In June this year the world will be watching as delegates from countries around the world representing governments, civil society, business and Non Government Organisations meet in Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
Coined as Rio+20, the Conference will look back on 20 years since the Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro and will consider the score card for a more sustainable planet. Unfortunately the score does not look too good despite the many plans and promises that have been made in subsequent conferences, so the world meets to consider: ways to achieve a green economy; means to develop effective structures and processes for an institutional framework for sustainable development; and importantly to develop a commitment to act!
So what has all this to do with local government? Well as many of you will know the 1992 Earth Summit heralded in Local Agenda 21 (LA21) written by the founders of International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and LA21 provides a framework and set of principles that are as relevant today as they were in 1992. In fact the principles have needed no change; what has changed however is the urgency to implement them at a local level and to secure a sustainable future for our communities.
ICLEI will again attend the Rio+20 Conference and take with it many stories of successful application of LA 21 and actions that have secured a better future for their citizens. It will also take stories that have been marked down by a lack of collaboration with other levels of government, business and community. Those learnings will in many ways be more important than the successes as we strive to make a difference; a difference that we must prove by example, as in aggregate they impact on the global environmental, social and economic condition.
In June prior to Rio+20 the Triennial ICLEI World Congress will take place in Belo Horizonte, Brazil to reflect on local governments’ achievements and prepare for the lobbying of national governments at Rio+20. The local government case for a greater piece of the action for a sustainable planet will include a call for the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals that are based on scientific evidence, are quantifiable and verifiable and involve all of the actors including Local Government Organisations such as ICLEI.
The road to sustainability needs to cease ending up in a cul de sac and instead be confronted by a crossroad. At least we will then have to make a decision based on options and opportunities.
*Copy supplied by ICLEI Oceania www.iclei.org/oceania
