Istanbul

Istanbul

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sustainable Development Goals Voluntary Local Review Report. An evidence-based local methodology for the post-2030 Global Sustainability Agenda

Insights of the Report

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality VLR is the city’s first institutional effort to systematically monitor its contribution to the 17 SDGs. Framed as a monitoring—not planning—tool, the VLR focuses on areas where Istanbul can directly intervene, track progress and set realistic targets. While national-level responsibilities such as education and health are only partially addressed, the review highlights Istanbul’s evidence-based contributions to localising the SDGs. Grounded in Istanbul’s Vision 2050 Strategy and Strategic Plan, the report integrates stakeholder input and aligns with five key challenge areas: Social Welfare Crisis, Ecological Crisis, Economic Crisis, Urban Crisis and Governance/Democracy Crisis. Each section offers a thematic overview of Istanbul’s strategic documents, actions and good practices, with links to relevant SDG targets and indicators.

City Profile

With a population over 15 million, Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey. Istanbul sits across two continents, with around two-thirds of its population in Europe and the remaining third in Asia. This historic centre of Istanbul is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Istanbul is the economic capital and one of the main industrial hubs of Turkey.

The Report and more

The VLR report is available here:
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sustainable Development Goals Voluntary Local Review Report. An evidence-based local methodology for the post-2030 Global Sustainability Agenda