The National Council for Sustainable Development holds off-site working group meeting in the Training Centre of the Ecology Institute in Gömörszőlős

On 4th October, one day prior to the working group meeting, a group of Board Members and experts visited Halmaj and Hernádszentandrás to see good practices in Hungary. These communities located in the Northern Hungarian region struggling with multiple disadvantages set a good example for sustainability achieved based on local resources and knowledge.

Gábor Üveges, the mayor of Hernádszentandrás said: “In December 2010, Hernádszentandrás with a population of 445 located halfway on the “Kosice-Miskolc” started a journey that fundamentally changed its importance, status and role both regionally and nationally. Based on a nearly decade-long effort dedicated to community building, the system of Bioszentandrás was established from the EU funds received. Instead of complaining and waiting for miracles to happen, an enterprise based on local resources was being created that was profit oriented while containing a number of social aspects as well intended to establish the complex criteria of independent operation in 5 years. Today, the area available for open-field and greenhouse farming is up to 2.5 ha, a modern processing plant have been built and will be open this summer, nearly 30 different herbs are cultivated and our popular hand-made products are made from lavender we grow on a land of 2000 sq metres.”

The off-site meeting of the Working Group on 5th October discussed the question asked by the Sustainability Council of the Netherlands:

Which European and global trends have an impact on the implementation of the SDGs?

The meeting where a number of experts participated along with the Board Members was held at the Training Centre of the Ecology Institute in Gömörszőlős on 5th October.

The summary paper for the Dutch Council collects not only the relevant issues but also includes proposals that are in line with the principles of the National Strategy on Sustainable Development.

The meeting discussed the UN’s sustainability goals, terms used with goals and targets, trends affecting sustainable development and the associated good practices.