Sustainability governance: Key learnings
On 5 September 2024, the Policy Learning Platform organised a webinar on the topic of sustainability governance. The webinar aimed to showcase how local administrations are localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Meaning, how they are breaking down the 17 global goals to the level of local authorities, aligning city strategies and budgets with the different sustainable development goals and creating an enabling framework for their implementation.
Webinar agenda
Navigate the agenda below to the topic of your interest.
The webinar has been designed and moderated by Katharina Krell, Thematic Expert for a Greener and better connected and governed Europe.
00:01:00 Introduction to the topic and the Policy Learning Platform by Katharina Krell
00:12:08 Presentation by Sara Hoeflich on localising SGDs as opportunity to make governance more sustainable
00:27:43 Q&A: What do you think of this definition: 'Localising SDGs means breaking down the global goals to the level of local authorities aligning city strategies and budgets with the different SDGs and creating and enabling a framework for their implementation'?
00:29:57 Presentation by Christian Hübel on systematically localising the SDG's: theoretical guidance and practical examples from Mannheim
00:43:40 Q&A: Where are you getting your local data from? And who monitors your KPIs and how regularly?
00:47:57 Presentation by Stina Heikkila on Tallinn’s journey towards strengthening sustainability governance
01:01:18 Q&A: Tell us more about the yearly event you organise.
01:03:18 Presentation by Marcus Ljungqvist on Malmö’s strategy for localising the SDGs and communicating it
01:17:10 Q&A: Who should be the initiator and driver in this process?
Panel discussion
01:18:23 Q&A: How can municipalities deal with the additional burden in terms of HR and money that localising the SDGs is putting on them?
01:25:00 Q&A: What other types of support networks, tools and blueprints are available, and where to get started?
From this webinar, we can highlight some key insights for local and regional policymakers:
- The SDGs matter for local authorities and vice versa
The 17 SDGs have been adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2015 as a global roadmap towards a sustainable world. Broken down into 169 targets and 230 indicators, they should be achieved by 2030. Roughly 60% of these SDGs must be tackled at the sub-national levels, in our regions and municipalities. Therefore, local authorities play a key role in addressing the policy challenges related to sustainable development. They are not only 'takers' of the objectives set at the global level but have a lot to say, show and contribute when it comes to implementing sustainability.
- Localising the SDGs is a chance for all municipalities, big and small
While larger cities have more HR and financial resources and are more advanced in systematically localizing the SDGs, smaller municipalities are not necessarily in a weaker position: being smaller, they are easier to administrate and coordinate. Integrated planning is easier in smaller entities that are not split into too many specialized sub-areas and civil servants.
Integrating sustainability principles into all areas of local administration should be seen as an opportunity rather than a burden.
- Many resources are available to get started and improve sustainability governance
Cooperation: Helping each other, sharing knowledge, systems, data collection etc. reduces costs and burden. All presented cities are involved in international exchange and peer learning. Tallinn is building a centre of expertise for others to turn to.
Find out more about the Governance Sustainability Peer Learning Hub.
Networks such as UCLG exist to empower local authorities to take action in localising. UCLG offers multiple awareness-raising and training tools, including courses for people working in administrations and train-the-trainer courses with certificates, free of charge.
Find out more about the Learning Community of UCGL.
- Creating a shared understanding of sustainability is crucial
To onboard the largest possible number of people in the administrations and society, it is important to create a narrative of what sustainability means for a given city, to fill the abstract concept with tangible things by simply working close to citizens. Appointing a dedicated communicator, using out-of-the-box communication tools, such as podcasts (Malmö), and strategy parties (Tallinn) can help build a common understanding inside and outside of the city hall.
- No SDG governance without citizen participation
While opening up the city administration does not come naturally to administrations, sustainability governance requires an effort to invest in awareness-raising and stakeholder engagement. Tools such as citizen assemblies, annual opinion polls, participatory budgeting and citizen open door days help create more trust, transparency and democracy on the ground.
- Align the SDGs with the city strategies and budget
Linking SDG goals and budget is very important. The budget should not only follow the traditional administrative silos, or else cross-department cooperation does not come easy, whereas sustainable governance requires integrated approaches.
Download the presentations below.