Nordic local and regional views on the 2030 Agenda and beyond: Stepping up or stepping back?

2.4 Visions beyond 2030

The views below reflect Nordic perspectives on a post-2030 sustainable development agenda, including the desired direction, how it can better support local efforts, and emerging priorities.

Widespread support for extending and refining the 2030 Agenda

Study participants widely supported keeping and refining the existing 2030 Agenda framework, rather than replacing it entirely. They noted that significant investments have already been made in understanding and implementing the current Agenda and emphasised the importance of building on this foundation. Some argued that in a world of constant change, a stable and continuous framework provides a sense of direction and reassurance. Others expressed a concern that introducing an entirely new framework would require significant resources for institutional capacity building, potentially diverting attention away from implementation at the local level.

Several study participants emphasised the need to simplify the Agenda, for example, by reducing the number of sub-goals. This was seen as particularly important for smaller municipalities, which often operate with limited capacity and resources. At the same time participants stressed the importance of maintaining the Agenda’s holistic and integrated nature.

“We’ve invested so much time and energy in understanding the current [Agenda]. We don’t want to spend another ten years building that from scratch.”

- a representative from Norway

Study participants widely supported keeping and refining the existing 2030 Agenda framework, rather than replacing it entirely. They noted that significant investments have already been made in understanding and implementing the current Agenda and emphasised the importance of building on this foundation. Some argued that in a world of constant change, a stable and continuous framework provides a sense of direction and reassurance. Others expressed a concern that introducing an entirely new framework would require significant resources for institutional capacity building, potentially diverting attention away from implementation at the local level.

Several study participants emphasised the need to simplify the Agenda, for example, by reducing the number of sub-goals. This was seen as particularly important for smaller municipalities, which often operate with limited capacity and resources. At the same time participants stressed the importance of maintaining the Agenda’s holistic and integrated nature.

“We’ve invested so much time and energy in understanding the current [Agenda]. We don’t want to spend another ten years building that from scratch.”
- a representative from Norway

Support for a more radical global development agenda beyond 2030

Youth representatives expressed support for a more radical transformation of the global sustainability framework post-2030. They advocated for sharper, more ambitious goals that explicitly tackle systemic challenges, including trade-offs between economic growth and climate action.

“I lean more towards a radical approach – sharpening the goals rather than watering them down.”

- a youth representative

Youth representatives expressed support for a more radical transformation of the global sustainability framework post-2030. They advocated for sharper, more ambitious goals that explicitly tackle systemic challenges, including trade-offs between economic growth and climate action.

“I lean more towards a radical approach – sharpening the goals rather than watering them down.”
- a youth representative

Promote global responsibility

Some participants stressed that the future global framework must be applicable across diverse political and social contexts. Crucially, it should be grounded in a decolonial approach and recognise how actions in the Global North can impact development opportunities elsewhere, including through negative spillovers.

“I think it’s important that the sub-goals, indicators and follow-up mechanisms also reflect how the Western world impacts the development opportunities of other countries. That includes acknowledging negative impacts.”

- a representative from Sweden

Some participants stressed that the future global framework must be applicable across diverse political and social contexts. Crucially, it should be grounded in a decolonial approach and recognise how actions in the Global North can impact development opportunities elsewhere, including through negative spillovers.

“I think it’s important that the sub-goals, indicators and follow-up mechanisms also reflect how the Western world impacts the development opportunities of other countries. That includes acknowledging negative impacts.”
- a representative from Sweden

Ensure the future framework is flexible and sensitive to local contexts

Several participants emphasised the need for a flexible, context-sensitive framework that allows municipalities to adapt it to their specific needs, priorities and cultural contexts. A recurring theme in the discussions was the call for a stronger spatial perspective that acknowledges regional diversity. Participants criticised the 2030 Agenda’s “one-size-fits-all approach” and spatial blindness, highlighting its failure to recognise geographic and demographic differences. They emphasised that the agenda beyond 2030 should better account for the vastly different conditions, resources and capacities of small, rural municipalities compared to larger, urban ones, as these disparities significantly affect the ability of different regions to engage with the SDGs.

“The agenda should be flexible and context-sensitive, allowing room for local priorities and cultural perspectives.”

- written input, a representative from Norway

Several participants emphasised the need for a flexible, context-sensitive framework that allows municipalities to adapt it to their specific needs, priorities and cultural contexts. A recurring theme in the discussions was the call for a stronger spatial perspective that acknowledges regional diversity. Participants criticised the 2030 Agenda’s “one-size-fits-all approach” and spatial blindness, highlighting its failure to recognise geographic and demographic differences. They emphasised that the agenda beyond 2030 should better account for the vastly different conditions, resources and capacities of small, rural municipalities compared to larger, urban ones, as these disparities significantly affect the ability of different regions to engage with the SDGs.

“The agenda should be flexible and context-sensitive, allowing room for local priorities and cultural perspectives.”
- written input, a representative from Norway

Strengthen the role of municipalities and regions

In the Nordic countries, local and regional actors play a crucial role in advancing sustainable development by delivering essential public services, such as clean water, waste management and quality education, as well as by engaging communities and addressing local needs on the ground. Study participants strongly supported strengthening the role of local and regional governments in shaping the global sustainability framework beyond 2030 – both through earlier involvement in negotiations and formal consultation processes and through recognition of their key role in implementation.

