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Local solutions to global challenges
At the LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) we believe that the most innovative and effective answers to the global challenges that we all face are coming from local governments around the world. But when you work in local government, finding the time to connect with what colleagues in other countries are doing is never easy.
Our Global Local subscription service creates that connection for you. We bring you the best from councils, researchers, public bodies and innovators for citizen engagement. Our team connects you with the latest thinking around complex problems in an accessible and digestible format. We provide an unbiased, critical view of how local government colleagues everywhere are tackling the same issues that you and your communities are facing.
Covering all the issues communities care about
From environmental and transport policies to childcare, culture, public health and wastewater programmes, we explore a different theme in depth each week. We explore different approaches to each topic and examines how big ideas become practical solutions. We increase your awareness, provide analysis and explore transferable lessons for regional government strategy. We kickstart your understanding of complex issues and because we’re local government, too we understand what resources to show you so you’ll never have to re-invent the wheel.
This is your go to source of knowledge and inspiration refreshed every week, with well researched policy briefings and articles that are there for you whenever you need them.
Because when ideas are shared, they bring global problems down to earth, enabling you to serve citizens with greater confidence.
Get a taste of Global Local – read our magazine!
We created the Global Local magazine to highlight ideas from different places and share learning across the global local government community. The stories you’ll read in these pages are all sourced from our newsletter and everyone, everywhere can sign up for a free account and join in at lgiu.org
Subscribers receive the full newsletter every week. It contains:
LGIU Global Local
| Backgrounder on the key issues with actionable insights and long form features from LGIU staff. |
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| Additional reading from our content archives, shedding more light on the week's theme including from our member-only policy briefings. |
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| Inspiration and innovation from local councils in various countries, showing how ideas have been realised in unique communities. |
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| Policy and resource links that may bolster your action plan or reveal new ways to approach a topic. |
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| Access to the past archive for every newsletter we've released. |
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| Regular global policy briefings on key issues for local government. |
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| Opportunities to get involved in research and networking events. |
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| Monthly think tank reviews highlighting the latest approaches to solving global challenges. |
The first 60 days of membership are free. If your organisation is already a member, then just enter your email address for immediate access and choose Global Local as an update.
Free LGIU Global Local Newsletter
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| Backgrounder on the key issues with actionable insights. |
|
| Additional reading from our content archives, shedding more light on the week's theme. |
|
| Inspiration and innovation from local councils in various countries, showing how ideas have been realised in unique communities. |
|
| Policy and resource links that may bolster your action plan or reveal new ways to approach a topic. |
| Access to the past archive for every newsletter we've released. |
|
| Regular global policy briefings on key issues for local government. |
|
| Opportunities to get involved in research and networking events. |
|
| Monthly think tank reviews highlighting the latest approaches to solving global challenges. |
Tell us what we should cover
We’re eager to hear which topics, challenges and local success stories you’ve encountered or want to hear about in your role as a councillor. Please share any themes we should cover in Global Local, as well as any feedback you might have. We might even contact you for our next newsletter feature. Spread your thoughts and see how they measure up against those in other communities.
2022 in recap
Check out the highlights from Global Local in 2022. Part 1 focuses on community and social issues. From tiny houses to supporting refugees from Ukraine and modern slavery to Pride in local government – each week we’ve covered local solutions to global challenges. Part 2 focuses on planning, climate change and the built environment.
Global Local: 2021 in Recap
At the end of our first year of Global Local, we recapped the challenges we shared and the lessons highlighted. Read our overview here.
Recent newsletter editions
Our exclusive archive allows you to access the latest editions of Global Local. Check it out here.
Example newsletters
Pride 🌈 representation during June and beyond
Our recent Pride edition of Global Local put the spotlight on local government’s responsibility to serve LGBTQIA+ communities, through Pride events, representation and so much more.
We chatted with Carl Austin-Behan, LGBTQ+ Adviser to the Greater Manchester Mayor, about organising effective community-led Pride events and we looked to local governments in Sydney, Bangkok, Germany and Spain for innovative ideas and inspiration.
Extreme heat 🔆 emergency & long-term strategies
We recently focused on the topic of extreme heat, looking at initiatives to mitigate the impact in the long and short term. This includes an insightful first-person account by Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor of Miami-Dade County – an area which certainly knows a thing or two about heat!
We also look to Toronto, Canada and their deep lake water cooling system and over in Australia where the City of Melbourne is deploying innovative initiatives to ensure its urban forest thrives in the long term.
Housing first? 🏠 Ending rough sleeping
In this edition, we explored initiatives to end rough sleeping, particularly focusing on temporary and permanent housing provisions.
Our featured piece considered the pros and cons of tiny houses, asking whether they really are a neat homelessness solution or just a reminder of the problem?
We also looked at how Scotland’s Housing First policy can be utilised by local authorities to combat rising homelessness rates, as well as other initiatives that countries across the globe are implementing in their quest to end homelessness.
Local Democracy Research Centre
LGIU’s Local Democracy Research Centre brings together experts from local government and academia to do practical research on some of the key challenges for local democracy around the world. Find out more here about our current work and how you can take part in future projects.
Global Local Executive Panel Series
We’re working with global partners to bring you regularly scheduled panel events featuring executive speakers from local government around the globe on a range of important issues. Find out how you can get involved or work with us to co-host an event in this series.
Think Tank Review
Our monthly Think Tank Review surveys the freshest insights and outputs from think tanks relevant to local government worldwide. Find it in our Global Local library.
