Local action transforms the world

Local governments worldwide are aligning their sustainability strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose goals and targets are becoming a key reference framework for local policies, action plans and projects.

However, local implementation of the SDGs is not easy. As comprehensive as they are, they still need integration and require the transformation of our local systems, technologies and cultural habits.

The 15 Pathways of the Basque Declaration offer ways to achieve this. They do not try to implement each SDG separately, but take into account their interrelated nature.

How to use the pathways of the Basque Declaration to localise the SDGs

In a new guidance document - 15 pathways to localise the Sustainable Development Goals - ICLEI Europe, the City of Aalborg (Denmark) and the Basque Country illustrate how the pathways of the Basque Declaration can be used to localise the SDGs.

In the publication, the pathways of the Basque Declaration are illustrated with stories taken from the Transformative Action database. Each of these stories are former applications to the Transformative Action Award 2017-2019 and have been reviewed by a jury of experts, which includes representatives from the European Committee of the Regions, the European Investment Bank, UNESCO Etxea, the City of Aalborg (Denmark) and ICLEI Europe.

The purpose of these stories is to provide local governments and other local stakeholders with inspiration for action, rather than the formulation of yet another action plan.

The examples also give insight into how to implement the goals using an integrated approach across sectors and departments. For each story, the most relevant pathway and SDGs are indicated, based on an independent assessment by ICLEI Europe. They show the diversity of approaches across topics, geographical locations and local cultures.