“If local and regional governments and civil society are involved in deciding what the future global framework should look like, rather than leaving it in the hands of UN member states alone – I think that would have a huge impact.”

- a representative from the Government of Åland

In the Nordic countries, local and regional actors play a crucial role in advancing sustainable development by delivering essential public services, such as clean water, waste management and quality education, as well as by engaging communities and addressing local needs on the ground. Study participants strongly supported strengthening the role of local and regional governments in shaping the global sustainability framework beyond 2030 – both through earlier involvement in negotiations and formal consultation processes and through recognition of their key role in implementation.

“If local and regional governments and civil society are involved in deciding what the future global framework should look like, rather than leaving it in the hands of UN member states alone – I think that would have a huge impact.”
- a representative from the Government of Åland

Focus on implementation and accountability

Some participants emphasised the need for the future global framework to be more action-oriented, with a shift in focus from broad visions and goals to practical implementation. They stressed the need for clearer guidance and stronger support in localising the goals, along with better alignment with national priorities. Others called for the integration of innovation, financing mechanisms and new technologies to accelerate progress.

Stronger accountability and tighter implementation requirements were also emphasised to ensure that the post-2030 agenda delivers real impact rather than remaining symbolic. Suggestions included clearer reporting standards and defined division of roles and responsibilities between municipalities, companies and residents. While some participants advocated for binding obligations for the public sector, others warned against over-regulation, underlining the need to balance accountability with flexibility.

“It should be much more action-oriented, more focused on how to actually create change. And that change will only happen through innovation, new financing mechanisms, new technologies and new ways of doing things.”

- a representative from LRGA

Some participants emphasised the need for the future global framework to be more action-oriented, with a shift in focus from broad visions and goals to practical implementation. They stressed the need for clearer guidance and stronger support in localising the goals, along with better alignment with national priorities. Others called for the integration of innovation, financing mechanisms and new technologies to accelerate progress.

Stronger accountability and tighter implementation requirements were also emphasised to ensure that the post-2030 agenda delivers real impact rather than remaining symbolic. Suggestions included clearer reporting standards and defined division of roles and responsibilities between municipalities, companies and residents. While some participants advocated for binding obligations for the public sector, others warned against over-regulation, underlining the need to balance accountability with flexibility.

“It should be much more action-oriented, more focused on how to actually create change. And that change will only happen through innovation, new financing mechanisms, new technologies and new ways of doing things.”
- a representative from LRGA

Rethink monitoring and measuring progress

Several Nordic stakeholders emphasised the need to rethink monitoring and progress measurement, suggesting it should better identify gaps, support learning and prioritisation, guide resource allocation and drive real change. Suggestions included focusing on measuring what truly matters, such as root causes like inequality or injustice, rather than symptoms like poverty. Several study participants advocated for moving beyond GDP-based metrics to include measures of well-being, quality of life and ecological sustainability.

See other concrete suggestions in the section on how to accelerate progress.

“Many SDG targets address symptoms, but not the underlying causes. This should be adjusted in any new development agenda.”

- written input, a representative from Norway

Several Nordic stakeholders emphasised the need to rethink monitoring and progress measurement, suggesting it should better identify gaps, support learning and prioritisation, guide resource allocation and drive real change. Suggestions included focusing on measuring what truly matters, such as root causes like inequality or injustice, rather than symptoms like poverty. Several study participants advocated for moving beyond GDP-based metrics to include measures of well-being, quality of life and ecological sustainability.

See other concrete suggestions in the section on how to accelerate progress.

“Many SDG targets address symptoms, but not the underlying causes. This should be adjusted in any new development agenda.”
- written input, a representative from Norway

Review and potentially add new priority areas to the SDGs

While study participants acknowledged that the existing SDGs remain relevant, there was support for refining the goals and potentially adding new ones to better reflect today’s global context. Several Nordic actors emphasised that the post-2030 framework should more effectively integrate emerging global challenges and megatrends, such as digitalisation and artificial intelligence, recognising their dual role as both enablers and threats to democracy, trust and equality. There was also support for giving greater visibility to areas such as ecological foundations, quality of life, democracy, justice and human rights.

Ecological foundations

Several participants called for clearer framing around planetary boundaries and a stronger emphasis on ecological foundations. Climate action, protecting biodiversity, addressing overconsumption, a shift towards a circular economy and securing ecosystem services were repeatedly emphasised.

“Overconsumption as a kind of root cause for a lot of environmental issues in the global North in general – I think it's something that we should emphasise more.”

- a representative from Finland

Quality of life

Several study participants urged a shift away from continuous economic growth as the primary measure of progress and development. Instead, they called for the future sustainability framework to prioritise quality of life, well-being and thriving communities, especially in light of rising mental health issues and social crises.

“The focus on life quality is actually the best answer to the mental and social crises we’re facing among our citizens […]. That’s why the point about community is so important – because it offers another way of trying to solve problems.”

- a representative from Denmark

Democracy, justice and human rights

Beyond 2030, study participants emphasised the need to place greater emphasis on democratic values, civic participation and human rights, particularly as geopolitical uncertainty, crises and polarisation are on the rise.

“The core of sustainable development must remain grounded in human rights and the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’. This core should be stable [...], something resilient through crises and political shifts.”

- a representative from LRGA