European Cities Move Towards Sustainability Achievements and Prospects

European Cities Move Towards Sustainability Achievements and Prospects 1992 -2012 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

1. 1 Political Context of Local Sustainability in Europe 1990 1992 Earth Summit Rio de Janeiro ICLEI 1990 European Commission Agenda 21 Local Agenda 21 Green Paper on the Urban Environment Chapter 28: Local Agenda 21 City of Aalborg ICLEI Sustainable Cities Project Sponsored by European Commission 1994 First European Sustainable Cities & Towns Conference (Aalborg Conference)

1. 2 Transposing Rio to European Local Governments: The Aalborg Process 1994 -2004 1994 First European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns (Aalborg Conference) Adoption of the Aalborg Charter Launch of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign

1. 3 The Aalborg Conference 1994

1. 4 The Aalborg Charter 1994 Part I Consensus Declaration: European Cities & Towns Towards Sustainability Principles Part II The European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Initiation of Campaign 1994 Part II Engaging in Local Agenda 21 Processes: Local Action Plans Commitment Towards Sustainability to Action

European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Milestones 1994 - 2004 1994 1 st Conference Aalborg, Denmark 1996 2 nd Conference Lisbon, Portugal 1998 Northeast Conference Turku, Finland Turku Statement Southeast Conference Sofia, Bulgaria Sofia Statement Southwest Conference Sevilla, Spain Sevilla Declaration 1999 Northwest Conference The Hague, Netherlands 2000 3 rd Conference Hannover, Germany 2004 4 rd Conference Aalborg, Denmark Aalborg Charter Lisbon Action Plan Den Haag Statement Hannover Call Aalborg Commitments Campaign 1. 5

1. 6 ESCT Campaign participation 94 -04 Aalborg+10 Conference Joburg Conference Millenium Conference 2600 2030 1859 Regional Conferences Aalborg Conference 20032004

1. 7 ESCT Campaign participants

1. 9 ESCT Campaign activities Registry of signatories to the Aalborg Charter Local Agenda 21 Briefing sheets LA 21 Planning Guide LA 21 Self-Assessment System European Sustainable Cities Award Campaign Newsletter Awareness raising workshops Local Agenda 21 Guidance & Training Program European Local Agenda 21 Roundtable Multi-stakeholder ‘Open Platform for Urban Sustainability’ Network of national LA 21 Coordinators

1. 10 European Sustainable Cities Award Stockholm Albertslund Norwich 1996 Tampere Leicester 1997 Gdansk 1999 Den Haag 2002 Dunkerque Heidelberg Veliko Tarnovo Graz Diputació de Barcelona München Calvià

2. Achievements by European Local Government

2. 1 What has been achieved ? A European success story 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. 2 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. 3 What has been achieved ? A European success story Increased civil participation: LA 21&urban planning Enhanced integration of environment in policy making: cross-sectorial & holistic approaches LA 21 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 10 y in EU • = different from Aalborg Charter: baseline review and process to set qualitative and quantitative targets • = flexible tool, adaptable to local needs • = strengthen LA 21 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 ]

4. 1 Council decision responsible use of stakeholders’ time l Demonstrates sincerity of the planning process to the participating citizens l Gives the administration a mandate and resources to co-ordinate the process l Defines the link between participatory planning process and political decision making process

4. 2 Management structures professional and interlinked l Responsibility should be with senior staff in a strategic position, to reach out to various departments and to outside stakeholders l Cross-departmental working group l Local Agenda 21 steering office l Advisory board / expert group / political board or committee l Protocol on relations to political bodies

4. 3 Participation strategy be clear about what you offer l Who exactly should be invited? Stakeholders or interested citizens? l What exactly are they requested to do? Comment, develop plans/policies, implement projects? l How much time are they expected to invest? How long should the participation take all in all? l What will the participation format look like? Regular evening meetings in thematic working groups, large annual fora, week-end workshops?

4. 4 Facilitation makes the difference in quality l Move from ‘chairing’ sessions to ‘facilitating’ them l Allow for equal opportunities for all invited individuals to contribute l Identify the maximum consensus the group can reach l Visualise all contributions and results for more transparency and efficiency l Needs skilled professionals and a budget

4. 5 Process time table plan the start - but also the end! l Develop a clear timetable with defined start and end of the LA 21 planning process l Define phases and communicate/celebrate milestones l Make sure results are achieved before motivation to participate goes down

4. 6 Information strategy reach out to the public l It is impossible to involve ALL citizens actively l However, sustainable development requires changes in every-day decisions of all citizens l Make sustainable development and/or the Local Agenda 21 process something people talk about at work, in the supermarket, at the bus stop. . . l Follow clear information strategy principles: - define occasion, - choose target group, - formulate their benefit, - choose medium, - create originality

5. Practical Examples and Conclusions

Heidelberg, Germany, Ferrara, Italy Heidelberg Ferrara Vision: 25 Years / AC Vision: 10 years/AC Strategy: Plan 2010 adopted Strategy: Plan adopted in 1997, incl. social, health, economy, env, education, mobility employment in 1998, incl social, economy, envir, mobility, less health & employment Participation: private sector, Participation: LA 21 Forum NGO, police, env, women, unemployed, ethnic, youth, university, High influence of 150 pers in 4 working groups + 1 coordinating private sector, NGO, env, women, youth High influence: example Mobility

Heidelberg, Germany, Ferrara, Italy Heidelberg Ferrara Implementation: - since 1992 -1997 - specific objectifs, targets. indicators - LA 21 group is special division integrated in all policies, directly with Mayor, - set of specific plans - green procurement - staff 4 -5 persons - special actions - since 1995 -1998 - specific objectifs, targets. indicators - LA 21 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 !