A management system for the environmental, economic and social sustainability of Sitges EMAS + AGENDA 21

Location CATALUNYA

The project: A management system for the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the municipality of SITGES (Garraf, Barcelona): Planning and setting up a management system for environmental sustainability based on European environmental management regulation no. 761/2001 (EMAS II), along with a local Agenda 21 process involving a high level of technical, sectorial and social participation.

Aim: economic and social To set up a management system capable of improving environmental, economic and social sustainability in the Municipality and the application of a local Agenda 21  certified system (EMAS register)  efficient  with little political dependency  with permanent participation by the citizen and a sense of responsibility (environmental democracy)  widely adapted to each sector....

.... avoiding the weaknesses of some of the projects that preceded Agenda 21: excessive bureaucracy little citizen participation and lack of information little change in citizen’s behaviour (energy and water consumption, criteria for purchasing, waste collection, culture, etc.) -  greater impact poor results achieved in previous action plans or Agenda 21 processes (they were basically poorly defined structural measures)

The project’s corner-stones: EMAS + AGENDA 21 planficació i acció sostenible SYSTEM OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION COUNCIL FOR MUNICIPAL SUPPORT VOLUNTARY SUPPORT GROUPS Auditoria, SGA: EMAS TECHNICAL DATA PGOU, ACTION PLAN (A21, ENVIRONMENTAL SECTORS) + INITIAL PROJECTS COMPROMÍS POLÍTIC CONSENSUAT COMPROMÍS SOCIAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM COORDINATION OF THE PROCESS TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT/ SUPPORT OFFICE POLITICAL COMMISSION, INFORMATION

1.Initial environmental analysis Environmental aspects: I. Territorial: Land use and urban planning Extraction of underground water Road network, means of transport, etc. Energy consumption and street lighting Risks and emergencies Use of and access to natural systems Other household consumption and emissions Public consumption and waste Environmental management of business activities

Environmental aspects: II. Municipal services: Water supply network and public water consumption Recovery and treatment of residual waters Checking public works Urban refuse collection Street cleaning Garbage men Gardeners Public tenders for services and supplies The Police: environmental control Control of the beaches Hygiene control Information on the environment

Environmental aspects: III. Municipal buildings: Main centres (catalogued) Secondary or peripheral centres Independently-run centres

The EMAS environmental management system ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO- ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES AND PROGRAMMES INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO- ECONOMIC POLICY SGS DOCUMENTS: TECHNICAL PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS ORGANISATIONAL STURUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITY Planning INTERNAL TRAINING AND COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DECLARATION CONTROL. INDICATORS INTERNAL AUDITORIA SETTING UP OF TECHNICAL PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS Setting up Control REVIEW OF SGS FOR THE MUNICIPALITY

Means of participation Participation by the Jaume Bofill Foundation, specialized in social innovation. Trusting in environmental democracy (experiences) Objectives: information, awareness raising, participation, responsibility, a change in social and sectorial behaviour.

COUNCIL FOR MUNICIPAL SUPPORT DISTRICT A ASSOCIATION N DISTRICT C SECTOR N DISTRICT B Group Family Group Family TECHNICAL SEGRETARIAT Means of participation

Communication plan THE MUNICIPALITY INTERNAL STRUCTURE EXTERNAL STRUCTURE The Mayor Councillors: Information Commission Engineers: Technical Summit Newspapers Forums Website (Virtual Forum) Local TV and radio Presence in the districts Environmental support office Council for the support of the Municipality

Immediate implementation 1.REVIEW OF URBAN PLANNING BASED ON SUSTAINABLE CRITERIA 2.SETTING UP AN S.G.A. ISO IN THE PORT OF GINESTA (WHICH HAS ROOM FOR 1,000 BOATS) 3.MOBILITY PLAN 4. REGENERATION OF THE BEACHES 5. RECOVERY OF DUNES, MARSHLAND AND VEGETATION ON “LES BOTIGUES” BEACH 6.IMPROVEMENT OF DIFFERENTIATED WASTE COLLECTION AND EXTENSION TO INCLUDE ORGANIC WASTE 7.DRAWING UP OF A PLAN TO REDUCE NOISE POLLUTION

Immediate implementation 8. CREATION OF A DECREE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE CATALAN LAW OF TOTAL INTERVENTION BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADMINISTRATION (IPPC DIRECTIVE). 9. ACCESS PLAN 10. PROMOTION OF THE USE OF SOLAR ENERGY IN MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS AND IN THE TOURIST SECTOR 11. COMMUNICATION PLAN AND WEB PAGE 12. CREATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT OFFICE FOR THE MUNICIPALITY 13. PARTICIPIATION PLAN: SUPPORT COMMITTEE, THE DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC BODIES

Expected results European recognition (EMAS register) Social and sectorial recognition Environmental culture in citizens and in local business sectors (in particular the tourist sector) Clear plans from the start Social and political image Future tourism characterised by environmental quality, developing the sustainable use, for tourism purposes, of the natural surroundings.