The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At the heart of the Agenda are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries, both developed and developing, in a global partnership.

United Nations (UN) Goals are applicable to countries rather than individual public bodies but there are aspects of the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) that can help public bodies incorporate sustainability in their capital works projects.

Ireland is committed to achieving the SDGs and information on Ireland’s approach for implementation of the SDGs is set out in the Second National Implementation Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals 2022-20242. More information on Ireland’s action in relation to UN SDGs is available on the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment website.

Examples of the inclusion of SDGs in the CWMF:

• Cost and Carbon reporting templates are based on the International Cost Management Standard (ICMS3). This allows for cost and carbon to be considered across the whole life of the constructed asset (SDG 13)
• Mandating the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM). This will allow for efficient design and operation of constructed assets. It also facilitates the building of resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) and the incorporation of responsible consumption and production (SDG 12)
• Promoting Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). MMC provides the opportunity to develop a more diverse workforce in the construction sector through the provision of semi-skilled work. This can provide new employment opportunities while stimulating economic growth through innovation, and promoting responsible consumption and production (SDG 8, SDG 9 and SDG 12)
• Pay and conditions of employment clauses have been included in the suite of public works contracts since their publication in 2007 which allows the enforcement of provisions of employment and labour law through the contract as well as through the Workplace Relations Commission (SDG 8).