Opening statement

This Nordic Voluntary Subnational Review (VSR) is the first cross-national report of its kind in the world. It has been developed as a joint venture by the Nordic Associations of Local and Regional Governments and the Nordic research institution, Nordregio, with funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers. The aim of the report is to highlight how the Nordic municipalities and regional authorities have localised the SDGs, progress made, as well as obstacles they have met in their work towards the 2030 Agenda. Furthermore, we aim to inspire more local-level SDG action worldwide by sharing what Nordic local authorities have learned on their way to create more inclusive and sustainable communities, and possibly foster new collaborations across borders.

The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals is a shared responsibility which requires mobilisation of local and regional authorities, civil society, businesses, and other local stakeholders – together with national authorities and through international cooperation. In this review, we include subchapters by youth and civil society organisations. These are valuable contributions, underlining the importance of including a broad range of actors and dedicated societal voices – and how to ensure meaningful cooperation.

We are soon entering the last five years of the 2030 Agenda implementation period. The need for further action is imminent. About two thirds of the 169 SDG targets can only be achieved through local and regional engagement. We cannot succeed in creating a sustainable future without localising the SDGs. This review shows that Nordic local and regional authorities actively contribute to the SDGs by integrating them in key strategies and budgeting, and by taking part in coordination mechanisms and collaborations to facilitate their delivery. Despite these efforts, there are still significant obstacles to overcome in implementing the SDGs and reaching the global ambitions of the 2030 Agenda.

The work on the 2030 Agenda requires resilience and long-term thinking. The Nordic Voluntary Subnational Review highlights signals of SDG fatigue in our region. This is a worrying trend, which resonates with similar messages from our European and global colleagues. It emphasises the need for accurate knowledge on where we are on the path to sustainability – followed by implementation of new measures based on that knowledge. This is vital to accelerate progress in time for the year 2030, and to start planning for the time beyond. Our hope is that this report will be an inspiration and encouragement for more cooperation and action towards sustainability, not only in the Nordic countries but in the global community as a whole.