Despite growing global momentum for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), monitoring and reporting progress at the regional level remains limited. This study explores how the 13 Greek regions are progressing toward the SDGs, highlights key challenges, and introduces a practical framework for continuous monitoring to close the subnational SDG gaps.
Greece still faces several obstacles towards regional-level SDG progress. Building upon international frameworks (SDSN), we developed an indicator-based system of 105 metrics aligned with the 17 SDGs, national targets and EU policy goals, using official data sources (EUROSTAT, OECD, World Bank, etc.). Our methodology introduces (i) standardized benchmarking across regions, (ii) a four-tiered color-coded scoring system, and (iii) SDG dashboards and heatmaps. This is the first time this has happened for Greek regions.
The findings reveal several disparities among Greek regions. Thessaly and Central Macedonia show relatively strong multidimensional performance, particularly in achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 7 (Clean Energy), whereas Western Macedonia and the South Aegean consistently lag behind. Several regions, including Attica and the Northern Aegean, exhibit structural vulnerabilities in SDGs 1, 4, 9, and 11, highlighting persistent inequalities, infrastructure gaps, and deficits in R&D investment. The lack of regionally disaggregated data for SDG 17 notably impedes comparability and decision-making.
The analysis underscores the urgency of actionable, region-specific policies. For instance, water-stressed areas like Thessaly require investments in smart irrigation and sustainable agricultural practices.
Administrative fragmentation and limited regional capacities pose institutional barriers to implementation. Establishing integrated monitoring bodies within regional governments, supported by national statistical authorities, is critical. Moreover, citizen engagement remains minimal; this paper proposes citizen awareness and active participation in society and business to democratize priority-setting and foster accountability.
To move closer to the goals of the Agenda 2030 targets, Greece must prioritize stronger regional monitoring and more effective communication with citizens, decision-makers, and other stakeholders. By establishing a regular reporting system and addressing data gaps, regions can be empowered to develop local action. Closing the gap between regions is not just a technical issue—it is essential for a future that is resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, P.K., E.D., C.F.M.L., A.P. and T.Z.; methodology, P.K., E.D., C.F.M.L., A.P. and T.Z.; software, P.K., E.D., C.F.M.L., A.P. and T.Z.; validation, P.K., E.D., C.F.M.L., A.P. and T.Z.; formal analysis, P.K., E.D., C.F.M.L., A.P. and T.Z.; data curation, P.K., E.D., C.F.M.L., A.P. and T.Z.; writing—original draft preparation, E.D., C.F.M.L., A.P. and T.Z.; writing—review and editing, P.K., E.D., C.F.M.L., A.P. and T.Z.; supervision, P.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research was funded by the action “Flagship Actions in Cross-Disciplinary Scientific Fields with Special Interest in Linking to the Productive Sector/Resilience, Inclusion and Development: Towards a Just Green and Digital Transition of the Greek Regions—TAEDR-0537352,” implemented under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0 with funding from the European Union—NextGenerationEU.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement
Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement
Dataset available on request from the authors.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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