Bhopal joins global movement on SDGs

Tags: State News

Bhopal becomes the first city in India to adopt the localisation of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG).

An overview of the news

• India's Bhopal city has conducted India's first city-level Voluntary Local Review (VLR)of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Bhopal has launched 'Agenda for Action: Sustainable Urban Transformation in Bhopal', which was unveiled by Madhya Pradesh Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan.

• In 2015, all 193 UN member states adopted "Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development",which included 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets, as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.

• Member countries report on their progress towards achieving the goals through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).

What is VLR?

• A Voluntary Local Review (VLR) is a powerful tool that enables cities and regions to localize the SDGs and report their progress towards achieving them.

Bhopal’s VLR

• VLR enables cities and regions to localize the Sustainable Development Goals and report on their progress.

• Bhopal's VLR is the result of a collective collaboration of Bhopal Municipal Corporation, UN-Habitat and over 23 local stakeholders to demonstrate the city's aspirations for a sustainable and inclusive urban transformation.

• Bhopal's VLR incorporated a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches to the SDG review, including a qualitative mapping of 56 developmental projects across the three pillars of People, Planet and Prosperity, and an in-depth quantitative review of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• VLRs have emerged as a powerful tool at the forefront of local action.

• New York City became the first city in 2018 to submit its voluntary local review to the HLPF of the United Nations.

• By 2021, some 33 countries had publicly available 114 VLRs or similar review documents.

United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG)

• The United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) were adopted by all 193 member states in 2015 as a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity.

• There are 17 SDGs and 169 targets, which aim to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

• The SDGs cover a range of areas such as health, education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, and more.

• The member states report their progress towards the achievement of the SDGs through a Voluntary National Review (VNR) to UN’s High Level Political Forum (HLPF).

• Cities and regions have a pivotal role to play in the achievement of Agenda 2030, as at least 60% of the 169 targets could not possibly be achieved without their involvement.