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European Cities Move Towards Sustainability Achievements and Prospects 1992-2012

European Cities Move Towards Sustainability Achievements and Prospects 1992-2012 Gino Van Begin, Regional Director Europe, ICLEI Kyoto, 29 November - 2 December 2006. Overview 1. How was local sustainability introduced to local governements in Europe: what has been the

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European Cities Move Towards Sustainability Achievements and Prospects 1992-2012

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  1. European Cities Move Towards Sustainability Achievements and Prospects 1992-2012 Gino Van Begin, Regional Director Europe, ICLEI Kyoto, 29 November - 2 December 2006

  2. Overview 1. How was local sustainability introduced to local governements in Europe: what has been the political context ? 2. What achievements were made by European Local Governments 3. What are the prospects for future local sustainability in Europe 4. Conditions for success 5. Practical Examples & Conclusions

  3. 1. How was local sustainability introduced to local governements in Europe: political context

  4. 1992 Earth SummitRio de Janeiro 1990 EuropeanCommission 1990 Agenda 21Chapter 28: Local Agenda 21 Local Agenda 21 Green Paper on the Urban EnvironmentSustainable Cities Project I C L E I 1994 First European Sustainable Cities & Towns Conference (Aalborg Conference) Sponsored by European Commission City ofAalborg I C L E I 1.1 Political Context of Local Sustainability in Europe

  5. 1994 First European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns (Aalborg Conference) Adoption of the Aalborg Charter Charter Launch of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign 1.2 Transposing Rio to European Local Governments: The Aalborg Process 1994-2004

  6. 1.3 The Aalborg Conference 1994 1994

  7. 1994 1.4 The Aalborg Charter 1994 Part IConsensus Declaration: European Cities & Towns Towards Sustainability Principles Part IIThe European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Initiation of Campaign Part IIEngaging in Local Agenda 21Processes: Local Action PlansTowards Sustainability Commitmentto Action

  8. Aalborg Commitments 1994 1st ConferenceAalborg, Denmark Aalborg Charter 2nd ConferenceLisbon, Portugal 1996 Lisbon Action Plan Northeast ConferenceTurku, Finland 1998 Turku Statement Campaign Sofia Statement Southwest ConferenceSevilla, Spain 1999 Sevilla Declaration Den Haag Statement 3rd ConferenceHannover, Germany 2000 Hannover Call 2004 4rd ConferenceAalborg, Denmark 1.5 European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Milestones 1994 - 2004 Southeast ConferenceSofia, Bulgaria Northwest ConferenceThe Hague, Netherlands

  9. 2030 2600 MilleniumConference JoburgConference 1859 RegionalConferences AalborgConference Aalborg+10Conference 2004 2003 1.6 ESCT Campaign participation 94-04

  10. 1.7 ESCT Campaign participants

  11. Local Agenda 21Briefing sheets Registry of signatories to the Aalborg Charter European Sustainable Cities Award Local Agenda 21Guidance & Training Program Awareness raising workshops LA21Planning Guide Multi-stakeholder ‘Open Platform for Urban Sustainability’ CampaignNewsletter LA21Self-AssessmentSystem EuropeanLocal Agenda 21Roundtable Network of national LA21 Coordinators 1.9 ESCT Campaign activities

  12. Stockholm Albertslund Norwich Tampere 1996 Leicester 1997 Gdansk Den Haag 1999 Dunkerque Heidelberg Veliko Tarnovo Graz Diputació de Barcelona München Calvià 1.10 European Sustainable Cities Award 2002

  13. 2. Achievements by European Local Government

  14. 2.1 What has been achieved ? A European success story 1994-2004 Embracing the Aalborg Charter: from 80 to 2300 signatories 10 years Local Agenda 21: 6500 worldwide, 5200 in Europe Increased political support : EU, local government networks, national states (UK,Germany,Netherlands, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, France)

  15. 2.2 What has been achieved ? A European success story Understandingof the links between environment, economy and society has increased Long-term and global thinking have been introduced in local government New environmental management instruments have been introduced The way of working together between administrations and citizens/stakeholders has changed

  16. 2.3 What has been achieved ? • A European success story • Increased civil participation: LA21&urban planning • Enhanced integration of environment in policy • making: cross-sectorial & holistic approaches • LA21 process embedded in local government: • better governance • Increased local to global thinking • !!NEED FOR ACCELERATION!!

