There has been an increasing recognition since the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015 that cities and local governments have a critical role to play in advancing the SDGs agenda. This role emphasizes “localizing the SDGs” by adapting and customizing the international focus of the SDGs to the local context through integration with City planning, leading to more comprehensive and holistic City strategies.
In an effort to better understand how cities from around the world have been localizing the SDGs, we conducted an SDGs ecosystem scan to identify Canadian trends and international best practices in SDGs localization. Read our SDGs Localization Insights document here.
Most commonly, cities have engaged with the SDGs through the creation of a Voluntary Local Review (VLR), a reporting approach that assesses local SDGs progress, challenges, and opportunities. Globally, 249 Voluntary Local Reviews have been created with three coming from Canadian cities.
Beyond VLRs, cities around the world have adopted the SDGs in a variety of ways integrated with City operations and planning, from translating the SDGs into “fields of action” for municipal sustainability (Bonn, Germany), integrating the SDGs into City steering documents and budgets (Malmo, Sweden), and using the SDGs as a guiding vision for the City's future (Shimokawa, Japan). In Canada, some cities have incorporated the SDGs into strategic plans and sustainable development strategies (Kitchener, Ontario), aligned the SDGs with community data (Vital Signs Report, Victoria, British Columbia), and engaged with community members to mobilize action on specific SDGs (Montreal, Quebec).
In exploring Canada’s SDGs ecosystem, it’s clear that:
- SDGs localization is often championed by community organizations, think tanks, universities, and foundations, and is not often led by municipal governments themselves.
- Canadian municipalities (contrary to how many global cities have used the SDGs) have focused largely on assessing current SDGs performance and less so on leveraging the SDGs to identify future sustainable development approaches and opportunities to benefit the community.
- The language of the SDGs framework has little traction in Canadian communities, with awareness of the 17 Goals relatively low. However, the principles and issues that the SDGs represent do resonate strongly with communities (e.g. No Poverty, Quality Education, Climate Action).
- Commitment to the SDGs is limited across all levels of government in Canada but strong commitments from the mayor, council, and municipal staff are integral to integrating the SDGs in city operations.
- SDGs localization has made progress in filling local data gaps by strengthening data collection and aligning existing systems to the SDGs. Disaggregated, community-level data remains crucial in measuring progress towards the SDGs and leaving no one behind.
Learn more about the SDGs localization ecosystem in Canada and around the world through our SDGs Localization Insights document.