Major Group: Local Authorities
c
INPUTBYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHE INTERNATIONAL
COUNCIL FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES-LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINAIBILITY, EXECUTIVE MAYOR
OF THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG, COUNCILLOR AMOS
MASONDO TO THE 12TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
VENUE: CONFERENCE ROOM 1, UNITED NATIONS PLAZA,
NEW YORK
DATE:
19TH APRIL 2004
Chairman of the 12th Commission on Sustainable Development,
Norwegian Minister of Environment, Honourable Minister Borge
Brende of Norway,
Various Ministers and Ambassadors present from across the
world,
Executive Directc ; of UN-Habitat, Ms Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka,
G
Executive Director of UNEP, Dr Klaus Topfer,
Various experts on Sustainable Development,
Representatives of Major Groups,
All protocols observed .
1
1
Chair erson ,
It is a great privilege and an honour for me to say a few words at
this important meeting .
Since the hosting of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg in 2002, local governments globally
have aligned themselves with the outcomes of the world Summit
on Sustainable Development_ (WSSD) and are implementing the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation as evidenced in the Local
Government Action on Water, Sanitation, and Human Settlements
- See: Case Summaries Background Paper No 5 .
Mr. Chairman, local government is the sphere of government
closest to the people and most accountable for service delivery .
We welcome the programme set out by the Commission for
Sustainable Development in ensuring that the Joburg Plan of
Implementation does not remain a rhetoric but that actual
implementation is taking place .
Worldwide Local Governments are facin g the challenge of
urbanisation brought about by the movement of people from rural
2
lar eastourbancentres . This is especially so in developing
countries . In Africa alone, UN Habitat estimate that a hundred
million more people, by the year 2010, will be residing in cities and
towns .
Our experience also indicates that notwithstanding some of the
difficulties that Local Government face, great strides have been
made at the local level in terms of service delivery on housing,
water and sanitation. It is important to note, however, that the
challenge of accessing financial resources and mechanisms to
provide bulk infrastructure still remains .
Capacity building is a key to successful implementation and it is
imperative that local decision makers are empowered to achieve
meaningful implementation levels .
3
Mr. Chairman, lack of access to basic services such as water and
sanitation hampers the creation of sustainable settlements . Due to
the water crisis faced by many countries it is imperative that
mechanisms for the supply of water takes into account water
demand mana ement strategies that address shortages . We
therefore call for the development of Integrated Water Resource
Management strategies .
On sanitation, there is a need to ensure that access is provided in
a safe and affordable manner. Local Government calls for
integrated settlement planning which will integrate settlement
planning with provision of basic services such as housing, water
and sanitation.
will result in the creation of sustainable urban
settlements . n
Mr. Chairman, whilst we note that in some instances, local
governments are not able to address the challenge of creating
sustainable urban settlements due to the lack of clear mandates,
we welcome and note the debates on decentralisation being driven
by UN HABITAT. We would like to see more clarification of
mandates for Local Government followed by the requisite
resources flowing from our national governments . This will result in
empowering Local Government to deal with service delivery issues
within their localities .
In addition to the lack of financial instruments, successful h uman
settlements must include in addition to the provision of water and
sanitation, attention to the provision of infrastructure and other
basic services, health care, transportation, education and energy .
Local Government welcomes efforts being made by some
s
intergovernmental and national governments in ensuring that local
Government is best positioned to respond to the challen e~s of
service delivery on water, sanitation and human settlements . We
are in full agreement with the Executive Director of UN-Habitat that
the provision of basic services and slum upgrading must become
the core business for Local and National Government alike and
that it should receive ade uate su ort from international fi a ._I
institutions and development agencies .
in
Finally, as Local Government, we re-affirm our unwavering
commitment to ensuring that the Joburg Plan of Implementation
becomes a reality . Let us work together to build a better tomorrow .
Thank you for very much for your attention .
s
INPUTBYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHE INTERNATIONAL
COUNCIL FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES-LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINAIBILITY, EXECUTIVE MAYOR
OF THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG, COUNCILLOR AMOS
MASONDO TO THE 12TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
VENUE: CONFERENCE ROOM 1, UNITED NATIONS PLAZA,
NEW YORK
DATE:
19TH APRIL 2004
Chairman of the 12th Commission on Sustainable Development,
Norwegian Minister of Environment, Honourable Minister Borge
Brende of Norway,
Various Ministers and Ambassadors present from across the
world,
Executive Directc ; of UN-Habitat, Ms Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka,
G
Executive Director of UNEP, Dr Klaus Topfer,
Various experts on Sustainable Development,
Representatives of Major Groups,
All protocols observed .
1
1
Chair erson ,
It is a great privilege and an honour for me to say a few words at
this important meeting .
Since the hosting of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg in 2002, local governments globally
have aligned themselves with the outcomes of the world Summit
on Sustainable Development_ (WSSD) and are implementing the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation as evidenced in the Local
Government Action on Water, Sanitation, and Human Settlements
- See: Case Summaries Background Paper No 5 .
Mr. Chairman, local government is the sphere of government
closest to the people and most accountable for service delivery .
We welcome the programme set out by the Commission for
Sustainable Development in ensuring that the Joburg Plan of
Implementation does not remain a rhetoric but that actual
implementation is taking place .
Worldwide Local Governments are facin g the challenge of
urbanisation brought about by the movement of people from rural
2
lar eastourbancentres . This is especially so in developing
countries . In Africa alone, UN Habitat estimate that a hundred
million more people, by the year 2010, will be residing in cities and
towns .
Our experience also indicates that notwithstanding some of the
difficulties that Local Government face, great strides have been
made at the local level in terms of service delivery on housing,
water and sanitation. It is important to note, however, that the
challenge of accessing financial resources and mechanisms to
provide bulk infrastructure still remains .
Capacity building is a key to successful implementation and it is
imperative that local decision makers are empowered to achieve
meaningful implementation levels .
3
Mr. Chairman, lack of access to basic services such as water and
sanitation hampers the creation of sustainable settlements . Due to
the water crisis faced by many countries it is imperative that
mechanisms for the supply of water takes into account water
demand mana ement strategies that address shortages . We
therefore call for the development of Integrated Water Resource
Management strategies .
On sanitation, there is a need to ensure that access is provided in
a safe and affordable manner. Local Government calls for
integrated settlement planning which will integrate settlement
planning with provision of basic services such as housing, water
and sanitation.
will result in the creation of sustainable urban
settlements . n
Mr. Chairman, whilst we note that in some instances, local
governments are not able to address the challenge of creating
sustainable urban settlements due to the lack of clear mandates,
we welcome and note the debates on decentralisation being driven
by UN HABITAT. We would like to see more clarification of
mandates for Local Government followed by the requisite
resources flowing from our national governments . This will result in
empowering Local Government to deal with service delivery issues
within their localities .
In addition to the lack of financial instruments, successful h uman
settlements must include in addition to the provision of water and
sanitation, attention to the provision of infrastructure and other
basic services, health care, transportation, education and energy .
Local Government welcomes efforts being made by some
s
intergovernmental and national governments in ensuring that local
Government is best positioned to respond to the challen e~s of
service delivery on water, sanitation and human settlements . We
are in full agreement with the Executive Director of UN-Habitat that
the provision of basic services and slum upgrading must become
the core business for Local and National Government alike and
that it should receive ade uate su ort from international fi a ._I
institutions and development agencies .
in
Finally, as Local Government, we re-affirm our unwavering
commitment to ensuring that the Joburg Plan of Implementation
becomes a reality . Let us work together to build a better tomorrow .
Thank you for very much for your attention .
s