Major Group: Local Authorities
Local Authority statement on outcomes during the Rio2012
PrepCom II
Delivered by Susanne Salz, ICLEI – Local Governments for
Sustainability, on 7 March 2011
Thank you, Chair.
The Local Authority Major Group has something to contribute to all
three objectives and both themes.
Some of the progress to date was made at the local level, including by
the thousands of Local Agenda 21 processes. We will come to Rio next
year with a critical evaluation of these processes as well as proposed
next steps.
One of the emerging issues the planet is facing is urbanization. Local
Authorities are at the forefront of dealing with the challenges and
opportunities urbanization poses.
We recommend that the Rio2012 outcome on a Green Economy
includes a section on Green Urban Economy. Numerous Local
Governments and Cities around the world are taking innovative actions.
Many more could do so if they were better enabled and supported by
international frameworks, national governments and other actors.
Local and subnational governments can be a crucial part of the global
transition to a Green Economy, and many are already making it happen
on the ground.
On the institutional framework for sustainable development, one of the
issues we urge UN member states to consider is the multiplicity of actors
in the world today. The governments of the world’s sovereign states and
the United Nations system continue to be the primary actors in the field
of sustainable development governance. They can draw on important
activities by other actors, such as business, local government and civil
society. These non-nation-state actors significantly contribute to
sustainable development. The institutional framework for sustainable
development should take this into consideration.
PrepCom II
Delivered by Susanne Salz, ICLEI – Local Governments for
Sustainability, on 7 March 2011
Thank you, Chair.
The Local Authority Major Group has something to contribute to all
three objectives and both themes.
Some of the progress to date was made at the local level, including by
the thousands of Local Agenda 21 processes. We will come to Rio next
year with a critical evaluation of these processes as well as proposed
next steps.
One of the emerging issues the planet is facing is urbanization. Local
Authorities are at the forefront of dealing with the challenges and
opportunities urbanization poses.
We recommend that the Rio2012 outcome on a Green Economy
includes a section on Green Urban Economy. Numerous Local
Governments and Cities around the world are taking innovative actions.
Many more could do so if they were better enabled and supported by
international frameworks, national governments and other actors.
Local and subnational governments can be a crucial part of the global
transition to a Green Economy, and many are already making it happen
on the ground.
On the institutional framework for sustainable development, one of the
issues we urge UN member states to consider is the multiplicity of actors
in the world today. The governments of the world’s sovereign states and
the United Nations system continue to be the primary actors in the field
of sustainable development governance. They can draw on important
activities by other actors, such as business, local government and civil
society. These non-nation-state actors significantly contribute to
sustainable development. The institutional framework for sustainable
development should take this into consideration.