How are local governments aligning their budgets with the SDGs?

Are multi-year investment plans (PPI) in line with the ecological transition? This is a reality for certain French municipalities, with more and more committing to this approach. Pessac, the third largest city in Gironde, is one of the most advanced in this area. The 2020-2026 term of office is clearly flying the green flag, under the impetus of its mayor. Objective: €100 million in investment over six years, taking into account the environmental impact of each action , explains Aurélie Lerebourg, director of the City Hall's Transition Acceleration Mission.

In concrete terms, each project is scrutinized in light of the SDGs, the sustainable development goals that make up the UN's 2030 Agenda, to which France has been a signatory since their proclamation in 2015 ( see our article here ). A very useful matrix for analyzing all aspects! Example with the city's future swimming pool: At first glance, in terms of water and energy consumption and land use, this project may seem difficult to reconcile with the SDGs, admits Aurélie Lerebourg. However, it also fulfills clear educational objectives, and the future building will replace an aging structure that is a real energy drain. The new building will be equipped with solar panels and green spaces, and the number of ponds has been reduced to limit its impact. 

Helping communities take ownership of the SDGs

Given the complexity and lack of clarity that can sometimes surround SDGs, which are also criticized for being overly aspirational, AFNOR provides a methodology that translates them into a usable matrix. This is essential for municipalities to fully grasp the issues at stake, both in terms of general services and elected officials! To this end, each project is given a score based on an analysis of its impact on each of the objectives.

The town of Banyuls aligns its budget with the SDGs

The Pessac swimming pool scored 13.4 out of 20. In the Pyrénées-Orientales department, the town of Banyuls has not yet reached this stage, but the process begun two years ago has shown teams that they were already carrying out actions in line with the SDGs, without necessarily being aware of it, such as the CCAS (Community Center for Social Action) or driving license assistance for young people. "The first step was to identify all our actions and link them to the SDGs," explains Jérôme Chiodo, the town's director general of services. "We then drew up a six-point plan, a roadmap for our town directly inspired by sustainable development issues. Each of the major projects for the term of office is included in this plan. " For example, the redesign of reception areas, the renaturalization of a river, and support for the blue economy. "AFNOR played a key role in raising awareness among elected officials and municipal staff about the impact of these actions," says the Director General of Services.

The city of Evian is showing interest

As an institutional expert on Agenda 2030, AFNOR has the expertise and perspective to help local authorities embrace sustainable development goals, emphasizes Laurent Rey, manager of Local Authority and Regional Transitions at the AFNOR group. We also offer them a compendium of best practices, based in part on voluntary standards. This will help accelerate the movement. Based on the PPIs, some town halls intend to adopt the same approach with their operating budgets, in a quest for continuous improvement. This is the case in Évian, in the Haute-Savoie region. The town is committed to three main areas of its budget: the PPI, the payroll, and the operating budget. "Even though we are only just starting the process, we believe it is essential that all the money committed is in line with the SDGs," insists Xavier Parisot, the city's director general of services. "In schools, for example, we are raising awareness among management about purchasing choices: is the laminating machine really necessary? How can we switch to using only recycled paper? It's a question of better identifying needs and then choosing the best product, even if it means making a budgetary effort: refillable markers are more expensive to buy, but they are more cost-effective in the long term and generate less pollution."

A new way of thinking

The same approach applies to the HR budget: promoting quality of life at work and investing in training builds team loyalty and reduces absenteeism. "It's a complex process, but AFNOR provides a reference framework and the strength of a network, with opportunities for peer-to-peer discussions to share best practices, challenges, and solutions," says the DGS. In addition to meetings and exchanges between municipalities, AFNOR also provides a white paper on the process, which can be downloaded for free here.

Another advantage of this approach is that it breaks down the silos that often exist within local authorities. As each department is required to carry out self-assessments, they are all encouraged to incorporate new aspects into their thinking. "For example, in Pessac, we are very proud of the municipal meal delivery service for the elderly," says Aurélie Lerebourg. "It fits perfectly with United Nations Goals 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12. But the SDG matrix shows that if deliveries are made using old diesel vehicles, this has an impact on the environmental pillar. Hence the plan to switch to an electric fleet, or even cargo bike deliveries." A 360-degree approach, so that no aspect is overlooked!