63
in some matters. These participants mainly
referred to the constant struggle of local governments to secure funding from higher-level jurisdictions and the limited mandate local
governments are given from provincial or federal
legislation especially when it comes to important
issues such as education, transportation, energy,
and – to some extent – housing. Two interviewees
concluded their argument on the difficulties of
the multiple levels of government by describing
local governments as “creatures of the province.”
7
A third SDG-related theme that surfaced
throughout the interviews concerned the (usually
low) level of accountability or obligation that is
attached to the SDGs – or any other international
agreements for that matter. The majority of interviewees expressed the belief that local governments are removed or distanced from the
obligation the federal government has to achieve
the SDGs and report on them by 2030. Some
pointed out that local governments feel that they
are more accountable to their citizens than to any
national or international organizations.
At least a quarter of the participants considered the SDGs, the Paris climate agreement, and
other international agreements as purely “aspirational.” Some argued that setting global or local
goals can be beneficial but it is inadequate when
implementation is accompanied by little or no
accountability. Lack of accountability in this case
means that municipalities have no legal obligation, they may receive no mandate or funding to
achieve the goals, and therefore they do not face
any real consequences if goals are not met.
On a more positive note, it is worth highlighting that about one third of participants were
explicitly in favor of embracing national or global
goals and ensuring their increased impact on
local decision-making. They suggested that local
governments should try to align more with global
goals which can provide some framework and
foster connection to a wider – national and even
global – context. In a few interviews, it was stated
that the SDGs can present an opportunity for
7 This is indeed the case in B.C. Unlike in the USA, for
example, local governments in Canada are in fact and in
law “creatures of the province” they are located in.
local governments to receive funding and other
resources to achieve their local community goals.
Similarly, it was argued that high-level goals
such as the SDGs can help inform local decisionmaking and action, mainly by pointing to best
practices and opportunities for learning.
Overall, our research findings indicate that
there is low awareness around the UN Agenda for
Sustainable Development and that recognition of
the significance of the SDGs at the local level is
progressing at a slow pace. The SDGs and other
international agreements, despite being nonbinding, present some opportunities that are being
slowly acknowledged in Canadian communities,
often by municipal staff at first and then by
elected officials who in general may not be that
immersed in international developments. As one
interviewee concisely put it, municipalities are
not likely to be “driven” by the SDGs or compelled to achieve them, but perhaps may use them
if they need support to achieve their local goals.
5.5
Generalizations
For this study we performed a complex SDGLocal Goals mapping exercise, similar to those
undertaken in New York, San Jose, and Baltimore,
and compared the goals, targets, and indicators of
the SDGs, the municipalities, and our own
Community Capital Tool. We also documented
policy gaps and stakeholder perceptions and
asked whether global agendas influence local
decision-making.
Mapping the CMR and DNV OCPs and other
master plans with the SDGs and the CCT was not
an easy task because of the multiplicity of official
documents in the two municipalities: official
community plans, various sectoral plans, business plans, community sustainability plans, climate action plans, etc. Some high-level policy
documents overlapped, whereas in some cases
the OCP predated newer plans, and this resulted
in goal and target tracking difficulties and occasional inconsistencies (Ross 2018). This mapping task however revealed significant gaps in
policies and objectives in both case studies, such
as low consideration of wider national or global
5 Making the SDGs Relevant for Cities: Using the Community Capital Tool in British Columbia
in some matters. These participants mainly
referred to the constant struggle of local governments to secure funding from higher-level jurisdictions and the limited mandate local
governments are given from provincial or federal
legislation especially when it comes to important
issues such as education, transportation, energy,
and – to some extent – housing. Two interviewees
concluded their argument on the difficulties of
the multiple levels of government by describing
local governments as “creatures of the province.”
7
A third SDG-related theme that surfaced
throughout the interviews concerned the (usually
low) level of accountability or obligation that is
attached to the SDGs – or any other international
agreements for that matter. The majority of interviewees expressed the belief that local governments are removed or distanced from the
obligation the federal government has to achieve
the SDGs and report on them by 2030. Some
pointed out that local governments feel that they
are more accountable to their citizens than to any
national or international organizations.
At least a quarter of the participants considered the SDGs, the Paris climate agreement, and
other international agreements as purely “aspirational.” Some argued that setting global or local
goals can be beneficial but it is inadequate when
implementation is accompanied by little or no
accountability. Lack of accountability in this case
means that municipalities have no legal obligation, they may receive no mandate or funding to
achieve the goals, and therefore they do not face
any real consequences if goals are not met.
On a more positive note, it is worth highlighting that about one third of participants were
explicitly in favor of embracing national or global
goals and ensuring their increased impact on
local decision-making. They suggested that local
governments should try to align more with global
goals which can provide some framework and
foster connection to a wider – national and even
global – context. In a few interviews, it was stated
that the SDGs can present an opportunity for
7 This is indeed the case in B.C. Unlike in the USA, for
example, local governments in Canada are in fact and in
law “creatures of the province” they are located in.
local governments to receive funding and other
resources to achieve their local community goals.
Similarly, it was argued that high-level goals
such as the SDGs can help inform local decisionmaking and action, mainly by pointing to best
practices and opportunities for learning.
Overall, our research findings indicate that
there is low awareness around the UN Agenda for
Sustainable Development and that recognition of
the significance of the SDGs at the local level is
progressing at a slow pace. The SDGs and other
international agreements, despite being nonbinding, present some opportunities that are being
slowly acknowledged in Canadian communities,
often by municipal staff at first and then by
elected officials who in general may not be that
immersed in international developments. As one
interviewee concisely put it, municipalities are
not likely to be “driven” by the SDGs or compelled to achieve them, but perhaps may use them
if they need support to achieve their local goals.
5.5
Generalizations
For this study we performed a complex SDGLocal Goals mapping exercise, similar to those
undertaken in New York, San Jose, and Baltimore,
and compared the goals, targets, and indicators of
the SDGs, the municipalities, and our own
Community Capital Tool. We also documented
policy gaps and stakeholder perceptions and
asked whether global agendas influence local
decision-making.
Mapping the CMR and DNV OCPs and other
master plans with the SDGs and the CCT was not
an easy task because of the multiplicity of official
documents in the two municipalities: official
community plans, various sectoral plans, business plans, community sustainability plans, climate action plans, etc. Some high-level policy
documents overlapped, whereas in some cases
the OCP predated newer plans, and this resulted
in goal and target tracking difficulties and occasional inconsistencies (Ross 2018). This mapping task however revealed significant gaps in
policies and objectives in both case studies, such
as low consideration of wider national or global
5 Making the SDGs Relevant for Cities: Using the Community Capital Tool in British Columbia