A Network Approach for SDG Localization

London, Canada is most definitely an SDG City. In the next two weeks there will be two important SDG events that shows how the SDGs are becoming part of the local fabric and the different conversations that shape the community. The UNESCO Creative City Network and SDG Week Canada.

UNESCO Creative Cities Network

Next week, from February 26 to March 1. London will be hosting an international meeting of the Creative Cities Network. A chance to highlight what the City of London has been doing to build a vibrant city and attract more opportunities for the local music industry. As well as learn from cities around the world.

In some of the sessions dedicated for the network members, SDG Cities will be able to share about some of the local SDG efforts to inform, mobilize and take action towards a sustainable city for all. Along with the work meetings, there are two events open to the public.

On February 27, the London Music Office and the Words Festival are hosting “Words & Music,” a celebration of Canada’s first UNESCO City of Music, featuring live performances by The Pairs, Wolf Saga, Jordan MacDonald, and Fiker. Including a special guest host for the evening, Morgan James from Pure Country Radio. Through the partnership between Words Fest London and London Music Office you will be able to hear from some of London’s top talented artists as they explain the words behind their songs in a scaled down performance. This will be an opportunity also to showcase London musicians for 30+ UNESCO Creative City leaders. Words & Music is free and open to the community with registration. Please register here in case you are interested. 

On February 29, the Museum of London will host UNESCO City of Music Discovery Day, a platform to hear from international leaders in creative sector incubation as well as local and national partners that are helping advance London’s UNESCO City of Music designation. There will be in-person presentations by UNESCO Creative City Network members from New Zealand, Sweden, South Korea, Germany and USA.

SDG Week Canada

On the following week, from March 4 to 8, a national collaboration organized by the University of British Columbia Sustainability Hub, SDSN Canada at University of Waterloo, and Colleges & Institutes Canada will bring together Universities and Colleges from across Canada hosting workshops, panels, and other interactive programming, in-person and online, to increase awareness of and engagement with the 17 SDGs.

Western University is hosting, for the second time, the SDG Week Canada in London with several events, some of them starting on February 29. SDG Cities London will be co-hosting one of the events on March 5: Community SDG Connections. In this event, we will learn about work happening both on- and off-campus from different guest speakers and discuss our successes and challenges in advancing sustainable development here in London.

Enabling the Network Approach

The network approach leverages a couple of the strengths of the SDG framework by creating a shared language across different communities, mobilizing those communities towards a common goal while at the same time recognizing the importance of local stewardship.

For both networks, SDG Cities has been providing ongoing supports by sharing resources and network opportunities; delivering training and presentations; developing research partnerships; and mobilizing knowledge.