Major Group: Local Authorities
Local Authority statement on Objectives during the Rio2012
PrepCom II
Delivered by Susanne Salz, ICLEI – Local Governments for
Sustainability, on 7 March 2011
Thank you, Chair.
While renewed political commitment is first of all needed from the UN
member states, others actors do have a role to play in that respect as well.
As the level of government closest to the citizens, local authorities can
help to link the people to the global processes. This can help to secure
renewed political commitment.
We need to assess the progress to date on a global level. The global
situation is made up of countless local circumstances. The 1992 Earth
Summit adopted Local Agenda 21, which led to tangible improvements
in local sustainability in cities and towns around the world. To
contribute to a global assessment 20 years on, a study is being done of
Local Agenda 21 and other local sustainability processes, to establish
what has worked and what has not in order to draw lessons for the future.
There are several new and emerging issues the world faces. One of them
of particular relevance to Local Authorities is urbanization. By 2050, it
is estimated that over 6 billion people will live in urban areas, which
means almost twice as many people as today. This poses huge
challenges as well as opportunities. While some aspects are unique to
each city, there are also some commonalities to the trends of
urbanization. Recognition of urbanization as one key emerging issue the
world needs to address would help to turn the challenges of urbanization
into opportunities.
PrepCom II
Delivered by Susanne Salz, ICLEI – Local Governments for
Sustainability, on 7 March 2011
Thank you, Chair.
While renewed political commitment is first of all needed from the UN
member states, others actors do have a role to play in that respect as well.
As the level of government closest to the citizens, local authorities can
help to link the people to the global processes. This can help to secure
renewed political commitment.
We need to assess the progress to date on a global level. The global
situation is made up of countless local circumstances. The 1992 Earth
Summit adopted Local Agenda 21, which led to tangible improvements
in local sustainability in cities and towns around the world. To
contribute to a global assessment 20 years on, a study is being done of
Local Agenda 21 and other local sustainability processes, to establish
what has worked and what has not in order to draw lessons for the future.
There are several new and emerging issues the world faces. One of them
of particular relevance to Local Authorities is urbanization. By 2050, it
is estimated that over 6 billion people will live in urban areas, which
means almost twice as many people as today. This poses huge
challenges as well as opportunities. While some aspects are unique to
each city, there are also some commonalities to the trends of
urbanization. Recognition of urbanization as one key emerging issue the
world needs to address would help to turn the challenges of urbanization
into opportunities.