Agenda 21
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Chapter 28. Local Authorties' Initiatives in Support of Agenda 21
Programme Area
Basis for action
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.
Objectives
28.2. The following objectives are proposed for this programme area:
(a) By 1996, most local authorities in each country should have undertaken a
consultative process with their populations and achieved a consensus on "a local
Agenda 21" for the community;
(b) By 1993, the international community should have initiated a consultative process
aimed at increasing cooperation between local authorities;
(c) By 1994, representatives of associations of cities and other local authorities
should have increased levels of cooperation and coordination with the goal of enhancing
the exchange of information and experience among local authorities;
(d) All local authorities in each country should be encouraged to implement and monitor
programmes which aim at ensuring that women and youth are represented in decision-making,
planning and implementation processes.
Activities
28.3. Each local authority should enter into a dialogue with its citizens, local
organizations and private enterprises and adopt "a local Agenda 21". Through
consultation and consensus-building, local authorities would learn from citizens and from
local, civic, community, business and industrial organizations and acquire the information
needed for formulating the best strategies. The process of consultation would increase
household awareness of sustainable development issues. Local authority programmes,
policies, laws and regulations to achieve Agenda 21 objectives would be assessed and
modified, based on local programmes adopted. Strategies could also be used in supporting
proposals for local, national, regional and international funding.
28.4. Partnerships should be fostered among relevant organs and organizations such as
UNDP, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and UNEP, the World Bank,
regional banks, the International Union of Local Authorities, the World Association of the
Major Metropolises, Summit of Great Cities of the World, the United Towns Organization and
other relevant partners, with a view to mobilizing increased international support for
local authority programmes. An important goal would be to support, extend and improve
existing institutions working in the field of local authority capacity-building and local
environment management. For this purpose:
(a) Habitat and other relevant organs and organizations of the United Nations system
are called upon to strengthen services in collecting information on strategies of local
authorities, in particular for those that need international support;
(b) Periodic consultations involving both international partners and developing
countries could review strategies and consider how such international support could best
be mobilized. Such a sectoral consultation would complement concurrent country-focused
consultations, such as those taking place in consultative groups and round tables.
28.5. Representatives of associations of local authorities are encouraged to establish
processes to increase the exchange of information, experience and mutual technical
assistance among local authorities.
Means of implementation
(a) Financing and cost evaluation
28.6. It is recommended that all parties reassess funding needs in this area. The
Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) for
strengthening international secretariat services for implementing the activities in this
chapter to be about $1 million on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and
order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments.
(b) Human resource development and capacity-building
28.7. This programme should facilitate the capacity-building and training activities
already contained in other chapters of Agenda 21.
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