When we think of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 agenda, we tend to associate them with negotiations between UN member states. This is misleading. In a world that is increasingly urbanised, cities have become major drivers of national prosperity and well-being.

The last edition of the “OECD Regions and Cities at Glance” (2018) highlights that in the past decade metropolitan areas represented around 60% of GDP and employment in the OECD area, and drove over 50% of GDP growth. The local dimension therefore matters crucially if we want the implementation of the SDGs to become a reality — as most underlying policies and investments are a shared responsibility across levels of government.

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Pic : © Ian Dick