  17. 3. Prospects on the future of local sustainability in Europe

  18. 3.1 Future prospects: Transposing Joburg to European Local Government: The Aalborg+10 Process 2004-2014

  19. 3.2 Aalborg Commitments • = set of shared commitments to be jointly implemented - a framework for next 10y in EU • = different from Aalborg Charter: baseline review and process to set qualitative and quantitative targets • = flexible tool, adaptable to local needs • = strengthen LA21 movement next 10 years • review &monitoring within ESCT Campaign

  20. 3.3 Aalborg Commitments - SIGNATORIES

  21. 3.4 Aalborg Commitments • signed by more than 110 Mayors and local representatives during the Conference • Now: more than 400 local authorities • European local governments networks agreed to increase cooperation to follow up on the implementation of the Aalborg Commitments within the ESCT Campaign • EU Strategy on Sustainable Development refers explicitly to Aalborg Commitments • ICLEI offers guidance to elaborate your baseline review and organising the target setting process

  22. 4. Conditions of success [ Council decision ] [ Management structures ] [ Participation strategy ] [ Facilitation ] [ Process time table ] [ Information strategy]

  23. 4.1 Council decision responsible use of stakeholders’ time • Demonstrates sincerity of the planning process to the participating citizens • Gives the administration a mandate and resources to co-ordinate the process • Defines the link between participatory planning process and political decision making process

  24. 4.2 Management structures professional and interlinked • Responsibility should be with senior staff in a strategic position, to reach out to various departments and to outside stakeholders • Cross-departmental working group • Local Agenda 21 steering office • Advisory board / expert group / political board or committee • Protocol on relations to political bodies

  25. 4.3 Participation strategy be clear about what you offer • Who exactly should be invited? Stakeholders or interested citizens? • What exactly are they requested to do? Comment, develop plans/policies, implement projects? • How much time are they expected to invest? How long should the participation take all in all? • What will the participation format look like? Regular evening meetings in thematic working groups, large annual fora, week-end workshops?

  26. 4.4 Facilitation makes the difference in quality • Move from ‘chairing’ sessions to ‘facilitating’ them • Allow for equal opportunities for all invited individuals to contribute • Identify the maximum consensus the group can reach • Visualise all contributions and results for more transparency and efficiency • Needs skilled professionals and a budget

  27. 4.5 Process time table plan the start - but also the end! • Develop a clear timetable with defined start and end of the LA21 planning process • Define phases and communicate/celebrate milestones • Make sure results are achieved before motivation to participate goes down

  28. 4.6 Information strategy reach out to the public • It is impossible to involve ALL citizens actively • However, sustainable development requires changes in every-day decisions of all citizens • Make sustainable development and/or the Local Agenda 21 process something people talk about at work, in the supermarket, at the bus stop... • Follow clear information strategy principles:- define occasion, - choose target group, - formulate their benefit, - choose medium, - create originality

  29. 5. Practical Examples and Conclusions

  30. Heidelberg, Germany, Ferrara, Italy Ferrara Vision: 10 years/AC Strategy:Plan adopted in 1998, incl social, economy, envir, mobility, less health & employment Participation: LA21 Forum of 150 pers in 4 working groups + 1 coordinating private sector, NGO, env, women, youth High influence: example Mobility Heidelberg Vision:25 Years / AC Strategy:Plan 2010 adopted in 1997, incl. social, health, economy, env, education, mobility employment Participation:private sector, NGO, police, env, women, unemployed, ethnic, youth, university, High influence

  31. Heidelberg, Germany, Ferrara, Italy Ferrara Implementation: - since 1995-1998 - specific objectifs, targets. indicators - LA21 cross department, no special division, political control - set of speciifc plans - green procurement - staff: 3-5 - special actions Heidelberg Implementation: - since 1992-1997 - specific objectifs, targets. indicators - LA21 group is special division integrated in all policies, directly with Mayor, - set of specific plans - green procurement - staff 4-5 persons - special actions

  32. For further info, please visit www.iclei.org/europe Thank you !

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