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Agenda 2030

Local and regional governments pave the way for the implementation of Global Goals

“Local and regional governments in Spain and across Europe are paving the way to the active implementation of the global goals”, writes Carlos Martínez Mínguez Mayor of Soria (Spain), CEMR Vice-President & Spokesperson on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He signed the foreword of PLATFORMA and CEMR’s joint study “European Territories Localise the SDGs: Continuity and Change in Times of COVID-19“. This opinion piece was originally published in EURACTIV.

Sustainable development is increasingly being linked with a new trending concept: sustainable recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic which hit Europe so hard, and continues to affect us, still requires local and regional governments to be at the forefront of crisis management and recovery planning, touching not only upon health issues but also social, environmental and economic priorities for citizens and local governments.

For us to build back better together towards a stronger and more resilient Europe, we need to fully harness and foster the power of the 2030 Agenda and all the values it showcases: inclusiveness and diversity; fostering new multi-sectoral and multi-level partnerships; policy coherence; gender equality; and territorial cohesion, with a particular focus on depopulated Europe. For effective localisation to take place, it is imperative to address all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a whole, as an indivisible set of objectives that need to be achieved from the bottom-up.

New localisation strategies need to be addressed to promote synergies between the 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda, as this political commitment will lay down the foundations for the holistic urban and rural design of Europe 2030: i.e. territories for better lives.

This year, Spain is presenting a Voluntary National Review at the United Nations High Level Political Forum that includes the recently approved Sustainable Development Strategy 2030, recognising and promoting the essential role of Spanish local governments to make the Sustainable Development Goals possible in the decade of action that lies ahead.

At the local level, periodical reports have been published (such as the Voluntary Local Review by Valencia, Barcelona, Diputación de Córdoba and Málaga, among others). Progress has been made in the definition of indicators, both with the Secretary of State for the 2030 Agenda of the Spanish Government and with a national think tank (Red Española para el Desarrollo Sostenible). All this with the strong support our national association, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP).

Local and regional governments in Spain and across Europe are paving the way to the active implementation of the global goals, but we need to have a dedicated space in these national and international reports and decision-making processes to showcase the realities of our territories: our differences, our challenges and most of all our strengths.

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

TONHAUSER Boris In Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

European territories localise the SDGs

Hot off the press: “European Territories Localise the SDGs”

Read full study

From global to local: PLATFORMA and CEMR are proud to present the 2021 edition of our regular series of publications on how municipalities, regions and their associations are making the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality on the ground.

Entitled European Territories Localise the SDGs: Continuity and Change in Times of COVID-19, this 46-page report is jam-packed with data, infographics, charts and best practices on how local and regional governments are working on the SDGs in Europe and beyond.

Based on data from 39 local and regional government associations in 29 countries, the study provides a succinct overview of the often-diverse situation across the European continent.

Local governments: key to monitoring and cooperation on the SDGs

The report’s findings are clear: an increasing number of local and regional governments and their associations in Europe are taking the lead in implementing what is still seen by many others as ‘just’ a global agenda. Those on the forefront however know how the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs can transform their daily work, policies and public services with inclusive approaches.

Indeed, 15.4% of associations are now more involved in the SDGs than in 2019. Today, over 3/4 associations have sound knowledge of the SDGs and 1/3 use them as a guiding reference.

The SDGs offer a shared vocabulary and goals, enabling local governments to interconnect with other governments and players, ultimately forming links between citizens and the world. Local governments and their associations have a particularly crucial role in promoting cooperation on and monitoring of progress on the SDGs.

84% of associations are involved in some way in national SDG coordination mechanisms. What’s more, around 4/5 associations have taking action on the SDGs’ international dimension and considers that the SDG framework helps development of partnerships with peers (i.e. decentralised cooperation activities around the 2030 Agenda).

The report also highlights the essential role of local government associations have played during the COVID crisis. This has included sharing information with municipalities and regions, capacity-building, advocating for financial support and participating in national consultations.

Recommendations to realise the 2030 Agenda from the bottom-up

We have long known that the ambitious goals of the 2030 Agenda need to be implemented from the bottom-up. The local level is ideal for experimentation, innovation and acceleration of work on the SDGs. However, the right conditions need to be in place to realise this potential.

