Global Environment Policy Module 3 a Local Environmental

Global Environment Policy - Module 3 (a): Local Environmental Policy - Local Governments and Local Environmental Policy

Seminar Matrix Module 1: Global Environmental Policy Module 2: National Environmental Policy Governments Business and Industry NGOs and Communities Module 3: Local Environmental Policy Today

What are Local Governments? The level of government at the lowest level – governing the smallest political area: city Common names: state, province, town or village. Can be called by different names: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Local governments Local authorities Local agencies City councils Municipalities In general the governments that controls “urban areas” region, department, county, prefecture, district, city, township, town, borough, parish, municipality, shire, village etc. .

What are Local Governments? Local governments provide a number of local services for our daily living: • • Electricity delivery Water for household use Sewage and sanitation Storm water systems Refuse removal Fire fighting services Municipal health services Land ownership • • Municipal roads Public transport Street trading Food markets Parks and play areas Public Libraries Local tourism etc…

What are Local Governments? In order to carry out their activities, local governments can: : • • Pass laws Approve budgets Design and develop urban plans Impose taxes Charge service fees Impose fines Borrow money

Why are Local Governments important? Some Reasons: 1. They are closest to citizens 2. They can influence daily life: decisions and choices of citizens 3. They act as a link to national governments in environmental protection 4. They can monitor environmental problems as they occur 5. They can solve environmental conflicts between communities and business/industry

Key Issues for Local Governments • Access to Basic Services • Decentralisation • Development Cooperation National issues • Habitat Agenda • MDGs Post-2015 • United Nations Advocacy Global issues

Sustainability activities of Local Governments 1. service provision 2. regulation There are five main areas of activities 3. planning 4. community education 5. mentoring

Local Governments and Sustainability … 1 1. service provision 2. regulation 3. planning 4. community education 5. mentoring Local governments provide essential environmental services to residents: • • • waste collection and disposal water supply sewerage public health services Other

Local Governments and Sustainability … 2 1. service provision 2. regulation 3. planning Local governments have powers to implement environmental regulations: Air 4. community education 5. mentoring National standards Water Local laws Soil Energy

Local Governments and Sustainability … 3 1. service provision 2. regulation 3. planning Local governments carry out comprehensive environmental planning to protect the local environment: 4. community education 5. mentoring Environmental Management Strategies and Plans • • • pollution control nature conservation environmental education research and information monitoring and evaluation science and technology

Local Governments and Sustainability 1. service provision 2. regulation 3. planning 4. community education 5. mentoring Local governments links environmental protection to daily lifestyles through education: • • • books and posters websites seminars and forums campaigns eco-products

Local Governments and Sustainability 1. service provision 2. regulation 3. planning 4. community education 5. mentoring Local governments become a model of sustainability for others to follow: • Eco-office initiatives • ISO 14001 -based Environmental Management Systems • Purchase of low-polluting cars for government work • Green purchasing • Recycling and reuse of waste

What problems are Local Governments facing? Some problems: 1. Lack of finance and other resources 2. Lack of skills and expertise to handle environmental problems 3. Lack of implementation of environmental laws 4. Limitations due to national standards and laws 5. Weak support from communities and business/industry

Local Governments networking Many cities overcome the challenges by effective networking with other cities within the country as well as outside the country. Country Shortcomings in the national government National Government L. G. Shortcomings in the local government

Local Governments networking … 1 There a number of city networks that have been established over the last few decades. Some of the different types include: • membership networks (City. Net, ICLEI etc. ) • networks led by the United Nations and other international agencies (Kita Kyushu Initiative, Asia-Urbs, etc. ) • Networks based on a particular project or issue (Eco-partnership Initiative) • Sister-City Networks • National networks set up by ministries and local government agencies

Local Governments networking … 2 In general, city networking has enabled activities such as: • • • exchange visits by different stakeholders initiation of exchange programmes signing of business-to-business partnerships programme development of local governments, NGOs, and CBOs engagement in voluntary and community-based activities focusing on enhancing quality of life and environments in cities. • organization of events and activities related to urban governance and management • study and research in urban issues related to cities • develop city-to-city and city-to-NGO/CBO linkages

Local Governments networking … 3 Closer relations with other cities and organizations: Some Examples • city-to-city + city-to-NGO programmes and activities • staff exchanges • investment and grants-in-aid coordinated at the local and national level.

Local Governments networking … 4 Better human resource development and skills, activities and programme: Some Examples • training programmes participated and organized with cities and organizations • seminars, lectures, conferences etc. jointly organized on urban issues

Local Governments networking … 5 Increased interaction with other urban stakeholders: Some Examples • initiation of programmes and activities in partnership with NGOs and CBOs in the city. • interaction with NGOs, CBOs, and other organizations for gathering opinion and brain storming.

Local Governments and Sustainability Local governments in Japan

Local Governments and Sustainability What is meant by "local government" in Japan? 'Local government' in Japan is a two-tiered system, based on prefectures and municipalities: 'Prefectures' are regional-level local governments. 'Municipalities' are grassroots level local governments

Local Governments and Sustainability

Prefectural Governments in Japan ? What do they do? • work on major infrastructure projects such as inter-urban road construction and maintenance; • the operation of senior high schools (Yrs 10 -12) • teacher recruitment and placement; • school curriculum development; • policing; and • hospital construction and management.

Local Governments in Japan ? What do they do? • the maintenance of resident and family registers; • the operation of primary and junior high schools (Yrs 7 -9); • the management of water utilities; • the maintenance of local roads; • waste disposal; • fire fighting; • social aid; and • child and aged care services.

Local Government Financial Sources

Local Government Expenditure

Challenges: Local Governments in Japan • Graying population and population “flight” - Retaining youth and productive elderly • Attracting business and business opportunities - Providing land other serices - Creating new jobs, increasing incomes • Tourism – domestic and international - Business opportunities from tourism-related activities • Mating a good living environment - High quality of life - Providing urban services

Class Matrix 1 2 3 Next class: Module 3: Local Environmental Policy ern v Go nts me Business and Industry NP Co Os mm an un d iti es What local environmental policies impact business and industry? How do their activities impact the environment? How can they help? 4 5 6 7 8 9