The City of Yokohama is pleased to announce the publication of its second Voluntary Local Review (VLR), a progress report on its efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

What is the VLR?

A Voluntary Local Review (VLR) is an initiative through which local governments voluntarily assess their progress toward the SDGs and report the results to the United Nations. To promote the spread and effective implementation of the SDGs, international organizations and local government networks are encouraging cities and municipalities worldwide to conduct their own VLRs, and the number of participating cities is expanding globally.
As of March 2026, nine local governments in Japan have published VLRs, consisting of Yokohama, Tokyo, Toyama, Hamamatsu, Toyota, Kitakyushu, Shimokawa, Sado, and Gamagori.
Yokohama’s newly published VLR will be made available globally on the United Nations’ dedicated website. 

What are the Key Features of Yokohama’s VLR?

The City of Yokohama conducts its municipal administration based on a medium-term plan formulated every four years. This plan incorporates a mechanism for annual review and progress management and is revised every four years based on the outcomes of these reviews.
In addition, Yokohama aligns the formulation of its medium-term plan with the formulation of its “SDGs Future City Plan,” which organizes municipal policies within the SDGs framework, thereby visualizing its contributions to the SDGs.
The entire cycle of implementation, review, and upgrading of this medium-term plan itself constitutes Yokohama’s approach to its VLR. 

Yokohama’s VLR report goes beyond a simple listing of local indicators; rather, it highlights how the review process is systematized, how stakeholder input is incorporated into new strategies and policies, and showcases various distinctive initiatives. Furthermore, by incorporating peer review comments from international organizations (CityNet, UN-ESCAP, UN-Habitat, UCLG-ASPAC) and other cities (e.g. Santa Rosa), the report is structured in a way that enhances the clarity of the content and makes possible the inclusion of quantitative evaluations. 

What is the Significance of the VLR?

Yokohama regards the VLR process as not only an important tool for improving municipal management, but also as a valuable communicative tool for visualizing its SDG initiatives and progress.
By improving transparency and sharing a common vision, the VLR fosters collaboration, coordination, and partnership among diverse stakeholders, thereby strengthening urban governance.
Furthermore, Yokohama aims to leverage the VLR as a means of accelerating the localization of the SDGs globally and contributing to international momentum toward achieving those goals. 

What will Yokohama be doing in the Future?

Yokohama is scheduled to host the International Horticultural Expo 2027 (GREEN×EXPO 2027), which is expected to attract 15 million visitors, as well as the 9th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-9), one of the largest international urban conferences in the Asia-Pacific region.
By leveraging these opportunities, Yokohama will further strengthen its efforts to share knowledge and best practices on sustainable urban development, including key policy areas such as decarbonization and the circular economy. 

To read Yokohama’s Voluntary Local Review in its entirety, please follow the link below:

Yokohama’s 2026 VLR

Note regarding the SDGs logo: The content of this webpage has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.

Related Content:

Yokohama’s 2021 Voluntary Local Review
https://japan.iclei.org/en/asian-circular-cities-declaration-call-for-city-partners/

More information on the Voluntary Local Review

https://businessyokohama.com/blog/2025/11/26/ascc2025/