19/07/2019 12:38 h.
Local Governments Move towards the Localization of the SDGs in the Framework of the 2019 United Nations High-Level Political Forum
From the 9th to the 18th of July 2019, the fourth edition of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development took place in New York. The event is the United Nations central platform for monitoring and reviewing progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There were several spaces dedicated to the local world, specifically the "Day of Local and Regional Governments", which took place on July 15th.
This year, the theme of the event was "Empowering people and ensuring inclusion and equality", and SDG 4 [Quality education], 8 [Decent work and economic growth], 10 [Reduced inequalities], 13 [Climate action], 16 [Peace, justice and strong institutions] and 17 [Partnerships for the goals] were revised.
Within this framework, the Local and Regional Governments’ Third Report - "Towards the Localization of the SDGs" was presented, a document that includes the policies and initiatives that are being carried out to achieve the SDGs by local and regional governments around the world. It also complements the Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) submitted by 143 countries in the HLPF and provides first-hand information on GLRs in 80 different countries, including 24 of the 47 countries that submitted a VNR in 2019. This Report clearly shows the commitment made by Local Governments in achieving the 2030 Agenda, which is reflected in the increase in Voluntary Local Reports (VLR).
The report has the support of the Barcelona Provincial Council, which has provided essential information on initiatives and practices that are being developed in its territories and communities. Mention is made of initiatives such as Bibliolab, where libraries become dynamic learning and experimentation spaces, or municipalities such as Granollers, Sant Cugat del Vallès and Terrassa that have made an effort to integrate the SDGs into their respective local plans. The work of the Provincial Council is also emphasized, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Strategic Plan of Barcelona (PEMB), regarding a series of local SDGs indicators applicable to the entire province.
For more information about the event, click on the following link.