European Cities Move Towards Sustainability Achievements and Prospects Gino Van Begin, Regional Director Europe, ICLEI Kyoto, 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 of Aalborg 1.1 Political Context of Local Sustainability in Europe Agenda 21 Chapter 28: Local Agenda Earth Summit Rio de Janeiro Green Paper on the Urban Environment Sustainable Cities Project 1990 European Commission Local Agenda 21 I C L E I 1990

1.2 Transposing Rio to European Local Governments: The Aalborg Process Launch of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Adoption of the Aalborg Charter Charter First European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns (Aalborg Conference) 1994

1.3 The Aalborg Conference

1.4 The Aalborg Charter 1994 Part I Consensus Declaration: European Cities & Towns Towards Sustainability Part II The European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Part II Engaging in Local Agenda 21 Processes: Local Action Plans Towards Sustainability Principles Initiation of Campaign Commitment to Action 1994

Aalborg Commitments Hannover Call Den Haag Statement Sevilla DeclarationTurku StatementSofia Statement Aalborg CharterLisbon Action Plan 1.5 European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Milestones nd Conference Lisbon, Portugal 1996 Northeast Conference Turku, Finland st Conference Aalborg, Denmark Southeast Conference Sofia, Bulgaria Northwest Conference The Hague, Netherlands Southwest Conference Sevilla, Spain rd Conference Hannover, Germany Campaign rd Conference Aalborg, Denmark

1.6 ESCT Campaign participation Regional Conferences Millenium Conference Joburg Conference Aalborg Conference Aalborg+10 Conference

1.7 ESCT Campaign participants

1.9 ESCT Campaign activities European Sustainable Cities Award Multi-stakeholder ‘Open Platform for Urban Sustainability’ Campaign Newsletter Registry of signatories to the Aalborg Charter Awareness raising workshops Local Agenda 21 Guidance & Training Program Network of national LA21 Coordinators Local Agenda 21 Briefing sheets LA21 Self-Assessment System LA21 Planning Guide European Local Agenda 21 Roundtable

1.10 European Sustainable Cities Award Albertslund Den Haag Dunkerque Leicester Graz 1996 Stockholm Heidelberg Veliko Tarnovo Calvià Tampere Diputació de Barcelona München Gdansk Norwich 2002

2. Achievements by European Local Government

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

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

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!

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 adopted in 1998, incl social, economy, envir, mobility, less health & employment Participation : LA21 Forum of 150 pers in 4 working groups + 1 coordinating private sector, NGO, env, women, youth High influence: example Mobility

Heidelberg, Germany, Ferrara, Italy Heidelberg Implementation: - since 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 specific objectifs, targets. indicators - LA21 cross department, no special division, political control - set of speciifc plans - green procurement - staff: special actions

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