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The Sustainable Development Goals 

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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals set by the United Nations to be reached by 2030, providing a comprehensive framework for addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

City governments play an instrumental role in achieving the SDGs – home to half of the world's population and two thirds of global emissions.

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The SDGs and digital climate planning

Many local governments accelerate their transition using a digital platform. Cities are leapfrogging into digital governance where they rely on data tracking, stakeholder integration and co-benefit calculations. This way, cities monitor their implementation and identify areas where they need make data-driven decisions.

When the plan is publicly available online, cities build a standard of transparency, inviting all citizens to take part of the journey to a sustainable future. 

  • Gathered stakeholders
  • Integrated approach
  • Science-based
  • Data-driven
  • Transparent

The SDGs and ClimateOS

Cities in North America, Japan and Europe are already using ClimateOS to monitor their climate planning. They are measuring their progress against local indicators. The ClimateOS platform builds on Transition Elements which helps cities to advance their climate planning and therefore their contribution to multiple SDG targets.

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In brief: the SDGs and city climate planning

Target

How cities use ClimateOS
SDG6 - Clean Water and Sanitation

6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

Identifying, planning and tracking sustainable water management projects.
SDG7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

7.1: Universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy

Planning for sustainable energy projects and increasing access to it.

7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix

Introduce renewable energy in their local mix an monitoring urban energy projects.
SDG8 - Responsible Consumption and Production

8.2: Higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation

Using automated calculations to building a business case for climate action.
SDG9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all

Using innovative tools to monitor sustainable projects and increase access to it.
SDG11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

11.2: Safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all

Planning and monitoring sustainable urbanization projects.

11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

Tracking waste management projects and reduce environmental impact.

11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities

Identifying and planning green public spaces.
SDG12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle

Monitoring projects in sustainable city-related consumption and production.
SDG13 - Climate Action

13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters

Tracking emissions and building resilience against natural disasters.

13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

Streamlining cross-sectoral strategies into one mutual climate plan.

13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Publishing an open-access plan of city climate work, transparently available for all.
SDG16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institution

16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels

Becoming publically accountable for climate policies and opening for citizen feedback.
SDG17 - Partnerships for the Goals
17.1: Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international cooperation
Using one integrated tool for cross-sectoral cooperation and mainstreaming climate considerations in policies.