What is the SLPF Project?

The SLPF project aims to make sustainability considerations an integral part of decision-making processes and public financial management: Specifically, the project focuses on developing the foundations for "SDG Budgeting" in local governance systems.

The approach includes:

Assessing Current Systems: Analyzing the political, legal, and institutional frameworks for SDG Budgeting in the participating cities.
Developing Methods and KPIs: Creating tailored methodologies and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track and integrate SDG targets into city budgets.
Capacity Building: Training city officials and organizing workshops to ensure the practical implementation of SDG Budgeting.
Civil Servants Exchange Program: Organising the exchange between beneficiary cities and other European Cities.
Disseminating Results: Sharing knowledge across Europe through events, guidelines, and tools to inspire more cities to follow.

This project is funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by Expertise France, KDZ-Centre for Public Administration Research and I4CE - Institut de l'économie pour le climat / Institute for Climate Economics in cooperation with the European Commission.

European Cities Leading the Way in Sustainable Public Finances

Cities play a pivotal role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, and social equity, acting both as significant contributors to these issues and as key drivers of solutions.

Home to over half the world’s population, a figure expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050—urban areas are central to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For instance, cities account for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions, largely resulting from energy consumption, transportation, and industrial activities.[1]

However, there is significant potential to address these challenges due to cities proximity to the issues and their ability to implement targeted policies and innovative solutions at a local level. Cities are indeed uniquely positioned to lead the way.

By aligning financial decisions with sustainable and climate goals, cities can deliver far-reaching benefits, including cleaner air, improved public health, economic opportunities, and greater social equity for their citizens. While national efforts often require more time, cities possess the scale, agility, and closeness to the challenges at hand to drive meaningful change, positioning them at the forefront of the transition to a sustainable urban future.

Four leading European cities—Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bordeaux, and Hamburg—are setting an example by integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Green Agenda into their public financial management systems. One thing is clear; the way cities manage their finances today will shape the trajectory of urban life for generations to come.

Four cities; one mission – Redefining public finances for a sustainable future.

This transformative effort comes under the Sustainable Local Public Finances (SLPF) project, a Technical Support Instrument (TSI) initiative funded by the European Commission, DG REFORM in partnership with KDZ – Centre for Public Administration Research, Expertise France, and I4CE (Institute for Climate Economics).