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Development happens locally. It can be experienced as increased quality of life for people and planet, as measured by – among other things – access to better education, sanitation, green transportation and affordable cultural experiences, as well as cleaner air and water. Hence, it is widely recognised that at least 105 of the 169 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets cannot be achieved without engaging local and regional governments. As the examples in this report will show, the 17 SDGs are also a useful ‘tool’ for local actors to identify their main sustainability challenges and measure progress in a more holistic way, brining on board their citizens, businesses and civil society in the process.

The decentralised Nordic welfare states, characterised by the substantial autonomy and decision-making capabilities vested in municipalities and regions, have long served as a global benchmark for systematically addressing sustainability challenges. This is reflected by the fact that all the Nordic countries are regularly among the highest rated countries in the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) rankings, with Finland, Denmark and Sweden consistently in the top three (Figure 1).

– OECD, 2020

Source: Sustainable Development Reports (SDG Transformation Center, 2024). From 2018 to 2024.

While the Nordic countries show positive performances across various SDG indicators, there are also signs of stagnating progress in some areas. The Nordic economies excel in socioeconomic goals such as SDG 1 (no poverty) and SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and have performed relatively well in areas such as SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). However, according to the 2023 SDG Dashboard (Figure 2), the Nordic countries have ‘red’ marks against several SDGs, particularly those related to responsible consumption and production, climate action, and biodiversity. In addition, the Nordic countries face obstacles in achieving SDG 2 (zero hunger) due to unsustainable diets and obesity. In short, several major challenges remain on the Nordic countries’ path to achieving the SDGs by 2030 (Sachs et al., 2024).

Source: Data from 2024 SDG Index of the SDR2024.

In light of the dashboard results, several questions arise regarding the Nordic countries’ progress in localising the SDGs: How extensively have municipalities engaged with the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? Have they integrated the 2030 Agenda into their governance systems? Which SDGs have been prioritised? How do municipalities perceive different factors as barriers or facilitators to their local 2030 Agenda initiatives – and how have these been affected by global economic trends such as inflation and high energy prices? Finally, what lessons can others learn from the Nordic experience in localising the 2030 Agenda?

To address these questions, local and regional government associations (LRGAs) in the Nordic countries, together with Nordregio, decided to produce this first ever Nordic Voluntary Subnational Review (VSR). The aim is to inspire local-level SDG action worldwide by sharing what Nordic local authorities have learned from using the SDGs as a holistic framework for creating more inclusive, sustainable communities. What are the main benefits and challenges? And how best to ensure political engagement and involve local stakeholders in the process?

The Nordic VSR builds primarily on a survey sent out to all Nordic municipalities in 2023 (except for the Danish municipalities, which received a fairly similar National survey that will also be referred to – the Danish survey). Besides the survey, content is based on interviews with LRGA representatives, focusing on strengths and weaknesses in national support to the local level, including the role played by LRGAs in building competence and fostering collaboration between municipalities. An important complement to the Nordic VSR is the Nordic Toolbox: an interactive, online map of Nordic municipalities showcasing transferable methods and initiatives for implementing the SDGs.

Another special feature of the Nordic VSR is a subchapter on youth engagement (section 5.3), drafted by the Nordic Youth Network for Sustainable Development. This provides concrete advice on how to involve youth in local decision-making in a systematic, inclusive way, thereby creating sustainable solutions for more youth-friendly communities. Additionally, the Nordic Civil Society Network (section 5.4) have rovided local insights on how to collaborate with civil society and mobilise citizens to become part of the sustainability transition.

The main target groups for this report are municipalities, regions and national governments across the globe that are curious to compare their own approaches with the proactive Nordic municipalities. The Nordic VSR was funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, while the Nordic local government associations generously dedicated time and insights to the editorial work and supported the report’s launch at the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in July 2024.

Following this introduction, Chapter 2 explains the methodology, process and milestones in the production of the VSR. Next, Chapter 3 on policies and enabling environment for localising the SDGs highlights the shared characteristics shaping each country’s approach to the SDGs – national-level support to municipalities and LRGAs is explored, as well as the role of LRGAs in implementing SDGs at the local level. Chapter 4 on local government efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda shifts the spotlight to the Nordic municipalities, exploring their different approaches the SDGs they prioritise and the success factors/obstacles encountered. Chapter 5 on actions to create local ownership emphasises the benefits of inclusive practices and partnerships with local businesses, youth, and civil society. Chapter 6 on progress made emphasises the strides made when it comes to measuring progress, particularly in terms of monitoring methods and the wide array of indicators utilised for measurement. Last but not least, Chapter 7 provides a series of learnings for national, regional and local governments to consider.