KKKH4284 SUSTAINABLE URBAN PLANNING

SEMESTER II, SESSION 2014/2015

TASK 5 LOCAL AGENDA 21

NAME:

TAN WEI ZHOU

MATRIC NO:

A138166

DEPARTMENT:

CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

LECTURER:

PROF. IR. DR. RIZA ARIQ ABDULLAH BIN O.K RAHMAT

DR. MUHAMAD NAZRI BIN BORHAN

Question:

You are given a task by the mayor of your hometown to evaluate and give suggestion on

how to plan the town in accordance with Local Agenda 21. Write a brief report on your

evaluation and suggestion.

Figure 1.0: My Hometown Teluk Intan

INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS LOCAL AGENDA 21?

Local Agenda 21 is a program aimed at implementing sustainable development at the

local level. A Local Agenda 21 program comprises systems and processes to integrate

environmental, economic and social development. Founded on a strong partnership

between local government and the community, the progress towards local sustainable

development will be guided by the preparation of a long term strategic action plan that

integrates existing policies and programs and an agreed future direction.

Local Agenda 21 provides the basis for debate on and awareness of sustainable

development at the community level. The main focus of Local Agenda 21 is to involve all

groups in sustainable development planning in the major areas of economic, social and

environmental development. The meaning of sustainable development is“Development

that satisfies present needs without compromising the ability of future generation to

satisfy their needs. It includes human development, food, safety and energy resource. It

must also integrate economic, social and environment priorities”. (Source: from World

Commission on Environment and Development)

This focus on participation clearly sets Local Agenda 21 apart from other

initiatives which focus more on the achievement of outcomes for sustainable

development. Every party is playing their own role in order to achieve sustainable

development. As the level of government closer to the people, local authorities play a

vital role in educating and mobilizing the public around sustainable development.

Roles of Local Government

Promoting and working towards sustainable development

Consider the social and environmental impacts of their various activities as well

as the interaction between these activities and the practical objectives of

sustainable development.

Find ways of conserving resources, minimizing adverse impacts on the

environment and on society, and obtaining the maximum benefit- in financial,

social and environmental terms.

Promoting, organizing, or assisting in research, surveys and studies regarding the

local community.

Making collaboration within the authorities to execute any activities

Interaction with its citizens

KEY ELEMENTS OF LOCAL AGENDA 21

There are six key elements of Local agenda 21. Based on these, the evaluation and

suggestion are committed.

1) Managing and improving the local authority's own environmental performance

Evaluation:

Environmental performance is not really satisfied in my hometown. In order to attain a

liveable city with high quality of living, the various roles that are expected of these local

authorities had put a lot of stress and pressure on them to acquire a strong organization.

Consequently, these medium sized local authorities are lack of finance, manpower, skills

and equipment in providing the expected services.

Suggestion:

Every parties should be focused in undertaking each and every responsibility in urban

development by looking at its own policies and practices and assessing how

environmentally sustainable they are as well as taking appropriate steps to ensure an

environmental responsible ethos throughout the organization. Besides that, the local

authority should always update the administration and management system to optimize

its financial revenue, strengthen human resources, expand the use of technology as well

as upgrade and enable the town become more competitive. Consideration could be given

to a number of options and procedures for improving internal environmental

performance, including:

Adopting a voluntary environmental management system

A good environmental management system should be plan in order to determine

and develop appropriate policy and practical responses and specify actions and

targets to implement those responses, and lead to a focused implementation

programmes with suitable review and reporting mechanisms.

Budgeting

Environmental objectives should always be considered when budgets are being

prepared. While additional funding for environmental purposes and activities will

require due justification in any organization, a focus should also be maintained on

maximizing available resources through efficiencies and value for money in the

delivery and use of environmental services, resourcing areas where the benefits of

action can offset the costs, and participating in an effective, targeted way in joint

ventures with business and community interests.

Staff training and information

This is a very important element of any internal strategy, a vital to the process of

disseminating ideas outside the organization; if staff are not aware and committed,

no charter or plan can be successfully implemented. A skilled and committed staff

is one of the most important resources for an organization putting Local Agenda

21 into practice.

2) Integrating sustainable development aims into the local authority's policies and

activities

Evaluation:

Not really much development in my hometown as Teluk Intan is just a medium sized city

and not large as Kuala Lumpur. Thus, environmental quality such as the quality of air and

noise is satisfied yet. However, many rivers have undergone degradation in water quality

due to the pollution from domestic waste and suspended particulates from soil and

erosion. The term of sustainable development is compulsory to be integrated and

implement in project in my hometown.

