Nordregio has conducted research on the local and regional implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the Nordic Region since 2018, in collaboration with Nordic local and regional government associations (LRGAs). Representatives of four LRGAs (KS, Kuntaliitto, Samband and SKR) have supported the work on this policy brief by providing expertise, feedback, and advice. Two representatives share their reflections on the project outcomes in the following statement.
As we look ahead, the message from the Finnish and Norwegian LRGAs is clear: the spirit and principles of the 2030 Agenda remain relevant for Nordic municipalities. No matter what new challenges emerge, economic uncertainty, shifting demographics and technological paradigms, or the accelerating impacts of climate change, the framework continues to offer something essential. It gives us a shared language, a way to stay aligned and a practical guide for shaping municipalities and cities where people genuinely want to live.
At the heart of this work is a commitment to long-term, holistic and sustainable decision-making. These principles are the foundation for building resilient, fair and futureproof communities. When municipalities anchor their choices in these values, they strengthen both local well-being, ecological balance and broader societal resilience.
The 2030 Agenda also provides a powerful way to highlight the importance of multilevel governance, which sits at the core of LRGA advocacy. Strong collaboration between local, regional, national and international actors is a governance ideal as well as a practical necessity. The Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved in isolation. They are built on shared responsibility and coordinated action.
For these reasons, the Finnish and Norwegian LRGAs emphasise the role of the 2030 Agenda as a guiding compass for the years ahead. It continues to bring coherence, ambition and purpose to local sustainability work and to anchor the kind of future Nordic residents deserve. The messages from local governments and youth representatives presented in this policy brief are important knowledge for us as LRGAs. They will inspire our work with the 2030 Agenda and, more importantly, influence our perspectives on the possibilities for the next agenda.