Local Sustainability, Local Government and the State

1
Local Sustainability, Local Government and the
State

• Drivers ? Participation ? Partnerships

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Local governments and Agenda 21

• 28.1 Because so many of the problems and
  solutions being addressed by Agenda 21 have their
  roots in local activities, the participation and
  cooperation of local authorities will be a
  determining factor in fulfilling its objectives.
  Local authorities construct, operate and maintain
  economic, social and environmental
  infrastructure, oversee planning processes,
  establish local environmental policies and
  regulations, and assist in implementing national
  and subnational environmental policies. As the
  level of governance closest to the people, they
  play a vital role in educating, mobilizing and
  responding to the public to promote sustainable
  development.

3
Local Agenda 21 Defined

• Local Agenda 21 is a participatory multisectoral
  process to achieve the goals of Agenda 21 at the
  local level through the preparation and
  implementation of a long-term strategic action
  plan that addresses priority local sustainability
  concerns
• (ICLEI, no date).

4
Local Agenda 21 Benefits

• Meet statutory requirements
• Enhance participation and citizenship
• Improve intergovernmental relations
• Improve relations with community
• Plan for the long term
• Integrate and coordinate policies and practices
• Foster the exercise of leadership and initiative

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Local Agenda 21 Whats not happening?

• Ongoing participation
• Meaningful, sustained and robust integration
• Within councils
• Beyond environmental issues
• Slippage back in to short-termism
• Inadequate resourcing
• Lack of continuity
• Turnover
• Dispensibility
• Training

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Corporate drivers

• Sustainability training
• Leading by example
• Corporate sustainability policy
• Policy assessment for sustainability implications
• Evaluation and monitoring indicators
• Targets and goals
• Rules, standing orders, financial regulations
• Management structures

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Sustainability training

• Utilize existing training frameworks to
  incorporate improved sustainability performance
• Marrickville Council

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Leading from the top

• Example from senior management
• promote new initiatives
• encourage more sustainable practices
• seriousness of Councils intention

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Corporate Sustainability Policy

• Policy integration
• All pulling together
• Evaluation of Council operations
• Assessment of budget impacts
• Fulfillment of targets

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Targets and goals

• Drive up performance
• Clearly defined
• Deadlines set
• Responsible bodies determined
• Adequate resourcing
• Compliance managed
• Role for council champions

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Rules, Standing Orders, Financial Regulations

• Statutory duties of care?

12
Management structures

• Rules, standing orders, financial regulation
• Monitor operational effectiveness
• Inform policy modifications
• Audits

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Partnerships

• Characteristic of LA21
• Implement sustainability
• Build social capital and trust
• South Australian example - Inter-Council
• ESD agenda
• Professional LA21 officer
• Combined council and community committees
• Results