Suggestion:

The development of an urban system needs to be based on the adopted development plan

and comply with all policies, programmes and action plans proposed by the respective

plan so that the provision and distribution of infrastructure and facilities will be more

efficient. The local authorities should plan policies that the vision is based on sustainable

development. For examples:

Land use/ development policies

The development plans of the local planning authorities are the principal policy

statements on land use, and may include, in the appropriate urban and rural

contexts, development objectives with regard to the “zoning” of land for

particular uses, the renewal of obsolete areas, the provision of environmental

services and the preservation of amenities, including the built environment,

natural features and quality landscapes.

Urban development

Urbanisation is part of the development process and urban authorities are well

placed to address sustainability issues experienced within cities and towns. The

challenges of urban sustainability differ with the scale and nature of urban

development, and the following concerns may be more or less relevant to local

authorities in particular circumstances:

Urban air quality and smoke control measures

Energy saving in housing

The creation of a green urban structure through the provision of parks,

landscape areas and the planting trees, shrubs and flowers

Traffic measures to reduce air pollution and emission of CO2

Transport policy and traffic management

Local authorities can help reduce the demand for additional transport

infrastructure by reducing the need to travel. Bringing the services to people,

where this is economically feasible, may reduce the transport requirements and

can improve the quality of life. Local authorities can help to promote and

integrate public transport by liasing with services providers on appropriate routes

and on ticketing practices, by supporting the provision of park and ride and

interchange facilities. Besides that, they should encourage more environmentally-

friendly mode of transport by providing safer facilities such as bicycle lanes for

cyclists, special pedestrian areas for walkers and others.

3) Awareness raising and education

Evaluation:

Not much of campaign about awareness raising and education in my hometown. These

elements need an improvisation.

.

Suggestion:

Information and awareness are essential catalysts in motivating people to take action,

individually or collectively to protect and enhance the environment. Information to

promote sustainable development must not only identify the state of environment but also

advise people on the issues affecting sustainable development, the trends toward or away

from sustainable use of resources. In order to make environment and development

education available to people of all ages, the local authorities have many opportunities to

provide information by

Supporting environmental education

Liasing with local schools/colleges

Compiling and publishing local environmental information

Setting up focus points

Drawing up their own information policy statements

4) Consulting and involving the general public

Evaluation:

This element has been implemented through the area. They may included schools, adult

education/training groups, environment/conservation organization, youth clubs, senior

citizens’ groups, and others.

Suggestion:

Agenda 21 recommends that each local authority should ‘‘enter into a dialogue with its

citizens, local organizations and private enterprises and adopt a local ‘Agenda 21’.

Consultation is a two-way process in which local authorities and the public can exchange

information and experience and deepen an understanding of the range of actions and

interaction contributing to sustainable development.

Local authorities should be creative in methods of consultation. Information provided

should be clear and attractive, and invite public response. Some approaches to

consultation and involvement should be included:

Presentation to/ Local Agenda 21 meetings with local organizations and groups

Setting up a special environmental or Local Agenda 21 forum to discuss, and

propose solution to environmental problems

Neighbourhood based initiatives (involving residents in environmental planning,

improve and management of their own estate or area.)

5) Partnerships

Evaluation:

The implementation should be encouraged in my hometown.

Suggestion:

Local authorities have a wide competence to promote the interests of their local

communities. It is desirable to work in partnerships with key groups which are influential

in the delivery of sustainable development. Partnerships can be done by doing meetings,

workshops and conferences. It will be more efficient if the residents working in groups or

advisory groups. Round tables should be done to go through any issue arising from any

members. The role of partnership in sustainable development included:

Partnerships should be based on predictable and sustained resources for their

implementation, include mobilizing new resources and, where relevant, result in

transfer of technology to and capacity building in, developing countries.

Partnerships should bear in mind the economic, social and environmental

dimensions of sustainable development in their design and implementation.

6) Measuring, monitoring and reporting on progress towards sustainability

Evaluation:

Not really sure whether is implemented in my hometown or not. But it is important to

maintain Teluk Intan as a liveable city.

Suggestion:

Once a Local Agenda 21 has been adopted democratically, arrangements should be made

locally to monitor and report on progress towards its objectives in regard to the

achievement of long-term sustainable development. Those who choose to register their

partnership should provide transparent, participatory and credible information and

reporting, focusing on their contribution to the implementation of goals, objectives and

targets of Local Agenda 21.

There are a few methods of obtaining the necessary information for such

monitoring and review such as participating in monitoring programmes, local state of the

environment reporting and devising local indicators of sustainability. These policies that

have been formulated and the guidelines to be drafted, shall form the basis for a

comprehensive framework to guide, control and manage new development and

improvement works in Teluk Intan.

CONCLUSION

It is stressed that local government plays an important role to achieve sustainable

development as it is closest to the people (to change the mind-set and attitude) and where

implementation of strategies, rules and regulation as well as enforcement are

materialized. Even though, the fact that the existing decision making structure and plan

preparation process in Malaysia are still within the discretionary powers of planning

authorities. Transformation of Teluk Intan into a sustainable city will certainly involve

concerted efforts by all parties involved.