Global and local actions for sustainable development: an analysis and attempt at synthesis

Abstract

Sustainable development constitutes one of the key paradigms shaping contemporary public policies, development strategies, and social actions. This article presents an overview and a synthetic analysis of actions undertaken in support of sustainable development at three levels: global (world and Europe), national (Poland), and local (the Małopolska region). The analysis encompasses normative frameworks and top-down policies as well as bottom-up initiatives, the role of education, higher education institutions, and regional partnerships. The aim of the article is not to provide a detailed evaluation of the effectiveness of individual instruments, but rather to present an overview of current activities, identify key actors and mechanisms, and highlight the importance of coherent, systemic, and multi-level approaches to sustainable development.