Preliminary findings of the CoR/OECD survey on SDGs as a Framework for Covid-19 Recovery in Cities and Regions - A

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SDGS AS A FRAMEWORK FOR COVID-19
RECOVERY IN CITIES AND REGIONS - A
COR/OECD SURVEY
Ricardo Rio
Mayor of Braga, Portugal & CoR Rapporteur
29 June 2021

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The OECD/CoR Survey on the SDGs as a framework
for COVID-19 recovery in cities and regions
• Objective: Identify challenges faced by local and regional governments during the pandemic and
understand how the SDGs can support them in the COVID-19 recovery
• Survey period: 10 May 2021 – 18 June 2021
• 145 responses overall
• 86 responses from municipalities, regions and intermediary entities in 24 EU countries +
few other OECD & non-OECD countries
• 51 from municipalities
• 24 from regions
• 11 from intermediary entities (in countries with three levels of subnational government:
department, province, county, etc.)

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Which policies have local and regional governments
adopted for the implementation of the SDGS?
8%
17%
23%
36%
40%
41%
41%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
None
Other
A sustainable development council or similar
An internal committee, task force or other vertical structure
A Dedicated Strategy or Action Plan for the SDGs implementation
Use of indicators to track progress on the SDGs
Awareness raising campaigns
• Indicator and measurement systems to track progress & awareness-raising actions are most
common policies of LRGs
• Only 8% of respondents have not used any actions or policies to implement the SDGs

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What contributes to the success of the SDGS
implementation in cities and regions?
11%
12%
12%
13%
14%
38%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
The cooperation with city networks
Dedicated funding/budget for the SDGs
Other
High level of citizens’ engagement
Support from higher levels of government
Political leadership at the local/regional level
• Political leadership at the local/regional level is considered as the most important success factor
• Support from higher levels of government and citizens’ engagement are most important success
factors for more than a fourth of respondents

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How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected local and
regional governments’ (LRG) work on the SDGs?
9%
16%
20%
25%
60%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Fewer people working on the SDGs than before the pandemic
There is less political support for the SDGs agenda
The COVID-19 pandemic has not affected our work on the SDGs
Fewer financial resources available to work on the SDGs
More conviction SDGs allow a more holistic approach to recovery
• 60% of LRGs believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to more conviction that the SDGs
can help take a more holistic approach to recovery
• 25% of LRGs have fewer financial resources available to work on the SDGs compared to pre-
COVID

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Are LRGs using the SDGs as a framework for the
COVID-19 recovery phase?
7%
9%
40%
44%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
No previous use of SDGs but do so now to address the pandemic
No, and no intention to do so
SDGs used before and also to address the COVID-19 recovery
Not yet, but we are planning to do so
• Almost half of LRGs is planning to use the SDGs as a framework for the COVID-19 recovery,
although they are not doing it yet
• 40% of LRGs worked on the SDGs pre-COVID and now leverages them as a recovery tool
• 7% of LRGs took the opportunity of the COVID-19 pandemic to start working on the SDGs

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What are the biggest post COVID-19 challenges for
cities and regions with regards to the SDGs?
1%
9%
15%
20%
54%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Peace Dimension (SDG 16)
Partnership Dimension (SDG 17)
Planet Dimension (SDG 6, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Prosperity Dimension (SDG 7-11)
People Dimension (SDG 1-5)
• The people dimension (SDG 1-5) is seen as the biggest post COVID-19 challenge
• Partnership and Peace appear to be less of a priority in terms of post COVID-19 challenges

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Which policies can best help to strengthen health
outcomes?*
• Digital health solutions are considered the top priority for the achievement of SDG 3
• For around half of LRGs the decrease of pollution or the promotion of healthy lifestyles are the
top priority
20%
24%
24%
32%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Considering subjective well-being impacts in the design of local policies
Promoting healthy lifestyles
Implementing policies to decrease air pollution levels and GHG emissions
Expanding digital health solutions at local and regional level
* Share of respondents considering the respective answer as their top priority

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What policies can most contribute to sustainable
mobility & accessibility?*
• Improvement of multi-modal transport clearly the top priority of LRG to achieve SDG 11
• Demand for integrated regional public transport approaches
6%
14%
32%
47%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
Addressing negative agglomeration externalities
Adapting public transportation systems
Developing regional public transport, integrating rural areas
Improving multi-modal transport (e.g. active and clean urban mobility)
* Share of respondents considering the respective answer as their top priority

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How can the SDGs help strengthening citizens’ trust
in their governments?*
• Engagement of citizens and territorial stakeholders considered as top contributory factor to SDG
16
• Another focus lies on the SDGs providing a framework for policy-making
* Share of respondents considering the respective answer as their top priority
15%
19%
24%
41%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
Improving transparency of policy-making processes
Providing accountability mechanisms to measure policy outcomes
Providing a framework for policy-making
Engaging citizens and stakeholders in local & regional policy-making

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Thank you!