Irish ambassador aims to inspire at college

As world leaders met in Paris for a potentially historic United Nations conference on climate change, Ireland’s ambassador to the world body explained international diplomacy during a talk at Manhattan College on Dec. 2.

Connor Flannery, a third-year International Studies major, stopped by to see what his degree could lead to.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to learn more and see a real-world example of someone who’s doing it as a profession,” he said.

Was Mr. Flannery considering a career in the Foreign Service?

“Maybe. I haven’t gotten that far,” he said with a laugh.

During his talk, Ambassador David Donoghue primarily spoke about the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, a set of 17 targets including an “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” and “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns” by 2030. Mr. Donoghue facilitated talks leading up to the goals, along with the ambassador from Kenya.

“We basically had the task of organizing and leading the negotiations, which on one hand was to finalize the new goals and targets and get agreement between 193 nations, and on the other hand come up with a declaration [that would explain] why its leaders would be investing so much in it,” he explained.

Mr. Donoghue said he sometimes ran into cynicism during negotiations, with people asking why anyone should bother with a set of lofty goals unlikely to be accomplished within 15 years. He told the students his common response to that complaint.

“In terms of global development, goals are very useful as a means of demonstrating priority,” he explained. “They are intended to inspire confidence in the world’s nations to achieve the goals we set out.”

The U.N. ratified the goals during the General Assembly in September, an achievement that makes Mr. Donoghue particularly proud.

Mr. Donoghue’s discussion about the goals fit in with Manhattan College’s recent emphasis on climate issues and sustainability. Earlier this school year, the college held “Sustainable September,” a series of events and discussions environmental issues.

After his talk, Mr. Donoghue took questions from the students in the audience. One young woman asked the ambassador how students could implement the goals for themselves and on campus.

“A very important point is that these goals will last for 15 years and they may even last beyond that,” Mr. Donoghue answered. “You young people will have a vital role to play in spreading the word of [the goals] and making sure they are known.”

He explained that understanding the Sustainable Development Goals and raising awareness is vital to their success. The ambassador also said in the future, today’s youth will have to maintain pressure on governments to adhere to the goals.