The Network of Local Entities for the 2030 Agenda already has over 400 affiliated Local Entities. Nearly 60% of them are municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants; these localities face greater challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda and demand economic and technical resources to carry out the process. In this regard, the support provided by Provincial Councils, Cabildos, and Island Councils is fundamental.

There are already 25 Provincial Councils, Cabildos, and Island Councils integrated into the Network that are developing highly relevant actions focused on extending the knowledge, awareness, and implementation of the 2030 Agenda throughout the territory. This dual involvement (on the one hand, integrating the SDGs into the entity itself and its public policies; on the other, providing fundamental support to small municipalities) is what the Network wishes to highlight and acknowledge in a series of articles that we begin today, with the aim of disseminating the public policies that these institutions are implementing to address the social, political, and economic challenges demanded by the established goals.

The Provincial Council of Badajoz is working on the development of an interactive map with all the actions and plans being carried out in the province. This tool streamlines municipal procedures, connects them, and allows them to clearly establish all the resources invested, as well as monitor the actions and files processed.

The Provincial Council of Jaén promotes, together with the Provincial Traffic Headquarters, its Stars program. This initiative affects 26 educational centers and encourages students to travel on foot or by bicycle.

The Provincial Council of León has launched numerous actions aimed at implementing the SDGs in the province. In this regard, its “Women and Equal Opportunities” plan stands out, which specifies its actions in violence prevention, promotion of equality, victim support, and subsidies for shelters.

The Provincial Council of Alicante has drawn up a roadmap aligned with the SDGs set by the 2030 Agenda. Its actions include its program for the recovery and prevention of overweight, as well as its school plan on emotions.

The Provincial Council of Albacete is deploying numerous local action plans aligned with the SDGs. Thus, in the educational field, their “School Agenda 21” is well advanced, a program endorsed by UNESCO that works, by combining the effort and involvement of the educational community, to improve the situation of training centers regarding coexistence, energy, and waste.

Also, in a more transversal area, they have launched an annual call for subsidies for the execution of action plans towards sustainability within the framework of the 2030 Agenda, which has allowed, to date, the local action of the SDGs in 50 municipalities out of the 87 in the province.

The Provincial Council of Valladolid is implementing numerous public policies aligned with the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. In this regard, its “Provincial Youth Plan” deserves special mention. In it, they deploy a number of transversal actions affecting the areas of employment, education and culture, environment, health, housing, social environment, consumption, and sports.

The Provincial Council of Cáceres has adapted a sustainable development plan to the problems and challenges of depopulation facing the province. Its rural character also guides a strategy that is very mindful of the reality of the environment. Thus, actions related to rural work, inclusive development, sustainable exploitation, and dialogue between urban and rural areas, among others, stand out.

The Provincial Council of Castellón has prepared a precise guide that serves to orient the municipalities of the province in the application of specific policies and actions aimed at implementing the SDGs. It is an extensive document that addresses aspects of industry and innovation, employment, reduction of inequalities, environment, health, and social justice, among other issues. Thus, this guide for the Local Entities of the province includes numerous action proposals for the design of more livable, fair, inclusive, healthy, intelligent, and sustainable municipalities.

Furthermore, it is worth noting the new investment plan “Castelló Avança”. Endowed with 30 million euros to be distributed among the municipalities of the province, this biennial plan encourages investment by Local Entities in areas of equality and youth. All of this, respecting local autonomy so that the projects developed adapt to the particular needs of each population.

The Provincial Council of Burgos, whose capital hosted the II General Assembly of the Network of Local Entities for the 2030 Agenda, focuses a large part of its efforts on the small municipalities of the province. Thus, they are already working on the document “The 2030 Agenda, within everyone’s reach,” a specific guide to help local entities with fewer than 500 inhabitants implement the SDGs in a practical way.

Likewise, the institution deploys other policies and actions aligned with the 2030 Agenda, such as the provision of courses on sustainable development aimed at training technical and political staff of the provincial councils. The launch of its PEBUR plan also stands out, which outlines and defines a strategy to address sustainable rural development.

The Island Council of La Palma has approved a comprehensive strategy that addresses the social, environmental, and political challenges also faced in its territorial scope. A document that has the endorsement and collaboration of a large number of social agents and institutions, all of them participants in the preparation of the document. Thus, they have designed an ambitious plan that addresses, transversally, the challenges of our time.

In the coming weeks, this information will be expanded with actions from other Provincial Governments included in the Network.