A call for papers for a major editorial project on the SDGs, ‘Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals - Regional Perspectives’ has been announced. 

The process leading to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been negatively influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The health crisis as a whole, and its substantial socio-economic impacts in particular, have led to many setbacks. These vary from the emergence of competing priorities, to restrictions in the availability of financial resources needed to implement the SDGs. The extent of this problem may be better understood if it is considered that there are at present doubts, as to whether the SDGs may be reached by 2030. 

This state of affairs suggests that new - and innovative approaches - to support the implementation of the SDGs are needed. One of them is the support to regional implementation efforts across the various geographical regions, and the documentation and promotion of these experiences. It is also important to promote studies, research, projects and good practice, which illustrate how the SDGs may be implemented in practice. 

It is against this background that the series ‘Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals - Regional Perspectives' is being produced by RCE Hamburg and Region. The Series aims to support the acceleration needed for the implementation of the SDGs, by mobilising the academic community, industry and the civil society by generating information and communicating on experiences focusing on the SDGs deemed as being most important for the world’s regions.

RCEs are warmly invited to take advantage of this opportunity, with expressions of interest currently open. The deadline for abstracts is 30 September, 2021, and further details can be seen here.