European Cities Move Towards SustainabilityAchievements and Prospects 1992-2012

Gino Van Begin, Regional Director Europe, ICLEIKyoto, 29 November - 2 December 2006

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

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

1994 First European Sustainable Cities & Towns Conference

(Aalborg Conference)

I C L E I Sponsored by

European Commission

City ofAalborg

1.1 Political Context of Local Sustainability in Europe

Agenda 21Chapter 28: Local Agenda 21

1992 Earth SummitRio de Janeiro

Green Paper on the Urban Environment

Sustainable Cities Project

1990 EuropeanCommission

Local Agenda 21

I C L E I1990

1.2 Transposing Rio to European Local Governments: The Aalborg Process 1994-2004

Launch of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign

Adoption of the Aalborg CharterCharter

First European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns (Aalborg Conference) 1994

1.3 The Aalborg Conference 1994

1994

1.4 The Aalborg Charter 1994

Part IConsensus Declaration:

European Cities & Towns Towards Sustainability

Part IIThe European

Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Part II

Engaging in Local Agenda 21Processes: Local Action Plans

Towards Sustainability

Principles

Initiation ofCampaign

Commitmentto Action

1994

Aalborg Commitments

Hannover Call

Den Haag Statement

Sevilla Declaration

Turku Statement

Sofia Statement

Aalborg Charter

Lisbon Action Plan

1.5 European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Milestones 1994 - 2004

2nd ConferenceLisbon, Portugal1996

Northeast ConferenceTurku, Finland1998

1994 1st ConferenceAalborg, Denmark

Southeast ConferenceSofia, Bulgaria

Northwest ConferenceThe Hague, Netherlands

Southwest ConferenceSevilla, Spain1999

2000 3rd ConferenceHannover, Germany

Cam

paig

n

2004 4rd ConferenceAalborg, Denmark

1.6 ESCT Campaign participation 94-04

80174

305383

446

627

880

1406 1521

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

RegionalConferences

MilleniumConference

2003

2030

1859

2004

2600JoburgConference

AalborgConference

Aalborg+10Conference

1.7 ESCT Campaign participants

1.9 ESCT Campaign activities

European Sustainable Cities

Award

Multi-stakeholder ‘Open Platform for Urban

Sustainability’

CampaignNewsletter

Registry of signatories to the Aalborg Charter

Awareness raising workshops

Local Agenda 21Guidance & Training

Program

Network of national LA21 Coordinators

Local Agenda 21Briefing sheets

LA21Self-Assessment

System

LA21Planning Guide

EuropeanLocal Agenda 21

Roundtable

1.10 European Sustainable Cities Award

Albertslund

Den Haag

Dunkerque

Leicester

Graz

1996

Stockholm

Heidelberg Veliko

Tarnovo

Calvià

1997

1999

Tampere

Diputació de Barcelona München

Gdansk

Norwich

2002

2. Achievements by European Local Government

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)

2.1 What has been achieved ? A European success story

Understanding of 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

2.2 What has been achieved ? A European success story

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!!

3. Prospects on the future of local sustainability in Europe

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

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

3.3 Aalborg Commitments - SIGNATORIES

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

4. Conditions of success

[ Council decision ]

[ Management structures ]

[ Participation strategy ]

[ Facilitation ]

[ Process time table ]

[ Information strategy ]

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

4.1 Council decision responsible use of stakeholders’ time

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

4.2 Management structures professional and interlinked

Co-ordination

Steering Office

Council

Committee

Citizens / Stakeholders

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?

4.3 Participation strategy be clear about what you offer

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

4.4 Facilitation makes the difference in quality

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

4.5 Process time table plan the start - but also the end!

Council DecisionManagement StructuresParticipation- StrategyFacilitationTimetableMarketing Strategy

Kick-off

Implem

entation

PreparationIssueAnalysis

Visions,Goals

Projects,Actions

CouncilDecision

StatusReport

Indi-cators

ActionPlan

Why?

What?

How

?

Monitoring,Evaluation

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

4.6 Information strategy reach out to the public

5. Practical Examples and Conclusions

Heidelberg, Germany, Ferrara, Italy

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

Ferrara

Vision: 10 years/AC

Strategy: Plan adoptedin 1998, incl social, economy,envir, mobility, less health& employment

Participation: LA21 Forumof 150 pers in 4 workinggroups + 1 coordinatingprivate sector, NGO, env, women, youthHigh influence: example Mobility

Heidelberg, Germany, Ferrara, Italy

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

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

For further info, please visit

www.iclei.org/europe

Thank you !