. The principles of Local Agenda 21 are recognised by the Irish Government in environmental policy making.
Local Action 21 has evolved from Local Agenda 21. It was agreed and signed up to the Johannesburg World Summit in 2002, where over 500 representatives of Local Authorities from all over the World formally adopted this programme for implementation of sustainable development.
This website carries further information about our meetings, events and copies of the position papers.
“We need not only a better view of man and nature, but a working method by which the least of us can ensure that the product of his works is not more despoliation”
Ian L. McHarg ‘Design with Nature’ (1971)