Relational follow-up and review of the 2030 agenda : accelerating the implementation of the sustainable development goals

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Ortiz-Moya, Fernando and Reggiani, Marco (2025) Relational follow-up and review of the 2030 agenda : accelerating the implementation of the sustainable development goals. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 76. 101558. ISSN 1877-3435 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2025.101558)

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Abstract

Achieving the 2030 Agenda requires comprehensive follow-up and review across all levels of government. Although local governments play a critical role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their current follow-up and review architecture—conceived from a global perspective and tailored to national reporting—ignores local actors. Understanding follow-up and review as a relational process, grounded in dynamic interactions across levels, can help ensure that no place is left behind. Advancing such a system involves three key shifts: repositioning follow-up and review as a strategic governance tool, aligning global goals with local priorities, and developing context-specific indicators. Drawing on emerging local practices, we show how relational approaches bridge the gap between global ambitions and on-the-ground realities by fostering adaptive policymaking, embedding the SDGs into strategic planning, and enabling context-sensitive implementation. This approach supports a more inclusive architecture for sustainable development, rooted in the strengths and agency of local actors.

ORCID iDs

Ortiz-Moya, Fernando and Reggiani, Marco ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6158-2302;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)