European Cities Move Towards SustainabilityAchievements and Prospects 1992-2012

Gino Van Begin, Regional Director Europe, ICLEIKyoto, 29 November - 2 December 2006

Overview

1. How was local sustainability introduced to local governments 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

1. How was local sustainability introduced to local governments in Europe: political context

1994 First European Sustainable Cities & Towns Conference

(Aalborg Conference)

I C L E I Sponsored by

European Commission

City ofAalborg

1.1 Political Context of Local Sustainability in Europe

Agenda 21Chapter 28: Local Agenda 21

1992 Earth SummitRio de Janeiro

Green Paper on the Urban Environment

Sustainable Cities Project

1990 EuropeanCommission

Local Agenda 21

I C L E I1990

1.2 Transposing Rio to European Local Governments: The Aalborg Process 1994-2004

Launch of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign

Adoption of the Aalborg CharterCharter

First European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns (Aalborg Conference) 1994

1.3 The Aalborg Conference 1994

1994

1.4 The Aalborg Charter 1994

Part IConsensus Declaration:

European Cities & Towns Towards Sustainability

Part IIThe European

Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Part II

Engaging in Local Agenda 21Processes: Local Action Plans

Towards Sustainability

Principles

Initiation ofCampaign

Commitmentto Action

1994

Aalborg Commitments

Hannover Call

Den Haag Statement

Sevilla Declaration

Turku Statement

Sofia Statement

Aalborg Charter

Lisbon Action Plan

1.5 European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign Milestones 1994 - 2004

2nd ConferenceLisbon, Portugal1996

Northeast ConferenceTurku, Finland1998

1994 1st ConferenceAalborg, Denmark

Southeast ConferenceSofia, Bulgaria

Northwest ConferenceThe Hague, Netherlands

Southwest ConferenceSevilla, Spain1999

2000 3rd ConferenceHannover, Germany

Cam

paig

n

2004 4rd ConferenceAalborg, Denmark

1.6 ESCT Campaign participation 94-04

80174

305383

446

627

880

1406 1521

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

RegionalConferences

MilleniumConference

2003

2030

1859

2004

2600JoburgConference

AalborgConference

Aalborg+10Conference

2. Achievements by European Local Government

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)

2.1 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 2004-2014

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

For further info, please visit

www.iclei.org/europe

Thank you !