Empowering Education for Sustainable Development: A Submission from the BEST Network for Ireland’s Third SDG National Implementation Plan – A Case for a Bioeconomy Approach

This submission from the Bioeconomy Education and Sustainability Teachers (BEST) Network contributes to the public consultation on Ireland’s Third Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) National Implementation Plan (NIP). It positions Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), aligned with SDG Target 4.7, as a central delivery mechanism for achieving Ireland’s SDG commitments. The submission makes the case for embedding a bioeconomy approach across education systems to support systems thinking, circularity, ecological limits and a just transition. It highlights gaps in current curriculum integration, educator capacity and coordination across policy frameworks. Key recommendations include national leadership for SDG education, sustained funding and formal integration of bioeconomy competencies from early years through higher and adult education. The submission emphasises the critical role of initial teacher education and continuing professional development. It also calls for meaningful youth participation and whole-school and community-based approaches. Finally, it recommends education-specific SDG indicators and reporting to ensure measurable impact. Collectively, these actions would embed education as a core pillar of Ireland’s sustainable development strategy.