Skip to main content

Implementing the Global Sustainable Goals (SDGs) into Municipal Strategies Applying an Integrated Approach

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook of Sustainability Science and Research

Part of the book series: World Sustainability Series ((WSUSE))

Abstract

The UN emphasises the importance of collaboration and integrated approaches to effectively implement the SDGs. Much of the action will have to take place locally where municipalities will play an important role in coordinating the efforts towards SDG fulfilment. They are constant local actors close to citizens and they can also influence other actors through their strategies. This paper reflects on how the SDGs can be integrated into existing strategies in order to avoid parallel non-effective processes and to avoid the risk of the SDGs to become marginalised. Furthermore, the paper discusses roles and preconditions of municipalities in the SDG implementation process. This study focuses the implementation of the SDGs into a regional municipality’s strategic planning and management, Region Östergötland, Sweden. The challenges and opportunities connected to implementing the SDGs will be problematized, and the paper gives recommendations on how this type of organisations can implement the SDGs taking advantage from qualities in already existing management and working procedures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 349.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In Swedish ‘Landsting’.

References

  • Arfvidsson, H., Simon, D., Oloko, M., & Moodley, N. (2016). Engaging with and measuring informality in the proposed urban sustainable development goal. African Geographical Review. doi:10.1080/19376812.2015.1130636.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, C., & Parnell, S. (2016). Ideas, implementation and indicators: Epistemologies of the post-2015 urban agenda. Environment and Urbanisation. doi:10.1177/0956247815621473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrutia, J. M., Echebarria, C., Paredes, M. R., & Hartmann, P. (2015). From Rio to Rio + 20: Twenty years of participatory, long term oriented and monitored local planning? Journal of Cleaner Production, 106, 594–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clegg, L. (2015). Benchmarking and blame games: Exploring the contestation of the millenium development goals. Review of International Studies, 41(5), 947–967.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eklund, M., & Gustafsson, S. (2015). Tio utmaningar för ett mer hållbart Norrköping. Slutrapporten från forskningsprogrammet Hållbara Norrköping (2010–2013).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenton, P., & Gustafsson, S. (2016 forthcoming). Moving from high-level words to local action—Governance for urban sustainability in municipalities (Submitted for publication in Current Opinion in Environmental Sustaianbility).

    Google Scholar 

  • Graute, U. (2016). Local authorities acting globally for sustainable development. Regional Studies. doi:10.1080/00343404.2016.1161740.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoornweg, D., Hosseini, M., Kennedy, C., & Behdadi, A. (2016). An urban approach to planetary boundaries. Ambio. doi:10.1007/s13280-016-0764-y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemp, R., & Loorbach, D. (2007). Transition management as a model for managing processes of co-evolution towards sustainable development. International Journal of Sustaianble Development and World Economy, 14, 78–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lafferty, W. M., & Eckerberg, K. (Eds.). (2013). From the earth summit to local agenda 21: Working towards sustainable development. International environmental governance. New York: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levett, R. (1997). Tools, techniquess and processes for municipal environmental management. Local Environment, 2(2), 189–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lo, K. (2014). Urban carbon governance and the transition toward low carbon urbanism: Review of a global phenomenon. Carbon Management, 5(3), 269–283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lucci, P. (2015). “Localising” the post-2015 agenda: What does it mean in practice? Report ODI. Shaping policy for development. https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/9395.pdf. Last visited August 24, 2016.

  • Simon, D., Arfvidsson, H., Anand, G., Bazaz, A., Fenna, G., Foster, K., et al. (2015). Developing and testing the Urban sustainable development goal’s targets and indicators—A five-city study. Environment and Urbanization, 28(1), 49–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swedish National Government. (2016). Kommittédirektiv. Genomförande av Agenda 2030 för hållbar utveckling. Dir 2016:18.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. UN A/RES/70/17/35.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDP Sweden. (2016). #Helen Clark: SDGs must be localized. Gl/pJZnRI. Last accessed August 24, 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weitz, N., Persson, Å., Nilsson, M., Tenggren, S. (2015). Sustainable development goals for Sweden: Insights on setting a national agenda, Stockholm Environment Institute. Working paper 2015-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeemering, E. (2012). Recognising interdependence and defining multi-level governance in city sustainability plans. Local Environment, 17(4), 409–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sara Gustafsson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gustafsson, S., Ivner, J. (2018). Implementing the Global Sustainable Goals (SDGs) into Municipal Strategies Applying an Integrated Approach. In: Leal Filho, W. (eds) Handbook of Sustainability Science and Research. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63007-6_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics