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Local Agenda 21 A Brief History and its application in Aberdeen

Local Agenda 21 A Brief History and its application in Aberdeen. Belinda Miller Local Agenda 21 Co-ordinator Aberdeen City Council. The Rise of Global Environment Action. Rachel Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ 1962 - One of the most influential books of the 20th century

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Local Agenda 21 A Brief History and its application in Aberdeen

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  1. Local Agenda 21 A Brief History and its application in Aberdeen Belinda Miller Local Agenda 21 Co-ordinator Aberdeen City Council

  2. The Rise of Global Environment Action • Rachel Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ 1962 - One of the most influential books of the 20th century • Exposed the destruction of wildlife through the widespread use of pesticides • Achieved new public awareness of the environment • Led to changes in government policy

  3. A slow change in attitudes • UN Conference on the Human Environment 1972 Delineated the ‘rights’ of the human family to a healthy and productive environment • 1980 - World Conservation Strategy (IUCN) advanced the idea of sustainable development - in terms of development and environment (but not economics)

  4. Our Common Future 1987 • World Commission on Environment & Development • Introduced fuller concept of Sustainable Development • ‘A Global Agenda for Change’ - Gro Harlem Brundtland • Possible to achieve global economic development without compromising future generations chances to meet their needs

  5. Earth SummitRio 1992 • Agreements on co-operation on development & environment issues • Political commitment at highest levels - 174 • Opened paths for communication & co-operation between official and NGO’s • Raised public awareness

  6. AGENDA 21 - the global plan of action for sustainable development • Reflects the political commitment to achieving a balance between the economic, environmental and social needs of the world community. • Calls for local action to achieve global objectives and promotion of broad-based participation

  7. Local Agenda 21 • The concept of “Local Agenda 21” effectively combines these key elements by presenting a unique framework that enables the necessary global-local link and revitalises local communities through increased participation.

  8. 1992 - 2002 • Convention on Biodiversity (1992) & Biosafety Protocol (2000) - conservation of & sustainable use of biological resources • Framework Convention on Climate Change (1993) & Kyoto protocol (1999)- stabilise greenhouse gases • Convention on Desertification (1994) tackle the impacts of & mitigate the effects of droughts.

  9. 1992 - 2002 • Convention on Persistent organic pollutants (2001) - tackle chemical substances that persist and bioaccumulate through the food web and pose a risk to human health and to the environment. • Agreement on conservation and management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks (1995) • Millennium Summit (2000), 18 targets and 48 indicators

  10. World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg 26 August- 4 September 2002

  11. “By the end of the new century, if we are both lucky and wise we will exit in better shape than we entered. People everywhere will have acquired a decent quality of life, with the expectation of more improvements to come. Whether it happens depends fundamentally on the shift to a new ethic, which sees humanity as part of the biosphere and its faithful steward, not just resident master & economic maximizer” E O Wilson, Time, April/May 2000

  12. The Few Successes The summit delivered about 41 new agreements. • Far-reaching deal on restoring fish stocks by 2015 • Doubling access to sanitation and clean water by 2015.

  13. No More (shameful) SummitsThe biggest disappointment was the lost attempt to set firm targets on increasing the world's share of 'clean' renewable energy to help reduce CO2 emissions and tackle climate change.

  14. Today • World Trade Organisation - failed talks 2003 • Kyoto still not ratified • Europe moving ahead, US going backwards • Africa - still struggling with poverty • Water shortage could be the next third world war? • But is Local Action Moving the World?

  15. Aberdeen’s Community Plan and its Local Agenda 21 Strategy

  16. Our Priorities • Includes • Climate Change, • Sustainable Procurement, • State of the Environment • Waste • Resources Use

  17. UnderstandingSustainable Development

  18. Awareness Raising • Your Health and the Environment • Climate Change and The Environment • The Eco Challenge • Our Green Times • Web site - www.aberdeencity.gov.uk - Your City - Your Environment

  19. A Wide Range of Projects • Annual Environment Strategy Report • Fairtrade • Home Energy Conservation • Green Travel • Waste Reduction and Recycling • Biodiversity Actions

  20. The Future • Local Agenda 21 vs/ Community Planning • Majority Action vs Globalisation • Environment vs Economic Development • Resources vs Political Priorities • Future vs Now

  21. Local Agenda 21 A Brief History and its application in Aberdeen Carson, Rachel, Silent Spring, Penguin (1962) WCED, Our Common Future, Oxford, (1987) The Real World Coalition - From here to Sustainability, Earthscan (2001) www.earthscan.co.uk/ www.johannesburgsummit.org www.earthsummit2002.org www.defra.gov.uk/environment/sustainable www.iucn.org/wssd www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

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