The report shows that pressures on the global environment affect the local level. Conversely, local decisions and responses can not only improve local conditions, but also significantly contribute to improving the state of the global environment. By placing global and regional environmental challenges in the context of local policy making, the report aims to make the findings of GEO-5 more relevant for local governance. The report highlights the role that local autho - rities can play in meeting internationally agreed goals and targets and in addressing local, regional and global environmental challenges.