Kerry Leads the Way in Sustainability this SDG Week

Every September, SDG Week shines a spotlight on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — a global framework to tackle the world’s biggest challenges, from climate change and biodiversity loss to health, equality, and cultural resilience.

But the SDGs aren’t just for governments and international agencies. They shape how we live, how we work, and how we protect the places we love. They guide choices like how communities care for wellbeing, how businesses treat their staff and customers, and how we celebrate our cultural identity. SDG Week reminds us that sustainable living isn’t a distant goal — it’s something we can weave into everyday life.

Here in Kerry, communities, businesses, and leaders are showing what this looks like in practice. It’s one of the reasons why Kerry isn’t just a great place to visit, but also to live and work.

Building Inclusive Communities

Kerry’s ranking on the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index highlighted the importance of social sustainability. Our progress isn’t just about energy and the environment — it’s also about building inclusive, caring communities where health and wellbeing come first.

Kerry has been a leader in creating opportunities for everyone to take part in community life:

  • Autism-Friendly Towns: Tralee, Killarney, and Listowel are all on the journey to becoming Autism-Friendly, ensuring public spaces, schools, and businesses are welcoming for all.
  • Dementia Awareness in Listowel: A model of compassion and education, this initiative helps families and communities understand and support people living with dementia.
  • Age Action Kerry: From digital skills to social inclusion programmes, older people across Kerry are supported to live well and stay connected.
  • Visitor Engagement: Projects like the Killarney Coffee Cup Project and STIK Around Kenmare invite visitors to take part in local sustainability efforts, showing that millions of annual guests can be part of the solution too.

Cultural sustainability also plays a part. The renewed importance of the Irish language across Kerry strengthens community identity and ensures that our heritage is carried proudly into the future.

These stories reflect SDG 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), reminding us that a truly sustainable county is one where everyone belongs.

Dingle Peninsula: Ireland’s Greenest Place

The Dingle Peninsula was recently named the overall winner of Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 by The Irish Times and Electric Ireland. Judges were impressed by the area’s wide-ranging commitment to sustainability — across energy, transport, tourism, and agriculture.

Recognising the importance of tourism to the local economy, the community launched Ireland’s first Tourism and Hospitality Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) in March 2023. With the Dingle Hub managing the project more than 120 local businesses are now working together on a roadmap for cleaner, more efficient energy use:

  • Current annual energy demand is 29,913 MWh — costing around €5.9 million.
  • The SEC aims to cut this by 75%, down to 7,713 MWh.
  • That would reduce the sector’s carbon footprint by an impressive 85%.

This initiative is a shining example of SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) in action, offering a model for other regions to follow.

 

Community Action in North Kerry & Tralee

Elsewhere, Kerry communities are making change at grassroots level. In Ballybunion, the Brilliant Ballybunion group hosted the North Kerry Sustainability Day earlier this year — a day of workshops, talks and practical ideas to support climate action, biodiversity and sustainable energy.

From beach clean-ups to biodiversity projects, these efforts show what’s possible when people come together to protect their local environment.

In Tralee, Tralee Chamber recently earned national recognition for its heritage-led regeneration of Castle Street.

It won the 2025 Chambers Ireland Award for Community Support Initiative for its visionary “Castle Street – Looking to the Past for the Future” project. The project reimagines a historic street in central Tralee — preserving heritage, while transforming it into a vibrant, people-centric public realm. 

This combination of heritage, restoration, community renewal and local action shows how social, economic, cultural, and environmental strands can weave together.

Both providing living examples of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities).

Kerry Businesses Taking Global Standards Seriously

Sustainability is not just a community effort — Kerry businesses are stepping up too. Some have gone a step further by achieving B Corp certification, a rigorous global standard for companies that meet the highest levels of social and environmental performance.

These businesses show how the private sector can drive progress on SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production), while giving customers the chance to support meaningful change through their choices.

 

Why It Matters

  1. For visitors, Kerry offers not just wild Atlantic beauty, but also the reassurance that your stay supports communities taking real climate and social action.
  2. For locals, it means cleaner air, healthier communities, and stronger connections.
  3. For those considering living or working here, Kerry is proof that you can build a career and a life in a place that cares about its people, its culture, and its planet.

Discover Kerry. Discover Sustainability. Discover Your Future.