To mark Global Goal’s Week at Expo 2020, Irish thought-leaders and dignitaries, hosted and participated in a number of informative events, panels and discussions, and unveiled the specially curated Irish Aid Exhibition at the Ireland pavilion.

The delegation comprised of Ireland’s former Irish ambassador to the UN, David Donoghue, a leader in the development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Deputy Secretary General of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Sonja Hyland – who oversees Ireland’s position on the Security Council at the UN. The United Nations Sustainability Goals were the key focus of the highly anticipated week at Expo, which addressed the urgent issues that matter most to drive global progress for people and the planet.

The Ireland Pavilion also hosted a thought-provoking exhibition titled ‘Objects that connect us’ from Irish Aid; a stirring visual representation of 25 items reflecting Ireland’s rich culture of empathy and compassion.

Ireland played a unique and central role in the process to agree the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ratified in 2015 in New York. Ireland’s then Ambassador to the UN, David Donoghue, was appointed co-chair with his Kenyan counterpart, Macharia Kamau in the final intergovernmental negotiations while Sonja Hyland has worked closely on the implementation of the SDGs. UN Global Goals Week represents a culturally and politically significant event for Ireland and the delegation’s presence at Expo culminated in a week-long programme of events to inspire, engage and celebrate.

Meeting with Charles Trumbo, Director of the Kenya Pavilion, Sonja Hyland and David O’Donoghue (photo attached)

On 16^th January, Charles Trumbo, Director of the Kenya Pavilion convened with Sonja Hyland and David O’Donoghue at the Ireland Pavilion for a meeting to discuss the work of the two nations in negotiating the UN SDGs. The two nations played a pivotal role as Co-Chair of the committee overseeing the negotiations of the 17 SDGs that have already had a profound effect on global economic, environmental and social development.

Circular Europe Event

On 17th and 18th January 2022, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) Coordination Group presented Europe’s pioneering work before a global audience during the CircularEurope Days at Expo 2020 Dubai. The Circular Europe Days represented two days of eight separate events across five pavilions including Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Poland and Finland. The hybrid events facilitated interactive discussions involving European Commissioners, members of the European Parliament and representatives of the European institutions’ highest levels around Europe’s vision forthe circular economy.

At the closing ceremony of Circular Europe Days, which took place at the Ireland Pavilion, guests were welcomed by Pat Hennessy, Commissioner General of Ireland Pavilion and Sonja Hyland,Deputy Secretary General of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs..The event was led by Dr. Sarah Miller, CEO of the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy, who spoke about Ireland’s progress to date and future plans to advance the Circular Economy in Dublin and abroad.

Munster Technological University programme

During Global Goals Week at Expo 2020, the Ireland Pavilion hosted a three-day event with Munster Technological University around Sport, Human Rights and Sustainable Development.. The three-day programme of events focused on inclusion of marginalized populations in sport was led by Catherine Carty, UNESCO Chair at MTU, which aligned with the overall Expo theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. UNESCO established the UNESCO Chair ‘Transforming the Lives of People with Disabilities their Families and Communities Through Physical Education, Sport, Recreation and Fitness’ in 2013 in the Institute of Technology Tralee, which became Munster Technological University in January 2021.

UN Global Goals Exhibition

Building on the Ireland Pavilion’s theme of ‘Putting Creativity at the Centre of the Human Experience’, the Ireland Pavilion hosted an exhibition celebrating Ireland’s long-standing commitment to global solidarity and support for vulnerable people around the world. The ‘Objects That Connect Us’ exhibition took centre-stage at the Ireland Pavilion for UN Global Goals Week, embodying a unique visual representation of Ireland’s rich culture of empathy and compassion. The exhibition showcased 25 objects, each of which told a powerful story of Ireland’s desire to build a world free from poverty, hunger and injustice.

Objects on display at the Pavilion included a ‘Famine Ship’ representing Ireland’s outlook and attitude towards hunger that remains influenced by the horrors of the Irish famine of the 1840s. Other notable objects in the exhibition include a ‘Live Aid’ poster from the iconic charity concert of 1985 lead by Irish-man Bob Geldof and a copy of the ‘Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty’ representing Ireland’s significant effort in drafting and ratifying the global treaty which originated as the ‘Irish Resolutions in 1958’. These items were displayed in the Courtyard of the Ireland Pavilion where guests could observe and learn about Ireland’s rich history of altruism and benevolence.

Global Goals Week at Expo 2020 represented a milestone week for the Ireland Pavilion as part of a six-month calendar of unique cultural and political events, building up to a highly anticipated celebration on the 17^th of March for Ireland’s national day, St. Patrick’s Day. To mark the iconic day, the Ireland Pavilion will host an exciting line-up of events; details of which will be announced soon.

For more information on Ireland’s presence at Expo 2020 Dubai, please visit the below link: www.Ireland.ie/expo

Follow us on social media on:

Instagram – @Irelandatexpo

Twitter – @Irelandatexpo

Facebook – @Irelandatexpo