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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Creation of the Local SDG Platform to support efforts by local governments toward achieving the SDGs

Description
Intro

Action at the local level by local governments is essential to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets by the target year 2030. One thing needed to promote such action is a database that allows the monitoring of local-level actions and a platform for exchanging information. We therefore developed the online Local SDGs Platform to enable such monitoring and information exchange.

Objective of the practice

The Local SDGs Platform, which was created to support local-level actions aimed at achieving the SDGs, comprises three main functions. Function 1 (A database to enable monitoring of local-level actions aimed at achieving the SDG): Indicators to measure progress are essential for promoting local-level actions aimed at achieving SDGs. To support integrated activities that incorporate environmental, social, and economic perspectives, we compiled a wide array of information into a database and organized this information according to each of the 17 SDGs. Function 2 (A national map of local governments that have adopted SDG-related policies): Some of the more forward-thinking local governments have developed Local 2030 Agendas or Local SDGs by localizing the 2030 Agenda to match their respective local conditions and circumstances. We created a map compiling examples of such forward-thinking policies by local governments across the country. Function 3 (Interviews with local governments that have adopted forward-thinking SDG policies): The sharing of successful actions is essential for achieving the SDGs. To this end, we conducted interviews with individuals responsible for implementing forward-thinking local-level actions and published these interviews in the form of open-access articles that can be read by the general public.

Partners
The platform was developed in consultation with various stakeholders, including the related government ministries, and businesses and local governments throughout Japan. The Local SDG Indicators used to monitor the progress of local-level actions aimed at achieving the SDGs were validated by researchers and other experts at universities and national research institutes.
Implementation of the Project/Activity

Over the past decade, we have conducted research (funded in part by national research grants) on efforts by local governments around the country to achieve sustainable development. With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September 2015, we began various initiatives to support local-level actions aimed at achieving the SDGs. Realizing that a scheme for monitoring progress toward achieving the SDGs was needed, we developed a series of Local SDG Indicators that were tailored to circumstances and conditions unique to Japan. In addition, we compiled data from national statistics covering all 47 prefectures as well as 1,750 local governments into a local government database. This database enables users to easily query the circumstances of local governments throughout the country, thereby reducing the amount of effort required by local government staff to collect data while supporting efforts by local governments to implement evidence-based policy making.

Results/Outputs/Impacts
As of February 2019, the Local SDG Platform is already being used by several hundreds local governments and companies. The database compiles and provides access to data from all local governments in Japan and thus conforms to the SDG principle of “leaving no one behind.” We have received requests and questions regarding data use from local governments around the country, providing evidence that the database is contributing to the formulation of policies that incorporate SDG principles. Although the database was originally developed with the goal of supporting evidence-based policy making by local governments, it is also being used by businesses at a higher-than-expected rate. According to interviews that we conducted with business representatives, the database is useful for identifying potential local government partners. As illustrated by this example, the Local SDG Platform is also contributing to strengthening partnerships aimed at achieving the SDGs.
Enabling factors and constraints
One of the biggest challenges in achieving the SDGs is selecting appropriate indicators of progress and collecting relevant data. No matter how good a proposed indicator might be, progress cannot be measured if data does not exist. Accordingly, when developing the Local SDG Platform, we first conducted a detailed examination of each of the 232 indicators proposed by the UN Statistics Division. Indicators found to be unsuitable to Japan’s unique conditions and circumstances were either modified or replaced with different indicators as needed. The resulting set of Local SDG Indicators was developed with the cooperation of countless local government employees across the country and thus directly reflects the views of those who now use the database. This led to a broad user base and the overall success of the database.
Sustainability and replicability
The Local SDG Platform database, which contains environmental, social, and economic data for local governments across Japan (47 prefectures and 1,750 municipalities), will be updated in conjunction with future national and other censuses, and is expected to continue to function as a powerful tool for monitoring progress toward achieving the SDGs. The accumulation of time-series data will allow us to identify trends (positive or negative) that we plan to provide as feedback to local government stakeholders responsible for formulating policy. The costs of developing the platform program and collecting data are negligible compared to the benefits to be gained. We have already started to enlist local governments outside of Japan, in East Asia and elsewhere, to help with the collection of data ahead of plans to expand the platform internationally.
Conclusions

The principle of “think globally, act locally” is essential if we are to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The 2030 Agenda and SDGs must be localized to match local conditions and circumstances, and local-level actions across the country must be accelerated. To this end, monitoring the current status and visualizing the progress of measures is extremely beneficial; therefore, it is necessary to develop a platform and other tools to make it possible to do so. The Local SDG Platform that was developed enables such monitoring and visualization while contributing to the achievement of the SDGs by providing a means for local governments across the country to share examples of successful actions.

Other sources of information
The Local SDG Platform can be access at the following URL. https://kawakubo-lab.jp/?lang=en (English is also available). Government stakeholders and experts have awarded the research related to the development of the Local SDG Platform the highest grade of S (Excellent Progress). https://www.erca.go.jp/suishinhi/seika/pdf/seika_4_h30/1RF-1701.pdf (Japanese). Articles related to the development of the Local SDG Platform and the support of actions at the local level have appeared in the following newspaper. The Nikkan Kensetsu Kogyo Shinbun, p.2-(4), 15th June 2018. http://kawakubo-lab.ws.hosei.ac.jp/doc/decn180615_p4.pdf (Japanese)
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Name Description
14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.6 By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
17.14 Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development
14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.b Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.c Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
Action Network
SDG Good Practices First Call
This initiative does not yet fulfil the SMART criteria.
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Timeline
14 November 2018 (start date)
31 March 2019 (date of completion)
Entity
Hosei University
SDGs
Region
  1. Asia and Pacific
Geographical coverage
Prefectures and local governments
Photos
Creation of the Local SDG Platform to support efforts by local governments toward achieving the SDGs Creation of the Local SDG Platform to support efforts by local governments toward achieving the SDGs
Website/More information
N/A
Countries
Japan
Japan
Contact Information

Shun Kawakubo, Associate Professor