© David Berkowitz from New York, NY, USA [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Global Vision | Urban Action program

Status
ongoing
50%
City

New York City

Main actors

City Government, Supranational / Intergovernmental Institutions

Project area

Metropolitan Area

Duration

Ongoing since 2015

New York City’s Voluntary Local Review of the Sustainable Development Goals shows local progress for global action.

In December 2015, the New York City’s (NYC) Mayor’s office for International Affairs launched the Global Vision | Urban Action (GVUA) program to use the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a common language to share sustainability innovations and challenges with cities and countries worldwide. Identifying the connections between the SDGs and OneNYC, the city’s sustainable development strategy, this mapping became the basis of work to connect NYC’s public agencies with communities across the five boroughs to share best practices related to NYC’s implementation of policies.  Conversely, the Mayor’s office for International Affairs has also ensured that NYC’s experience and the voice of New Yorkers are included in UN policy debates.

In July 2018, NYC became the first city in the world to report directly to the United Nations (UN) on local progress in achieving the SDGs by developing a Voluntary Local Review (VLR). The NYC Mayor’s office for International Affairs modelled the VLR on the Voluntary National Review (VNR), which countries may submit to share SDG progress.   

Sustainable Development Goals

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovationMake cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainablePromote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Guangzhou Award

This project was awarded the 'Guangzhou Award' in 2018.

City
New York City, United States
Size and population development
As of July 2023, New York City had an estimated population of 8,804,190, making it the most populous city in the United States. The city has experienced fluctuating population growth, with a slight decline during the COVID-19 pandemic but showing signs of recovery. Between 2010 and 2020, the city's population grew by 7.7%. Growth has historically been driven by international migration and natural increase, though domestic migration patterns have varied.
Population composition
New York City is renowned for its exceptional diversity, often described as a "melting pot" of cultures. The city is home to significant populations of various ethnic and cultural groups, including large communities of Hispanic, Black, Asian, and European descent. As of 2021, the racial composition was approximately 31.9% White (non-Hispanic), 28.9% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Black or African American, and 15.6% Asian. The median age in New York City is 36.9 years, with 20.9% of the population under 18 years, 14.5% aged 65 years and over, and 64.6% aged 18-64 years.
Main functions
New York City serves as a global hub for finance, culture, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. The city is home to the United Nations headquarters and is a major centre for international diplomacy. New York City's cultural influence is immense, with world-renowned museums, theatres, and music venues attracting millions of visitors annually.
Main industries / business
New York City's economy is highly diverse and robust. Key sectors include financial services, with the city being home to Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange. Media and entertainment are major industries, encompassing major television networks, publishing houses, and film production. The technology sector is growing, particularly in the area known as "Silicon Alley". Real estate is a significant industry, with New York having one of the world's most valuable real estate markets. Tourism is a key economic driver, as New York is a leading tourist destination with iconic landmarks. The city is a global fashion capital with major design houses and Fashion Week. Education and research are also important sectors, with numerous prestigious universities and research institutions calling New York home.
Sources for city budget
New York City's budget comes from various sources. These include property taxes, personal income tax, and sales tax. State and federal aid contribute significantly to the city's budget. Business taxes provide another important revenue stream. Fines, fees, and forfeitures also add to the city's income. Miscellaneous revenues such as those from licenses, permits, and franchises further supplement the budget.
Political structure
New York City operates under a mayor-council system. The government consists of several key positions and bodies. The Mayor serves as the chief executive officer and is elected citywide. The City Council functions as the legislative body, comprising 51 members elected from local districts. The Public Advocate acts as an ombudsman between the public and city government. The Comptroller serves as the chief fiscal officer and auditor. Five Borough Presidents each represent one of NYC's boroughs.
Administrative structure
New York City is divided into five boroughs, each coextensive with a county. These are Manhattan (New York County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens (Queens County), The Bronx (Bronx County), and Staten Island (Richmond County). Each borough has a unique character and is further divided into numerous neighbourhoods. The city agencies, under the mayor's direction, are responsible for providing a wide range of services across all boroughs.
Website
https://www.nyc.gov/

In April 2015, NYC committed to the principles of growth, equity, sustainability, and resiliency through the OneNYC strategy, a model for sustainable development at the local level. The consultative process to develop OneNYC, which began in late 2014, involved 71 New York City agencies, and included residents and businesses as well as an advisory board comprised of civic leaders, policy specialists, and community leaders. OneNYC includes commitments, milestones, and metrics; the city administration publishes an annual progress report.

Though the SDGs were agreed at the national level, cities are at the frontline of implementation; cities are also hubs for innovative solutions developed through cross-sector partnerships.  Residents feel and see the challenges addressed by SDGs daily, in their streets and communities.