The report formulates 5 key recommendations:

Increase EU and national funding for SDG localisation
Promote mutli-level governance, multi-stakeholder partnerships and policy coherence
Local and regional governments and their associations should continue peer learning within and outside Europe
National governments should increase recognition and support for SDG localisation (notably to monitor progress)
Strengthen human resources and capacities on SDG localisation

The report and its key findings will be presented on 29 June at the 12th Annual Meeting of Cités Unies Frances (CUF), on 8 July during a PLATFORMA-CEMR dedicated webinar taking place in the context of the the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF, registration form) and at other local government events.

More information:

CEMR and PLATFORMA, European Territories Localise the SDGs: Continuity and Change in Times of COVID-19 (Also available in French)
PLATFORMA-UCLG Learning module 4 on Decentralised Cooperation and the SDGs

For more information, contact:

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

TONHAUSER Boris In Latest, PLATFORMA

Sustainable Development Goals

Hot off the press: “European Territories Localise the SDGs”

From global to local: CEMR and PLATFORMA are proud to present the 2021 edition of our regular series of publications on how municipalities, regions and their associations are making the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality on the ground.

Based on data from 39 local and regional government associations in 29 countries, the study provides a succinct overview of the often-diverse situation across the European continent.

Local governments: key to monitoring and cooperation on the SDGs

Indeed, 15.4% of associations are now more involved in the SDGs than in 2019. Today, over 3/4 associations have sound knowledge of the SDGs and 1/3 use them as a guiding reference.

84% of associations are involved in some way in national SDG coordination mechanisms. What’s more, around 4/5 associations have taking action on the SDGs’ international dimension and consider that the SDG framework helps development of partnerships with peers, namely for decentralised cooperation activities centered around the 2030 Agenda.

Recommendations to realise the 2030 Agenda from the bottom-up

The report formulates 5 key recommendations:

Increase EU and national funding for SDG localisation
Promote mutli-level governance, multi-stakeholder partnerships and policy coherence
Local and regional governments and their associations should continue peer learning within and outside Europe
National governments should increase recognition and support for SDG localisation (notably to monitor progress)
Strengthen human resources and capacities on SDG localisation

The report and its key findings will be presented on 29 June at the 12th Annual Meeting of Cités Unies Frances (CUF), on 8 July during a PLATFORMA-CEMR dedicated webinar taking place during the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF, registration form) and at other local government events.

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva In Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

Localising sustainable goals after COVID19

How European territories are driving sustainable change amid the Covid-19 crisis

Read full study

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a profound shock for municipalities and regions across Europe. Faced with health emergencies, social disruption, and economic slowdown, local and regional governments (LRGs) had to adapt swiftly, protecting essential services, reallocating budgets, and reshaping priorities. Yet, despite the immense challenges, many local authorities did not abandon global commitments. Instead, they turned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) as a framework to guide recovery and long-term resilience.

With over 65% of SDGs requiring local implementation, municipalities and their national associations play a decisive role in ensuring progress. Some cities temporarily slowed their SDG-related work, but others actively integrated the Goals into recovery strategies, using them to design inclusive, coherent, and sustainable policies. This approach has strengthened their credibility as leaders in “building back better.”

National associations of local governments proved to be vital allies. By coordinating efforts, connecting municipalities with resources, and advocating at the national and European levels, they helped ensure that even small and rural communities could advance the SDG agenda. Importantly, awareness and commitment have grown: associations in countries where SDG uptake was once limited are now actively building knowledge, promoting peer learning, and pushing for recognition of local action.

Another breakthrough is the rise of Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) and Voluntary Subnational Reviews, which showcase municipal achievements and give visibility to local actors on the international stage. This not only strengthens city diplomacy but also fosters a shared vocabulary and sense of purpose among local, national, and global partners.

The Covid-19 crisis has underscored the transformative power of the SDGs: as both a roadmap for sustainable recovery and a catalyst for innovation in governance, partnerships, and service delivery. Still, achieving the Goals requires greater investment and mobilisation of resources. EU initiatives such as the Green Deal, cohesion funds, and Global Europe offer crucial opportunities to scale up local action, alongside new forms of public-private partnerships.

