2.4.3_Key Findings on VLRs

The analysis in this chapter shows that culture is seen by cities as a crucial component in the achievement of the SDGs. Explicit contributions can be found in almost all goals. Nevertheless, several factors are preventing a more thorough reporting by cities (through VLRs or similar exercises) of the role of culture in the achievement of the SDG, among others: • the absence of a Goal dedicated to culture or more references to cultural aspects in other Goals, • the nature of the VLR exercise (only some Goals are reported every year), • issues of coordination among local government agencies (there is still a sub-representation of cultural voices), as well as • a lack of dissemination of relevant guides (such as UCLG’s document mentioned above).

There is obvious room for improvement in awareness-raising and the need to further mobilize local communities related to cultural policies (the local government, universities, activists and NGOs, as well as cultural institutions) in the ‘formal’ framework of the Goals.

This chapter also shows that the “alignment” exercises (Goals and Targets related to Local Plans and Policies) undertaken by cities in the elaboration of the VLRs can be two-directional: yes, all SDGs need to be related to local policies and programmes, and (also yes) key local priorities that are not explicitly present in the SDGs need to be highlighted in VLRs (as illustrated by Los Angeles with LGBTQIA+ persons, Shimokawa with cultural diversity, San Antonio with heritage or Oaxaca with human rights). In other words, cities and local and regional governments are invited to more explicitly highlight local priorities on creativity, culture or heritage in their future VLRs.

If taken as a whole, the collection of narratives, policies, programmes and projects of this chapter are totally coherent with UCLG’s document “Culture in the SDGs: A Guide for Local Action”. Both the Guide and this chapter can be jointly used as a checklist to inspire future reporting by cities. Culture is an essential component of subsidiarity, and it needs to become more explicit to accelerate ownership and positive impact.

Last, but not least, global networks and research centres involved in the preparation of international templates for the VLRs may consider explicitly including culture as a key dimension in the local implementation of the SDGs. In fact, the UN Secretary General’s Guidelines for Voluntary Reviews includes a chapter on the “Integration of the three dimensions” (the three currently accepted in the UN system dimensions of sustainable development are economic, social and environmental) and, at least locally, as some of the VLRs analysed illustrate, the local integration of the dimensions is impossible unless culture becomes explicit and operational. Therefore, international templates for the VLRs preparation may consider adopting the “global acquis”, mainly developed by UCLG, on the place of cultural aspects in local sustainable development, which is based on the narrative that culture needs to be considered the fourth (or the first) pillar (dimension) of sustainable development. This narrative becomes obvious when policies and programmes are implemented at a local level: people inhabit places with history and understand cultural rights, including heritage, diversity, creativity and critical knowledge, as key components for the future.