The Mayor of Cáceres, Luis Salaya, has advocated at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development for the crucial role played by local governments in ensuring the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As President of the SDG 2030 Agenda Commission of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), the Mayor of Cáceres recalled during his speech “the role that FEMP is playing in promoting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in coordination with the different levels of Government in our country, while also working, as the administration closest to the citizens, to involve all of society in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals within the established horizon until 2030.”

Salaya’s intervention took place during Spain’s second Voluntary National Review, within which the 2021 Progress Report, approved by the Council of Ministers on June 8, was presented. This Report accounts for the progress made and, in turn, presents future commitments articulated through the 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy.

Within this framework of action, FEMP has collaborated with the Government of Spain, both in the preparation of the report approved on June 8 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy, “contributing to the definition of the challenges and difficulties we face as a society and country and, above all,” the political leader highlighted, “preparing ourselves for the future we want to build, especially in the face of the national and global emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” which has highlighted “the emergence of cities as global references for policies in favor of human sustainability, emphasizing not only leaving no one behind, but leaving no territory behind.”

In his speech, Salaya wanted to emphasize the commitment made to “strengthen and legitimize the strategic role of Local Governments in the planning, execution, and accountability for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.” To this end, in October 2020, the Network of Local Entities for the 2030 Agenda was established, which currently comprises 342 local governments, focused on seeking alliances that promote cohesion policies at the local level.

The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development was held in the Bolívar room of Casa de América in Madrid. It featured the participation of the Minister of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda, Ione Belarra; the Deputy for Barcelona and President of the Mixed Commission for the Coordination and Monitoring of the Spanish Strategy to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Aina Vidal; the Vice President of the Sustainable Development Council, Filomena Ruggiero; and the Mayor of Cáceres and President of the FEMP SDG – 2030 Agenda Commission, Luis Salaya, representing all municipalities in Spain.