In short, the SDGs are not an abstract global agenda, they are a practical tool for territories to rebuild stronger, fairer, and greener communities. Even in times of crisis, Europe’s municipalities and their associations are proving that sustainability is not just a long-term ambition, but an immediate necessity.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

ROSSI Fabrizio In About CEMR, EU Covenant of Mayors, Gender equality, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, Twinning, Ukraine reconstruction

CEMR – 70 years

Celebrating 70 years of local and regional Europe

500 mayors, regional and local leaders, and EU officials from 50 countries are gathering on 28 January 2021 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).

The attendants – including the Mayors of Paris, Lisbon and Gdansk, the EU commissioner for environment, MEPs and many more – will also reflect on the role of local and regional governments in the transformative decades to come.

“Today, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions looks back on a proud history representing and federating local and regional Europe”, said Stefano Bonaccini, President of CEMR and of the Emilia-Romagna Region.

“From the first steps promoting town twinning and local democracy to later work on territorial development and regional representation at EU level, CEMR and our member associations have time and again been trendsetters for Europe”, added President Bonaccini. “In our current context, marked by the pandemic, climate change and other major challenges, municipalities and regions are again playing a critical role.”

“We have steadily expanded in every respect over the years”, said CEMR Secretary General Frédéric Vallier. “CEMR has grown to embrace 60 associations covering 41 countries, making it by far Europe’s broadest local government organisation.”

Vallier added: “So too we have increased our areas of action, to include issues such as rights, gender equality, territorial development, public services, international cooperation and climate change, thanks to our highly professional and devoted staff and members. That is why we can look to the future with confidence: local and regional Europe is ready for the great changes of this momentous century!”

A few of CEMR’s achievements

• Defence of local democracy and self-governance: The adoption of the European Charter of Municipal Liberties in Versailles in October 1953 affirmed the conditions for municipalities’ genuine administrative and financial self-government. The text notably served as a basis for the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which has been ratified by all 47 states of the Council of Europe.

• The recognition of local and regional governments as an integral part of Europe’s model of governance, notably with the creation of EU Committee of the Regions and the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

• Launch of the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life in 2006: this political document aims to secure firm commitments from towns and regions to take concrete measures to promote gender equality in their territories. Over 1,850 signatories have thus committed to taking action.

• Participating in the creation and operation of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in 2008: the Covenant’s signatory territories commit to reducing CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 and to increase the use of renewable energy.

• Creation of PLATFORMA, the network of 34 local and regional governments and their associations engaged in international development, working on further growing the practice of decentralised cooperation.

ROSSI Fabrizio

Secretary General

TONHAUSER Boris In Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

EU delegations & local action

Exploring how EU Delegations engage with local and regional governments in global development

Read full study

As the global landscape of development cooperation evolves, the role of local and regional governments (LRGs) has moved from the margins to the mainstream. No longer seen merely as beneficiaries of aid, LRGs are now recognised as key actors in the design, implementation and ownership of sustainable development policies.

With over 139 EU Delegations around the world, the European Union plays a pivotal role in supporting governance and development at all levels. This new PLATFORMA study explores how these Delegations are engaging with LRGs, the value of their cooperation, and the road ahead.

This study highlights the growing political relevance of decentralised cooperation, mayor-to-mayor partnerships, city-to-city exchanges, and collaboration between national associations in achieving sustainable development. EU Delegations, representing the EU in partner countries, manage funding and support development policies aligned with local needs. In this context, their relationship with LRGs is crucial.

Key insights from the study include:

Local knowledge matters: LRGs are closest to citizens and understand their needs. Their involvement improves governance, ensures better delivery of services, and strengthens citizen engagement.
TALD – Territorial Approach to Local Development: Promoted by PLATFORMA, TALD ensures local development strategies are not only nationally supported, but locally owned and shaped.
From consultation to partnership: The new 2021–2027 EU Multiannual Financial Framework emphasises a permanent policy dialogue with LRGs, beginning with programme design and continuing through implementation and monitoring.

Yet, the study also reveals a mixed picture. While some Delegations engage actively with local authority associations and decentralised actors, others have limited or no contact, missing opportunities for peer learning and stronger governance.

