How to integrate sustainable development into governance; the Zurich approach

1. How to integrate sustainable development into governance; the Zurich approach • Swiss specialties • The Canton of Zurich • The Zurich approach to sustainable development • Support sustainable development; what cantons can do • Sustainability report • Integration of sustainable development into political guidelines

2. Alpine country in the heart of Western Europe • Population of 7.36 million (around 20% foreigners) • Jura (10%)Plateau (30%)Alps (60%); 48 summits higher than 4,000 metres • High density of population, with many regional differences Confoederatio Helvetica (CH)

3. Geographic distribution of the national languages (2002) • Multicultural, crossroads of European cultures • 4 national languages:German, French, Italian and Rumantsch • Influence on traditions, festivals and local customs 4 cultures, 4 languages German 63.7 % French 20.4 % Italian 6.5 % Rumantsch 0.5 % Non-national languages 8.9 %

4. Federalism Cantonal boundaries • Political structure on three levels: • Federal state • 26 cantons • ~2,900 communes • Decentralised • Solidarity among cantons Communal boundaries

5. Political structure • Direct democracy including popular rights (initiative and referendum) • Average of four popular votes per year • Part-time parliament: two-chamber system with chambers representing people and cantons • Government:7 members, 4 parties

6. How to integrate sustainable development into governance; the Zurich approach • Swiss specialties • The Canton of Zurich • The Zurich approach to sustainable development • Support sustainable development; what cantons can do • Sustainability report • Integration of sustainable development into political guidelines

7. Canton of Zurich in relation to Switzerland • Area: 1,700 km2 -> 42‘000 km2 (4%) • Population: 1.25 million -> 7.3 million (17%) • Jobs: 0.75 million -> 3.6 million (20%) Basel Zurich Bern Geneva

8. Zurich offers an Outstanding Quality of Life Rank City(New York = 100) Index for overall quality of life 1 Zurich 108.1 13 Amsterdam 105.7 26 Oslo 103.5 Zurich ranked 1st for the sixth consecutive year 39 London 101.2 41 Barcelona 100.6 42 Madrid 100.5 The study is based on the assessments and evaluations of 39 key quality of life determinants, like economics, schools & education, medical & health, politics and culture.

9. Ease of attracting the right kind of people “It’s much easier to attract people here from all over Europe than to anywhere else. “As you can see in companies like IBM, Microsoft and Google, they all are doing important research and development here in Zurich. We all see a good reason in being in Zurich; we can attract the right kind of people.” Randy Knaflic, Lead Recruiter for Engineering, Google

10. What makes Zurich efficient • excellent schools • well educated population • highly motivated workforce of 750‘000+ • multi-cultural tradition • excellent infrastructure

11. Commutes seldom exceed 30 min. door-to-door City of Zurich – Airport Distance: 10 km   15 min.   10 min. Winterthur City of Zurich – Winterthur Distance: 25 km   15 min.   20 min. Airport 60 km City City of Zurich – Meilen Distance: 12 km   20 min.   14 min. Meilen 45 km

12. Attractive Corporate Income Tax In % of Corporate Income

13. Charming Zurich • land of lakes and rivers, mountains and hills

14. What makes Zurich lovely • excellent gastronomy • top sports facilities

15. How to integrate sustainable development into governance; the Zurich approach • Swiss specialties • The Canton of Zurich • The Zurich approach to sustainable development • Support sustainable development; what cantons can do • Sustainability report • Integration of sustainable development into political guidelines

16. KV Art. 6 Sustainability (2005) • Canton and municipalities care for the preservation of the basis of life. To take responsibility for future generations, they are obliged to an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable development.

17. Possible activities for Cantons • Sustainable Development Strategy • Monitoring of sustainable development • assessment of sustainability of important projects • Support municipalities (LA 21) • Marketing the vision of sustainable development • Initiate special projects which have a lasting effect towards sustainable development

18. Sustainable Development Strategy Swiss Federal Council (1997/2002/2007) Strategy March 2002 Review January 2007 http://www.are.admin.ch

20. Sustainablilty report • Present the development of the whole canton with a focus on sustainable development • Normally indicator-based reports

21. Objectives of the sustainability reportrecognising the ongoing development • Sustainable development is a basic principle of the canton of Zurich. SD must be integrated into all policy areas and grow to be increasingly important • Sustainable development is to be conceived as a social process of searching, learning and structuring • Create overwiew of status for important political decision-makers (e.g. cantonal council) • Basis for the decision-making prozess to work out the objectives of the legislature or the sustainable development strategy

22. Subject areas environment society economy Biodiversity Nature and landscape Energy quality Energy consumtion Climate Use of resources Water balance Water quality Soil consumtion Soil quality Air qualitiy Income Living costs Employment market Investments Efficient utilisation of resources Innovation Economic structure Know-how Public funds Taxes Noise Mobility Health Security Distribution of income Participation Culture and leisure Education Sozial Support Integration Equal rights North-South Solidarity

24. Context: other important reports Environmental report Economic develop- ment report Social report Spatial planning report Increasing level of details Sustainability report

25. Embedded sustainability report JI DS Decisions by cantonal council Decisions by cantonal council FD Sustainability report Objectives of the legislature / SD strategy VD Controlling GD BI BD SK Orders from the Cantonal council

26. Timetable • Decision by the cantonal council to establish a sustainability report (April 2006) • Constituting Steering Commitee (Mai, June 2006) • Definition indicators, collection of datas, interviews with about 40 people (June – November 2006) • Writing all texts, summary, guest commentary (Sep. – Dec. 2006) • Consultation in all departments (January – February 2007): • Publication (April 2007) • Decision by the cantonal council to work out a sustainable development strategy (April 2007) • Elections for the cantonal council (April 2007) • Elaboration of the objectives of the legislature (Mai – Juli 2007)

27. Sucess stories • Clear directions by the cantonal council • Steering committee with senior representatives of the departments (political group) • Support group provided good inputs (functional support) • Personal contact with 40 people who helped to establish the texts of the sustainability report • Additional resources of about + 100 % for one year • Cantonal council of our Department of Construction «carries the flag»

28. Integration of sustainable development into political guidelines Ideal situation (objectives for the legislature): • SD in the preambule of the objectives of the legislature (guiding principles) • SD as an important obective of the legislature • SD as measures which are based on the objectives of the legislature

29. Integration of sustainable development into political guidelines Status August 2007 (objectives for the legislature): • There are 3 guiding principles in the preambule • Strengthen competitiveness of Zürich ( economical dimension) • Protection of the natural ressources ( ecological dimension) • Ensuring social cohesion ( social dimension) • No concrete objectives yet • We are trying to link the 3 guiding principles to measures Additional: We are now working out a sustainable development strategy