It is particularly crucial for national governments to empower local governments by providing adequate financial resources, legal and fiscal autonomy and by supporting local skill development, given their important role in the NUP processes. With clearer information on common implementation gaps, and the policy instruments that are available to address them, policy makers could better predict these gaps and undertake capacity building activities. As Table 7.1 illustrates, many of the SDGs have an evident urban dimension and cannot be achieved without being addressed in urban areas, making NUPs an important implementation and monitoring instrument. As an overarching process, the national urban policy will be able to anchor and influence many dimensions of sustainable development, such as air pollution control and regulation" (United Nations, 2016a).