The study calls for a deeper and more consistent relationship between EU Delegations and local governments in partner countries. It identifies four key areas where progress can be made:

Training: EU Delegation staff would benefit from greater awareness of local governance realities, decentralisation processes, and participatory mechanisms. LRGs can offer training and insights rooted in real experience.

Political closeness: LRGs understand the language of local politics. Stronger ties between EU Delegations and elected representatives could boost trust and effectiveness.

Networks and awareness: LRGs bring with them local networks and credibility. Their role in development education and public awareness can link global goals with local realities.

Support to associations: Many national associations of LRGs remain underused. Targeted EU support could enhance their capacity, sustainability and leadership in local development.

By investing in these relationships, the EU can reinforce its commitment to local ownership, sustainable development and effective international cooperation. Ultimately, localising global agendas such as the 2030 SDGs will only be possible if local voices are not only heard, but also empowered.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

BALLESTA ORTA Rocío In Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

Educating for global citizenship

How local and regional governments raise awareness for sustainable development through Development Education

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In the face of global challenges like climate change, migration, and rising inequalities, citizen engagement is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Local and regional governments (LRGs), being the level of governance closest to the people, are uniquely positioned to connect global issues with daily realities. Through Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR), LRGs play a transformative role in fostering active, informed and responsible citizenship.

DEAR is not just about delivering information, it’s about sparking engagement, critical thinking, and collective action. This article presents the key findings and recommendations from PLATFORMA’s Success Stories Collection, showcasing how LRGs and their associations help citizens understand global interdependencies and become agents of change.

PLATFORMA, a pan-European coalition of LRGs active in development cooperation, advocates for the strategic role of LRGs in informing, mobilising, and engaging communities for global sustainable development. The collection highlights real-life examples of how LRGs across Europe use DEAR to bring the 2030 Agenda closer to citizens.

Why LRGs Matter for DEAR
LRGs are trusted institutions with a public mandate. By collaborating with schools, civil society organisations (CSOs), and cultural actors, they can:

Simplify complex global agendas like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without diluting their message,
Restore trust in public institutions,
Build social cohesion,
Reach under-resourced municipalities through national associations of LRGs (LRGAs).

What is DEAR?
Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR) strategies seek to transform community behaviour and attitudes toward global challenges. Rooted in concepts like Global Citizenship Education (GCE), DEAR blends learning with action. Its two main approaches are:

Global-Learning: Focused on knowledge-building and participatory education.
Campaigning-Advocacy: Aimed at policy and behaviour change through public mobilisation.

Showcasing DEAR in Action
The publication features 19 case studies, divided into two parts:

Part 1: Ten Campaigning-Advocacy projects targeting policy or institutional changes.
Part 2: Nine Global-Learning projects focused on pedagogical empowerment and community knowledge-building.
A third section delves into the financial tools and methodologies that support DEAR implementation.

The DEAR experience proves that raising citizens’ awareness is not a one-off campaign, it’s a continuous process of reflection, transformation, and action. PLATFORMA outlines seven clear recommendations for local and regional governments to enhance their DEAR impact:

Promote whole-of-society partnerships: Create inclusive spaces and initiatives like the European Days of Local Solidarity to unite communities around shared challenges.

Commit to long-term planning: Change takes time; DEAR strategies must evolve and stay relevant.

Foster mutual learning and participation: Engage citizens in workshops, forums, and school programmes, learning is most effective when it is shared.

Defend the unique role of LRGs: Encourage inclusion of LRGs in EU DEAR calls and empower their associations to support smaller municipalities.

Prioritise youth engagement: Let young people lead and amplify messages through social media and peer-to-peer initiatives.

Use public and digital spaces creatively: Awareness campaigns in urban areas and online tools ensure a wide reach and participation.

Evaluate meaningfully: Include both qualitative and quantitative indicators, participatory feedback, and mid-term evaluations to track behaviour change.

