Five Cities, One Direction – Local Leadership for Global Sustainability

As the world searches for sustainable solutions, attention is increasingly turning to cities. Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, and Turku have shown how local leadership can shape global progress — collaboratively and with impact.

On May 7, 2025, the leaders of these five major Finnish cities came together to launch their sustainability reports and present the world’s first co-created VLR policy brief based on local SDG reporting. The event sent a clear message: cities are not just implementing global goals — they are helping define them.

The cities’ shared insights center around three key principles:

• A holistic approach to sustainability
• The power of co-creation and collaboration
• The courage to face both achievements and challenges

City leaders emphasized that municipalities are at the forefront of sustainable development. Their governance is often more consistent and long-term than at the national level, with clearer goals and metrics. But sustainability targets must evolve continuously. The world is changing — and setbacks are part of the journey.

To be effective, sustainability goals must be concrete. They should guide everyday decision-making and operations. Evidence-based policymaking is essential to finding the right solutions. And cities must be involved in shaping international goals, because that’s where the real work happens — on the ground.

In international commentary, one theme stood out: in a turbulent world, it is at the local level where people’s everyday lives are improved. Multi-level, trust-based governance and cooperation across local, national, and global levels strengthen everyone involved. Cities are working every day to build a better future.

Discussions with key stakeholders also highlighted areas for development. Decision-making must better integrate research and data. Human rights reporting should be embedded in sustainability work. Indicators need refinement. And above all, we need a shared language that brings everyone to the table.

Ultimately, the message is clear: in times of uncertainty, cities offer direction, stability, and hope. They don’t just respond to change — they lead it.