SDGs Localization: A New Tool for a Comprehensive Assessment of Neighbourhood Sustainability

The localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a crucial factor for achieving all 17 goals outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda, particularly at the urban level. While SDG 11 specifically focuses on cities and communities, it is important to note that all SDGs encompass an “urban component”. However, there are limited tools available that offer a comprehensive evaluation in this regard. This paper introduces the methodology employed to create a new tool for localizing SDGs at the urban and neighbourhood level, aimed at supporting the Regional Sustainable Development Strategy (Sardegna2030) of the Sardinia Region in Italy. The evaluation framework, indeed, is designed to become a centrepiece in the institutionalisation of sustainability assessment across the public administrations, and to promote sustainability through urban projects and policies. This work raises critical questions about the current practices and suggests how SDGs-oriented urban strategies and projects can offer a comprehensive a common framework of principles and criteria against which different interventions can be assessed and justified. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the potential more general relevance of such an approach, and some suggestions for future research and practice.