Building sustainable communities will require a "radical and imaginative" approach by local and national government and the coordination of planning, design, transport and taxation policy, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said today.
Mr Gormley also said the Government will encourage the use of renewable energy sources by reducing any further "unnecessary regulatory barriers" to their uptake.
The Minister was addressing a major conference in Dublin on how Ireland can meet its targets on climate change. The two-day event is organised by Comhar Sustainable Development Council.
Professor Frank Convery
Addressing the event, Mr Gormley said that at both national and European level, policies have been "progressively informed by the sustainable development agenda".
He said the EU Sustainable Development Strategy would identify what gaps still remain in our policies.
Mr Gormley said welcomed what he said were positive developments on Ireland's part, such as adoption of the Climate Change Strategy, excise relief on biofuels and implementation of the Buildings Directive.
However he also drew attention to very significant challenges in reducing our emissions and ensuring security of energy supply.
"We are heading in the right direction but need to move a lot faster," the Minister said.
He added tht the renewed National Sustainable Development Strategy would set out the key policy commitments on sustainable development for Ireland in the medium and longer term.
Other key contributors at the event include Dermot McCarthy, secretary general to the Government and the Department of the Taoiseach who will reflect on what it takes to make sustainable development effective across government departments, and Rory O'Donnell, director of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).
"Setting targets on climate change and sustainability is painless, but meeting them requires putting in place the right policies; sufficient resources and well-motivated and functioning institutions at national, regional and local levels," said Professor Frank Convery, chairman of Comhar.
"To be effective, sustainable development policy must involve many government departments and agencies working together, and must interact productively with stakeholders in business and the community."
Comhar, established by the Government in 1999, is responsible for informing national policy on sustainable development.
The conference, entitled Making it Happen - Towards a Sustainable Ireland, will inform the National sustainable Development Strategy.