MULTI-STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE
CSD-14
Thursday, May 11, 2006
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for allowing me the honour of speaking on behalf of local
governments worldwide.
Cities, now home to more than half of the world?s population, are implementing policies,
programs and projects that integrate social, economic, environmental and cultural
sustainability.
In fact, municipal leaders have the extraordinary ability to CHANGE the current trend of
climate change, through local policies and actions that will meet or exceed targets set by
sub- national and national governments.
Many local governments own and operate power plants and make decisions on energy
sources. Local governments own and operate buildings, vehicles and facilities such as
street lighting, waste management systems, and water supply and treatment. They also
make decisions on transportation and transit systems. All of these responsibilities
influence energy use, industrial development, air quality and climate change action, and
public procurement.
Local governments, however, face the challenge of providing essential services,
improving and extending service delivery to meet growing needs, while eradicating
poverty and inequitable access to basic services.
Local governments are therefore key stakeholders in the implementation of Agenda 21
and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and to the achievement of the Millenium
Development Goals.
(Commitments)
Many local governments have committed to reducing water consumption and improving
local water quality through a milestone process that includes specific targets for water
conservation and water quality. ICLEI ? Local Governments for Sustainability will be
reporting on these water targets in 2008, when CSD will be reviewing progress on water
issues.
Many local governments have committed to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions. They will meet these commitments together, by improving and advancing the
exchange of data monitoring, skills, technologies, tools, publications and experience.
They have further committed to minimizing the dependence on fossil fuel energy through
sustainable land use that encourages public transit, reduces automobile reliance, and
improves energy efficiency.
(To Meet these Commitments)
To meet these commitments, local governments need to partner with national and subnational
governments to enhance the technical, human and financial capacity of local
governments, and their legislative authority.
To meet these commitments, local governments need to be fully engaged when strategic
decisions on sustainable development and climate change policies are made.
To meet these commitments, local governments need to be engaged in the reform of
global trade regimes, credits and banking reserve rules to advance debt relief and
incentives for technologies and actions that allow for sustainable growth.
To meet these commitments, local governments need to be recognized and supported for
utilizing and promoting renewable energy sources, ensuring sound development, and
promoting clean air practices.
Collective global action and agreement is needed to make existing cities and emerging
cities of the future more sustainable, less reliant on the depletion of the world?s dwindling
natural resources, and better able to accommodate the needs of all its local communities
without deepening the current levels of poverty and inequality.
Honourable delegates, local governments NEED to be fully engaged in all strategies that
will achieve sustainable growth.
Thank you.
