1. Sustainability’s Context Sustainability – overarching framework –“the ability to maintain a desired condition over time” Sustainable development – underpinning mechanism –“a tool for achieving sustainability, not the desired goal” (Commonwealth Department of Environment, Sport and Territories, 1994, 12)

2. The issue of meaning Sustainability –an abstract noun … thus –contested … but –kept constant by certain principles … and –made relevant to local contexts Thinking ‘both and’ Never permanently held as stable

3. Principles of Sustainability (1) Integration Community involvement Precaution Equity Continual improvement Ecological integrity

4. Refining the idea of integration a b c

5. Principles of sustainability (2) Integration Community involvement Precaution Equity Continual improvement Ecological integrity

6. Principles of sustainability (3) Integration Community involvement Precaution Equity Continual improvement Ecological integrity

7. Principles of sustainability (4) Integration Community involvement Precaution Equity Continual improvement Ecological integrity

8. Principles of sustainability (5) Integration Community involvement Precaution Equity Continual improvement Ecological integrity

9. Principles of sustainability (6) Integration Community involvement Precaution Equity Continual improvement Ecological integrity

10. Critical resources Natural Energy Land & water Flora & fauna Materials & Nutrients Socio-economic Information Population Labour &Capital Cultural Organization Beliefs Myth Social cycles Physiological Individual Institutional Environmental Social order Identity Social norms Hierarchy Age Informal Wealth Gender Formal Power Class Status Caste Knowledge Clan Territory Social institutions Health Justice Faith Commerce Education Leisure Government Sustenance Social system Human ecosystem

11. Agenda 21 – What is it? Global framework to enable more sustainable living 172 signatories 40 chapters based around certain programme areas –Basis for action –Objectives –Activities –Means of implementation

12. Agenda 21 – Major Groups Section I. Social and Economic Dimensions Section II. Conservation and Management of Resources for Development Section III. Strengthening The Role Of Major Groups Section IV. Means of Implementation

13. Agenda 21 - Participation 23.2 One of the fundamental prerequisites for the achievement of sustainable development is broad public participation in decision-making. Furthermore, in the more specific context of environment and development, the need for new forms of participation has emerged … Individuals, groups and organizations should have access to information relevant to environment and development … likely to have a significant impact …

14. 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.

15. 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).

16. 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

17. What’s 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

18. oSharing environment-development information and expertise oUnderstanding and accepting environment-development interaction oBuilding environmental planning and management capacities oPromoting system wide decision-making oStakeholder based development prioritisation, strategy and action planning oManaging environmental resources and risks for achieving sustainable development oLeveraging resources for lasting change oBuilding inter-agency partnerships, facilitating global exchange of experiences and know-how UN Habitat Sustainable cities