Since December 2015, the Mayor’s office for International Affairs has demonstrated the links between OneNYC and the SDGs through the Global Vision | Urban Action program launching the VLR.

Some cities do report on their local implementation of the SDGs as part of a national framework. However, the United States has thus far not expressed intent to submit a VNR, so NYC decided to submit a report directly to the UN to ensure we can join global discussions about issues that affect New Yorkers.

NYC’s VLR is precursory because cities have never intimately engaged with the UN on the SDGs. The VLR and related activities provide a practical tool for NYC to engage partners (cities, countries, and the UN) in meeting current challenges while increasing resiliency to meet those of the future. In addition to submitting the VLR to the UN, the International Affairs Commissioner presented the findings during the formal plenary of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) at the session focused on the implementation of SDG 11. Site visits and other activities were organized to complement the VLR in the lead-up to the HLPF, connecting our NYC colleagues with the international community to discuss in practical terms shared challenges and solutions using the SDG framework.

The VLR was conceived, executed, and written by the NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs in partnership with the Offices of Operations, and Climate Policy and Programs, and in consultation with other relevant NYC agencies. It was further shaped in consultation with SDG stakeholders including UN agencies, UN member states that have submitted VNRs, and city network representatives. Government and civil society experts involved in the development, implementation, and monitoring of the SDGs were also consulted.

The NYC Mayor’s office for International Affairs did not use additional funds to implement the

Global Vision | Urban Action program or to develop the VLR. We built activities that complement the work already outlined by OneNYC. Our office has one Strategic Relationships Manager who is also responsible for the GVUA program.  NYC agency staff time is occasionally needed to conduct site visits, with the understanding that all participants benefit from these activities by discussing shared challenges and solutions.

NYC’s VLR is a benchmark for the city’s progress on the SDGs. It also provides an example of local initiatives being shared globally.  NYC already tracks more than 1,000 indicators through a monitoring system that the NYC Mayor’s Office of Operations has developed since the 1970s, and examples of the data that NYC collects.   These qualitative metrics are used to measure progress, assess success in engaging with other cities and stakeholders on linking local strategies to the SDGs.

The VLR is a new tool that was developed by IA, modelled after VNRs but adapted to reflect the experience of cities. This innovation is cross-cutting as it is relevant to policy at the local and global level.   NYC can use it as a tool to engage with other cities and stakeholders on practical issues, and in policy arenas to demonstrate the critical role that cities place in achieving the SDGs. Examples include:

  • The Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments committed to promoting VLRs.
  • NYC is helping individual cities in the U.S., and worldwide to develop their versions VLRs.
  • The UN Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, the UN Development Programme   Administrator, the UN Habitat Executive Director, and numerous other high-level UN representatives have lauded the VLR
  • NYC civil society groups invited IA to present our work and have requested closer cooperation.
  • NYC agencies have requested more systematic engagement using the SDG framework.
  • Advocacy groups like the UN Foundation have identified the VLR as a trend to watch.

The VLR provides an opportunity to identify social, economic and environmental challenges facing the city and help develop innovative solutions through partnerships and collaboration between local governments, non-profits and the private sector.

Since SDG commitments are made at the national level, not a city level, reporting on progress could potentially be seen as an unnecessary burden for NYC agencies who are tasked with providing services to New Yorkers, rather than engaging in global affairs. We avoid this by tapping into existing NYC efforts and demonstrating to NYC agencies the opportunity they have to share best practices while learning new techniques to improve their service delivery. Agencies are now approaching us to identify ways they can cooperate more systematically.

Recognizing that cities around the world are also responding to the challenges laid out in the SDGs, NYC welcomes collaboration with those who are interested in mapping their local actions and reporting on them at the global level. The VLR will be most effective if other cities and subnational governments undertake similar reviews, and we are seeking opportunities to discuss the content, format, and process of our VLR and hear from others about enhancing overall SDG monitoring and reporting.

While submitting reviews like the VLR happens once a year, implementation of the SDGs takes place every day. We hope that the VLR can serve as a catalyst to identify additional possibilities for engagement with cities and other stakeholders, and as a way to exchange best practices and to build momentum towards achieving all 17 SDGs by 2030.

https://www1.nyc.gov/site/international/programs/global-vision-urban-action.page

https://onenyc.cityofnewyork.us/

Global Vision I Urban Action: New York City’s Voluntary Local Review (VLR) Of The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Shows Local Progress For Global Action, Guangzhou Award for Urban Innovation: http://www.guangzhouaward.org/award_d.aspx?CateId=285&newsid=1431

External links / documents

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Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
Guangzhou, China

Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation

Institution | Urban Award
Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
Guangzhou, China

Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation

Institution | Urban Award

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