As we face increasingly complex global challenges, LRGs and their associations are vital in shaping how communities think, act, and respond. By embedding DEAR into their governance and outreach strategies, local institutions become not only service providers but educators and catalysts of global change.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

BALLESTA ORTA Rocío

Officer – Education & Development

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva In Climate, Climate, Energy, Energy, Environment, Environment, EU Covenant of Mayors, EU Covenant of Mayors, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

Local action for climate at COP26

Municipalities and regions are essential to implementing the Paris Agreement and achieving the SDGs

Read full position paper

As the world prepares for COP26, the urgency of implementing the Paris Agreement is clearer than ever. Delays are no longer acceptable: ambitious climate action must be delivered across all levels of governance, with municipalities and regions at the forefront. Local leadership, appropriate regulatory frameworks, and decentralised solutions will be crucial to achieving carbon neutrality and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Tackling climate change requires ambitious leadership, and local governments are uniquely positioned to deliver practical results. Cities and regions across Europe are already setting climate targets and developing local solutions to global challenges. Their involvement in international processes, such as through the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency, ensures that local voices shape global action.

Effective climate policies also depend on appropriate regulatory and financial support. EU and national frameworks must acknowledge the diversity of local realities, enabling tailored solutions. Adequate funding, capacity-building, and investment are necessary to empower municipalities and regions to meet their commitments. Initiatives like the European Green Deal and a just transition should ensure no community is left behind.

Finally, the localisation of the SDGs is inseparable from the climate agenda. With 65% of SDG targets linked to local action, decentralised approaches and multi-level governance are vital. Embedding the 2030 Agenda into territorial strategies will ensure that global commitments translate into tangible improvements in communities.

The path to COP26 underscores a simple truth: global goals can only be achieved through local action. By supporting municipalities and regions with resources, recognition, and a genuine role in decision-making, the EU and international community can ensure that the Paris Agreement and SDGs are implemented effectively, delivering a sustainable and resilient future for all.

Read the position paper here

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

Localising the 2030 Agenda

How local and regional governments and their associations are driving sustainable development

Read full study

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, laid out an ambitious global roadmap for peace, prosperity, people, and the planet. Its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are universal in nature but require deeply localised responses to be effectively achieved.

Local and regional governments (LRGs), and the associations that represent them are at the frontline of this challenge. They have the democratic mandate, institutional legitimacy, and daily proximity to citizens to implement sustainable solutions tailored to local realities. This article explores the critical role these governments and their national associations play in bringing the 2030 Agenda to life across Europe and beyond.

The Role of LRGs and Their Associations
Local and regional governments are uniquely positioned to translate global goals into tangible public policies and services. Whether it’s improving access to education, ensuring clean water, fostering inclusive economies, or promoting environmental protection, the SDGs intersect directly with their mandates.

However, the successful localisation of the SDGs requires not only local action but also strong national coordination and multilevel governance. That’s where national associations of LRGs come in. They serve as intermediaries between municipal and national levels, raising awareness, building capacity, and advocating for policy coherence and the resources necessary for implementation.

A Framework for Transformation
For LRGs, the 2030 Agenda is more than a checklist, it’s a strategic and transformative framework that enables long-term thinking, breaks down silos across departments, and connects various stakeholders. When well-integrated, the SDGs improve how public services are delivered and empower communities to engage meaningfully in decision-making processes.

A New Decade of Action and Challenge
Despite early progress, the world is not yet on track to meet the SDGs by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic has added new complexity, strained local budgets and exacerbated inequalities. Yet the pandemic also highlighted the vital role of LRGs in crisis response, ensuring healthcare access, food security, education continuity, and social protection.

The recovery period offers a chance to “build back better” by placing the SDGs at the core of reconstruction efforts. The UN Secretary General has emphasised the 2030 Agenda as a guiding principle for a resilient, inclusive, and green recovery. In this context, national associations of LRGs become even more essential to facilitate dialogue, share knowledge, and advocate for the tools local governments need to succeed.

The decade ahead will be decisive. The COVID-19 crisis may have disrupted momentum, but it has not undermined the fundamental relevance of the 2030 Agenda. On the contrary, it has reaffirmed the importance of public services, local resilience, and inclusive governance, values that are deeply embedded in the SDGs.

Local and regional governments, supported by their associations, are essential actors in this journey. They are adapting, experimenting, and collaborating to deliver sustainable results, even amid uncertainty. Their work shows that global agendas only become real when rooted in local action.

