First Baltic 2030 Workshop on localising UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

The 1st module of the Baltic 2030 Capacity Building Programme – Localising SDGs took place on 11-12 April 2019 in Riga, Latvia.

The second module will be held on 23-24 May in Stockholm, Sweden.

The module introduced the overall framework of the 2030 Agenda in the Baltic Sea Region, presented by the CBSS’ Baltic 2030 Olga Zuin. The role of the EU in the process was clarified by Global Utmaning’s Krista Kampus.
Global Utmaning also drew connections with the New Global Agenda and the OECD presented its territorial approach to promote policy coherence for the SDGs, showcasing some pilot examples of regions and cities structurally integrating the 2030 Agenda in their strategic plans. Of course,
the crucial role of municipalities and regions to achieve the implementation of the Baltic 2030 Action Plan was also emphasised. Concrete examples from cities and regions were presented by Region Syddanmark (Denmark), Nordic examples (Nordregio), Russian municipalities, the future Viken County (Norway), and Greifswald (Germany).

Participants engaged in a very interactive digital workshop, where they explored shared challenges and existing opportunities in the regions and cities, and formulated joint commitments to move forward in the integration of the SDGs in their own countries. The commitments taken will be followed up in the next module, taking place on 23-24 May in Stockholm.

The programme is organised by the Council of the Baltic Sea States – Baltic 2030 with the think-tank Global Utmaning, with the support of Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) Baltic Sea Commission, Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation (BSSSC) and Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC) Sustainable Cities Commission. The programme is financially support by the Swedish Institute – Baltic Sea Region Programme.