Adopting a healthy lifestyle is essential for the sustainability of our societies. Building a healthy urban environment improves people’s quality of life through access to quality basic services, territorial plans, and infrastructure construction. This includes reducing inequalities in access to health services and inequalities related to citizens' place of residence. Health and well-being are inalienable rights, conditioned by economic and social rights that have to be provided by the competent authorities.

congress action

As an assembly representing 130,000 local and regional authorities and building on its expertise and proximity to citizens, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is responsible for the territorial dimension of the SDGs within the Council of Europe. The Congress, which is the sole body responsible for monitoring the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, regularly assesses the quality of local and regional democracy in the Organisation's 46 member States. It also contributes, through a wide range of activities in the field, to the construction of inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.

The Congress' approach is based on three key principles: achieving SDGs is the shared responsibility of all levels of government; local and regional authorities must have the necessary competences and financial autonomy to achieve the goals in their respective areas; citizens must always remain at the heart of the action. The co-operation programmes and projects of the Congress also contribute to the fulfilment of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, as do its thematic activities.

Through its engagement at all levels of government, the Congress aims to reduce inequalities in access to health services and inequalities related to citizens’ place of residence. These rights, conditioned by economic and social rights must be provided by the competent authorities. The Congress adopted the following texts in relation to SDG 3: