Local Action for Global Sustainability Volume 1 Water, Sanitation, and Human Settlements Local Government Implementation Guide for the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Millennium Development Goals

Local Government Implementation Guide An online resource for local governments interested in pursuing the goals and targets of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation & Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Addresses the key global issues of water, sanitation, and human settlements, the focus of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-12 and 13).

The aim of the Guide is to raise municipal decision makers’ awareness of how local governments can contribute to global sustainability and motivate them to take action. The Guide includes concrete recommendations for local government action, short case examples of local government initiatives, and a selection of internet resources.

Water & Local Governments 82% of the world’s population has access to safe drinking water, although access varies by region. 1.6 billion people will need to gain access to water to meet the MDGs. Effective local-level planning and management can lower the costs of water and sanitation infrastructure. Water & Local Governments

Water areas of focus Gender and Equity Water Quality & Health Integrated Water Resources Management Water Management Water Policies and Institutions Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems

Sanitation & Local Governments Clean drinking water sources cannot be guaranteed without addressing sanitation issues, since human excreta is a serious source of drinking water contamination. In 2000, 86% of urban dwellers had access to sanitation compared to 38% of rural inhabitants. Overall, 60% of the world's population had access to sanitation in 2000.

Sanitation areas of focus Provision of Sanitation Facilities—Urban Sanitation Provision of Sanitation Facilities—Rural Sanitation Sanitation Infrastructure & Facilities Gender and Equity Wastewater Treatment

Human Settlements & Local Government Approximately one-third of the world's urban population currently lives in slums and informal settlements. “An integrated approach to [providing] environmentally-sound infrastructure in human settlements...is an investment in sustainable development that can improve quality of life, increase productivity, improve health and reduce the burden of investments in poverty alleviation.” (Agenda 21)

Human Settlements areas of focus Improving the Lives of Slum Dwellers Provision of Land & Shelter Provision of Services and Infrastructure Access to Energy Solid Waste Management Implementing Sustainable Transport Solutions Employment Creation and Enterprise Promotion

Local Government Implementation Guide From child-friendly toilets in India to integrated water resources management in Australia to sustainable transportation in Portugal, the Guide showcases how local governments have and will to continue to address global challenges related to water, sanitation, and human settlements. Visit www.iclei.org/implementationguide © ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability, June 2004. All rights reserved.