Going forward, stronger partnerships across sectors and governance levels are needed to ensure no place and no person is left behind. Multi-level and multi-sector cooperation will be vital to address the growing challenges ahead and to seize the opportunities that lie in sustainable, equitable recovery.

In short, if the SDGs are to be met, they must be localised and that starts with empowering the actors who are closest to the people.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

TONHAUSER Boris In Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

Agenda 2030 study for local and regional governments

Just out: New study reveals how municipalities, regions and their associations are embracing the SDGs

Read full study

Caught in the COVID-19 storm, Europe’s local and regional governments and their associations are at risk of losing the progress made in the last few years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Although they are increasingly familiar with the Global Goals, they need further support to bring international ambitions to territorial realities.

This is what emerges from a new study led by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and PLATFORMA entitled “The 2030 Agenda through the eyes of local and regional governments’ associations”.

In times of COVID-19: the SDGs at a make-or-break moment

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and around the world has brought about unprecedented challenges for local and regional governments. In several countries, the pandemic has markedly deepened inequalities and has slowed down efforts to raise awareness and promote the work of the 2030 Agenda at local and regional level.

“The current crisis and the uncertain future are a call for action. Every player around the globe has to act now,” said Tine Soens, Member of the City Council of Kortrijk (Belgium), CEMR and PLATFORMA Spokesperson on 2030 Agenda. “Local and regional leaders should not be afraid to take the leap! Our generation of politicians, civil servants and citizens is the generation that has to turn the tide.”

The study at a glance

Based on a survey of 34 associations from 28 European countries, the study shows that one third use the SDGs as an important reference in their own development strategies, compared to only one fifth last year. What’s more, four out of five associations are aware of the SDGs. The trend is clear: year after year, local and regional governments and their associations are increasingly making the efforts necessary to materialise the global agenda at local level.

But have the SDGs also gained traction among central governments? Our study shows that close to 80% of associations indicated that there is an official national strategy to implement the SDGs. For those who indicated that a national strategy has been set up, 59% specified that there is a clear mention of the need to support local and regional action in SDG implementation.

Nevertheless, there is still considerable room for improvement to bring about closer ties between all levels of government and to achieve global progress on sustainable development. To step up our efforts, the study offers a checklist for associations “Know where your members stand in the localisation of the SDGs”, a set of simple steps to contribute to Voluntary National Reporting and several key recommendations.

What’s more, this 40-page publication is packed full of illustrative examples from the ground. Finally, it identifies persisting challenges and new opportunities that municipalities, regions and their associations have been encountering when working with the SDGs. These come at a timely moment as the pandemic continues to spread around the world.

Background information

This new study is based on a joint survey conducted by CEMR and PLATFORMA, designed in collaboration with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). It is a follow up to the 2019 study “How local & regional government associations bring the SDGs to life” and the 2018 study “Sustainable Development Goals – How Europe’s towns and regions are taking the lead”.

The study was launched on 15 July 2020 at the occasion of the workshop Localising the Sustainable Development Goals (watch the recording) organised by PLATFORMA during the United Nations’ 2020 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

PLATFORMA and CEMR are actively taking part in many of this virtual event’s sessions and webinars together with their partners and members.

Please click on this link if you want to get printed copies of our study (Europe only).

For more information, contact:

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

PLATFORMA58

Agenda 2030

Local and regional governments pave the way for the implementation of Global Goals

European territories localise the SDGs

Hot off the press: “European Territories Localise the SDGs”

Sustainable Development Goals

Hot off the press: “European Territories Localise the SDGs”

Localising sustainable goals after COVID19

How European territories are driving sustainable change amid the Covid-19 crisis

CEMR – 70 years

Celebrating 70 years of local and regional Europe

EU delegations & local action

Exploring how EU Delegations engage with local and regional governments in global development

Educating for global citizenship

How local and regional governments raise awareness for sustainable development through Development Education

Local action for climate at COP26

Municipalities and regions are essential to implementing the Paris Agreement and achieving the SDGs

Localising the 2030 Agenda

How local and regional governments and their associations are driving sustainable development

Agenda 2030 study for local and regional governments

Just out: New study reveals how municipalities, regions and their associations are embracing the SDGs

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