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Accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level. : Unpacking governance processes and tensions

Bexell, Magdalena LU orcid ; Bornemann, Basil ; Moallemi, Enayat A. and Vien, Ha B. (2025) In Earth System Governance 25.
Abstract
Despite a growing body of research on the role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level, knowledge on how they are taken up in local governance processes remains limited. This article contributes to knowledge on SDG implementation by examining how the SDGs can contribute to governance change at the local level. We develop a process-oriented analytical framework that examines SDG-induced governance change along four stages: how the SDGs affect local governance arrangements (exposure), set them in motion (resonance), and change their structures (adaptation) and mode of operation (transformation). On this basis, we analyze existing empirical case studies to identify patterns of SDG-induced governance change, as well as... (More)
Despite a growing body of research on the role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level, knowledge on how they are taken up in local governance processes remains limited. This article contributes to knowledge on SDG implementation by examining how the SDGs can contribute to governance change at the local level. We develop a process-oriented analytical framework that examines SDG-induced governance change along four stages: how the SDGs affect local governance arrangements (exposure), set them in motion (resonance), and change their structures (adaptation) and mode of operation (transformation). On this basis, we analyze existing empirical case studies to identify patterns of SDG-induced governance change, as well as facilitating and constraining factors. We identify three overarching tensions - between global aspirations and local realities, institutional continuity and change, and long-term and short-term policy horizons, that shape SDG-induced local governance change and must be navigated to accelerate SDG implementation. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
governance, sustainability, implementation, Sustainable Development Goals, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
in
Earth System Governance
volume
25
article number
100264
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105007084370
ISSN
2589-8116
DOI
10.1016/j.esg.2025.100264
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
098e6bf9-00d6-4147-abd1-a30d1a4ee9d8
date added to LUP
2025-06-03 10:59:09
date last changed
2025-07-18 09:32:28
@article{098e6bf9-00d6-4147-abd1-a30d1a4ee9d8,
  abstract     = {{Despite a growing body of research on the role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level, knowledge on how they are taken up in local governance processes remains limited. This article contributes to knowledge on SDG implementation by examining how the SDGs can contribute to governance change at the local level. We develop a process-oriented analytical framework that examines SDG-induced governance change along four stages: how the SDGs affect local governance arrangements (exposure), set them in motion (resonance), and change their structures (adaptation) and mode of operation (transformation). On this basis, we analyze existing empirical case studies to identify patterns of SDG-induced governance change, as well as facilitating and constraining factors. We identify three overarching tensions - between global aspirations and local realities, institutional continuity and change, and long-term and short-term policy horizons, that shape SDG-induced local governance change and must be navigated to accelerate SDG implementation.}},
  author       = {{Bexell, Magdalena and Bornemann, Basil and Moallemi, Enayat A. and Vien, Ha B.}},
  issn         = {{2589-8116}},
  keywords     = {{governance; sustainability; implementation; Sustainable Development Goals; 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Earth System Governance}},
  title        = {{Accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level. : Unpacking governance processes and tensions}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esg.2025.100264}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.esg.2025.100264}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}