Overall, the Nordic learnings highlighted by this report can be divided into those aimed at national actors and those aimed at local and regional governments.
Maintain a holistic approach to sustainability by addressing the social, economic and environmental aspects of all policy proposals. Ensure policy coherence, synergise, and reduce any negative spill-over effects that arise across sectors. Break down silos.
Support local level action by recognising the pivotal role played by municipalities and regions in driving the sustainability transition. Provide them with the mandate and resources needed to act effectively, while taking into consideration different geographies and socio-economic conditions.
Continue funding national programmes to support local SDG implementation, social innovation, and climate action through a multi-stakeholder approach. This should involve facilitating peer learning networks, coordination and funding mechanisms, and capacity-building processes.
Acknowledge and support the work of LRGAs in offering capacity building and peer learning to local authorities. Also, consult regularly with LRGAs on SDG-relevant policy issues and local level needs and invite them to provide input on VNRs.
Take responsibility for the financial investments needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change and enable a sustainability transition together with local governments.
Include innovation and SDG targets in public procurement guidelines as a means of advancing sustainable production and consumption goals.
Support the development of local-level indicators and reliable data collection that can help local authorities measure progress towards SDG achievement.
Foster sustained commitment towards a common vision of SDG implementation by striving for cross-party consensus. Regularly educate the administration and new political appointees about the local vision and goals.
Prioritise synergistic measures and a holistic approach in which the three dimensions of sustainability support each other. Acknowledge the need to prioritise cost-effective measures that will be socially accepted.
An increasing focus on climate neutrality benefits SDG work as long as local climate action plans are based on SDGs and have a holistic approach.
Anchor the SDGs in the municipality’s administrative management by ensuring that the principles and goals of the 2030 Agenda are embedded within municipal governance structures, budgets and reporting systems.
Appoint dedicated personnel to lead the SDG work and coordinate across sectors.
Use smart steering tools and indicators. Incorporate SDG-related KPIs into budgeting and planning tools, follow up continuously and report to management. Spread the word about successes and remaining challenges to the population and all relevant stakeholders.
Utilise existing resources and learning networks. Make use of the LRGA’s courses, tools and peer-learning networks to build on existing good practice and tools and enhance SDG-related capacity.
Take every peer-learning and copy with pride! Get inspired by and collaborate with neighbouring municipalities and regions, sharing experiences and best practices.
Engage local stakeholders. Collaborate with local businesses, civil society actors, schools, youth councils and researchers to co-create solutions that will have a wider impact on the community. Ensure sustainability efforts are inclusive.
Harness public procurement as a tool to drive sustainability, encouraging suppliers to innovate and align with SDG principles.
Develop and use VSRs and VLRs as tools for measuring and analysing progress towards SDG achievement at a local and sub-national level, enhancing transparency and fostering accountability.
Embrace international collaboration and dare to act ‘glocal’ (global and local)! Such collaboration involves engaging with global and local sustainability communities, thereby facilitating exchanges of ideas and best practices.