A-21: LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Distr.
GENERAL
A/CONF.151/26 (Vol. III)
14 August 1992
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON
ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
(Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992)
Chapter 28
LOCAL AUTHORITIES' 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.
END OF CHAPTER 28
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=============================RRojas Research Unit/1996=================
