On October 1, 2026, the Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas spoke at Session 10, “SDG Localisation Champions,” of the SDG Localisation Forum – International Mayors Forum held in Quito, Ecuador. Under the theme “Localising the SDGs through citizen participation and mutual learning,” the Office introduced Yokohama’s Voluntary Local Review (VLR), initiatives that enable residents to participate through everyday actions, and city-to-city mutual learning.

The International Mayors Forum was held from September 29 to October 1, 2026. It was organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and hosted by the Government of Ecuador. Representatives of local and national governments, United Nations entities and other organizations took part, sharing city initiatives and knowledge on SDG localisation – connecting the SDGs with local policies and practical implementation.

Yokohama’s Approach Based on Its Second VLR

Yokohama published its first VLR in 2021 and in March 2026 compiled its second review, Voluntary Local Review 2026 Yokohama. In the presentation, the VLR was introduced not simply as a report, but as a mechanism for reviewing the city’s planning, implementation, evaluation and improvement cycle and connecting that experience with learning among cities and partner organizations in Japan and abroad.

Americas Office presenting Yokohama’s approach to SDG localization

Connecting the SDGs to Everyday Citizen Action

As one concrete example, the presentation introduced SDGs Lockers, which enable residents to purchase bread and other products from specialty shops that are still within their consumption period but would otherwise be discarded. The City of Yokohama and the Yokohama SDGs Design Center are working with participating businesses to expand the initiative, creating a way for residents to help reduce food loss through everyday purchases. The presentation also introduced STYLE100, an initiative that showcases people and activities in Yokohama as “STYLEs” that demonstrate environmentally friendly ways of living for the future. By making practical actions by residents, businesses and organizations visible, the initiative seeks to broaden participation and support, with the goal of sharing 100 STYLEs by GREEN×EXPO 2027.

From Yokohama’s Experience to City-to-City Mutual Learning

The presentation also touched on Yokohama’s long-standing experience in reducing waste through collaboration with residents and businesses. Using waste-management cooperation with Mandaue City in the Philippines as an example, it explained that city-to-city cooperation is not about transferring a system unchanged. Rather, it is important to share experience and implementation processes and adapt them to the circumstances of each city.

International Learning Opportunities Toward 2027

At the end of the presentation, Yokohama also highlighted Yokohama Circular Week 2027, which will bring together international learning opportunities in Yokohama in 2027. These will include the 9th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-9) and the Asia-Pacific Circular Cities Forum (APCC-Forum), with synergies also expected with GREEN×EXPO 2027. Yokohama will continue strengthening a cycle in which locally developed practices are shared internationally and knowledge from overseas cities is brought back into Yokohama’s own initiatives.

The Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas will continue to use its networks with United Nations entities and overseas cities to share Yokohama’s initiatives internationally, while deepening international cooperation and supporting sustainable urban development in Yokohama through city-to-city mutual learning.