SDG Flag Day in Lugano: Cities play a key role in implementing sustainable development goals
Bern, 25.09.2024 - Since 2019, SDG Flag Day has been held every year on 25 September on the initiative of the business community (via the UN Global Compact). Schools, communes, organisations, companies and governments fly flags to symbolically express their support for the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the SDG Flag Day event in Lugano, the two Federal Council delegates for the 2030 Agenda, Markus Reubi and Daniel Dubas, emphasised the key role of cities in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
Whether it's access to green spaces and public areas, sustainable transport systems, waste sorting or involving all stakeholders in urban planning, cities face particular challenges in the field of sustainability. Although they only cover 3% of the earth's surface, they consume three quarters of global resources and are responsible for 75% of global emissions. The 2030 Agenda therefore also addresses this topic in SDG Goal 11, 'Sustainable cities and communities'.
Swiss cities and communes need to become inclusive, resilient and environmentally friendly. To mark this year's SDG Flag Day, the city of Lugano is providing various examples of how it is driving forward the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
"Through its #luganosostenibile programme, Lugano is one of the many cities using their proximity to citizens to implement solutions in different areas of the 2030 Agenda," says Markus Reubi, deputy head of the Prosperity and Sustainability Division (PSD) of the FDFA and one of the Federal Council's two delegates for the 2030 Agenda. Mr Ruebi took part in SDG Flag Day in Lugano together with the other Federal Council delegate for the 2030 Agenda, Daniel Dubas. According to Mr Dubas, who heads the Sustainable Development Section of the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE), 'cities are a key driver of sustainable development in Switzerland, especially as almost three quarters of the population live in cities and peri-urban areas.'
Today's event in Lugano marks the start of a deeper collaboration between the FDFA and a range of cities in the field of sustainability, a development that will be highlighted at a city symposium on SDG Flag Day 2025.
2030 Agenda
The 2030 Agenda is the global frame of reference for local, national and international efforts to find joint solutions to major international challenges such as climate change, resource consumption, biodiversity conservation and health crises. The 2030 Agenda was adopted on 25 September 2015 by 193 UN member states, including Switzerland. It applies to all countries and sets the SDGs to be achieved by 2030. In Switzerland too, the 2030 Agenda is the guiding framework for sustainability policy.
At the heart of the 2030 Agenda are the 17 SDGs and their 169 targets. These are structured around five guiding principles: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. With these five principles, the 2030 Agenda aims to safeguard human well-being, economic development and environmental protection as well as addressing aspects such as peace, the rule of law and governance. SDG Flag Day is an initiative of the UN Global Compact, a global network of companies that are committed to the goals of the 2030 Agenda.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Links
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
Federal Office for Spatial Development
https://www.are.admin.ch/are/en/home.html
