Ireland’s education system is being positioned as a key driver of climate awareness, social responsibility and long-term resilience. Through gov.ie, the State has outlined how Education for Sustainable Development will shape learning from early years to higher education under an updated national strategy running to 2030.
Published by the Department of Education and Youth and updated in August 2026, the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland sets out a framework for embedding sustainability across the education sector. The policy aims to support action at individual, community, local, national and international level, while linking classroom learning with wider public priorities in Climate Action, Education and community wellbeing.
gov.ie strategy sets the direction for sustainable learning
The current roadmap, known as ESD to 2030, is co-sponsored by the Department of Education, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It builds on the first national strategy for 2014 to 2020 and reflects the Government’s broader sustainability agenda across Local Government and Heritage, Health, Social Protection and Public Expenditure.
The strategy is designed to ensure learners gain the knowledge, values and practical skills needed to respond to environmental and societal challenges. It also signals how gov.ie is increasingly serving as a central access point for national policy, consultation documents, progress reports and funding announcements.
- Second National Strategy: ESD to 2030
- Implementation Plan 2022–2026
- First and second progress reports
- Earlier 2014–2020 strategy and interim review
Consultation helped shape the new approach
A public consultation launched on Earth Day in April 2021 helped inform the second strategy. The process, led jointly by ministers across Education and Further and Higher Education, gathered submissions and survey feedback before closing in June 2021. The resulting consultation reports highlighted the growing demand for sustainability to be embedded more deeply in schools, colleges and early learning settings.
Funding, school supports and gov.ie resources expanded
A major part of the gov.ie Education for Sustainable Development rollout is practical support. The department has published multiple funding calls and grantee lists for schools and organisations from 2022 through 2026, helping local projects move from policy into action. These supports are relevant to school leaders, education bodies and communities working alongside agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sustainable education partners and local authorities.
For schools, one of the most useful developments is the Sustainability Toolkit. It supports adoption of a Sustainability Policy Statement and aligns with Ireland’s School Sector Climate Action Mandate, published in 2023. The toolkit includes:
- A sustainability self-assessment tool
- School sustainability guidelines
- A sustainability policy statement template
This complements the national Climate Action agenda, which targets a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050.
Annual forum and advisory groups support implementation
Implementation is also being guided by a National Steering Group and specialist advisory groups covering schools, further and higher education, and children’s settings. In addition, the annual National Forum on Education for Sustainable Development gives stakeholders a space to assess progress, exchange ideas and discuss future priorities.
Teacher capacity is another focus. A CPD list for teachers is maintained to support continuing professional development in sustainability-related learning, helping educators translate national goals into everyday teaching.
Explore more: in-depth Ireland sustainability and education features and top Irish climate action and schools coverage.
Why this gov.ie update matters
The latest gov.ie update confirms that Education for Sustainable Development is no longer a side initiative but a core national policy priority. With strategy documents, consultation reports, funding streams, school toolkits and advisory structures now in place, Ireland is creating a clearer path for sustainability to be embedded across the full learning journey. For schools, educators and communities, the takeaway is clear: gov.ie is now the main hub for tracking how sustainable education policy is being delivered in practice.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
