PLATFORMA - Local & regional international action

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and PLATFORMA are releasing today (12 July) their annual study on the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a United Nations special event in New York. The study is presented by CEMR President Gunn Marit Helgesen at the 6^th Local and Regional Governments Forum on the 2030 Agenda organised in the framework of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the United Nations annual event on the SDGs.

The report collects data from 41 associations of local and regional governments from greater Europe and makes seven recommendations. As estimates show, 65% of the 169 targets underpinning the 17 SDGs cannot be achieved without the involvement of local and regional governments.
One more time, this report resonates as a strong call to national and European institutions to further recognise and include in their reports the progress made by municipalities and regions in achieving the SDGs. More than ever, decentralised cooperation and partnerships are crucial instruments to achieve the 2030 Agenda at the local and regional levels.
“We are fast approaching the halfway point on the road to the 2030 Agenda and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), meaning there are only six summers left!” warns Gunn Marit Helgesen, CEMR President in the foreword of the study.
The 6th Local and Regional Governments Forum on the 2030 Agenda is organised by UN DESA, the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF), UN-Habitat, UNDP and Local 2030.
Mayors have a say
This year, the European delegation of local and regional governments is composed of mayors and councillors:

• Gunn Marit Helgesen, CEMR President and Councillor of Vestfold and Telemark, President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS)
• Magda Kostava, Member of Kutaisi Municipal Council, Georgia (NALAG), member of the CEMR Young elected officials committee
• Wim Dries, VVSG President and Mayor of the City of Genk
• Luisa Salgueiro, President of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) and Mayor of Matosinhos, Portugal
• Manueal Alvares, Councilor in the Municipality of Matosinhos, Portugal
• Stephan Neher, Mayor, City of Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany
• Anne-Marie Jean, Vice-President of Eurométropole de Strasbourg (CUF)
• André Viola, Councillor, Department of Aude (AFCCRE)

 
Fabrizio Rossi, CEMR Secretary General, Emilia Saiz, UCLG Secretary General, Lucy Slack, CLGF Secretary General, Unai Tellería, Delegate of the Basque Government (Spain) in the United States, Leen Verbeek and Mathieu Mori, respectively President and Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Congress of Europe are also attending HLPF and parallel dedicated to local and regional governments.
More information:

• Discover the study online local-sdgs.eu
• Read the study (pdf)
• Follow the conversation online with #HLPF2023 & #LocalizingSDGs