LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti today unveiled a report that says the city is pursuing and meeting sustainable development goals that were adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
The SDGs are a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity,” according to the UN, which set an achievement timeline for 2030. The UN set 17 goals and called for worldwide action, with the No. 1 priority being “no poverty.”
“With this report, we are holding ourselves accountable for our promises to build a stronger city and showing the world what we do every day to forge a more sustainable, just, fair and prosperous future for all Angelenos,” Garcetti said.
According to the mayor's office, Los Angeles is one of the first cities in the world to publish its progress and ongoing challenges in reaching its global targets for several major issues, including homelessness and cleaner energy.
So far, Los Angeles has reported data on five of the 17 goals, with more information to be provided in the near future.
The city's report emphasizes the efforts to expand shelters, housing and services for homeless Angelenos, and provide equal opportunities for women and girls in the economy, sports and society. The report is the first in a series of planned updates on the SDG progress, according to the mayor's office.
“The sustainable development goals speak to some of the biggest challenges facing our cities and our world,” said Kaysie Brown, the head of policy planning at the UN Foundation.
In 2017, with the support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles, it was announced that Los Angeles would work to localize the goals and make significant progress ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since then, the city has partnered with students and faculty from several universities to compile data and align its current plans with the SDGs.
The mayor's office presented the report at an event with the World Council on City Data and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, hosted by the Canadian government at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York City.
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