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The sustainability challenge for local government – the European experience Bob Evans Sustainable Cities Research Institute Northumbria University Newcastle upon Tyne 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 1 Three themes…….. The nature of the sustainability challenge Governing for local sustainable development Institutional capacity for sustainable development 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 2 Two questions……………. Why do we need to take sustainability seriously? How can sustainability be embedded into local government decision-making? 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 3 Sustainable Development is not a thing – it’s a way of doing things It’s asking the question – can we continue to do this indefinitely? It’s asking the question – what if? It’s about taking our global responsibilities seriously But it’s also about developing our resilience to cope with change 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 4 Why do we need to take sustainability seriously? Because we are altruistic and responsible We care about global warming, our environmental footprint, ‘unseen others’ and as yet unborn generations Because we are self-interested We need to protect ourselves and our children 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 5 Western European societies….. are major consumers of energy and natural resources will inevitably have to reduce their consumption due to price increases, reductions in supply and changes in the global distribution of power 6 London’s ecological footprint… •Equals 49 million global hectares (gha), which is 293 times its geographical area (about twice the size of the UK) •This represents 6.63 global hectares per London resident. (If everyone on the planet had an equal share of the earth’s bioproductive resources, we would each have 2.18 gha.) •If this level of consumption were to be extended world-wide, we would require at least three planets 7 Environmental Space…… Percentage reductions in consumption required in Europe to secure sustainable resource use •Energy use •Fossil fuels •CO2 emissions •Agricultural land •Wood •Aluminium •Cement •Chlorine 50% 75% 77% 57% 55% 90% 85% 100% 8 A quick look into the future……. The problem of exponential growth Energy security and resource use Shifts in global prosperity and power 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 9 Imagine a pond, with a lily in the middle…… …...which doubles its size each year……. ………..and will take 30 years to fill the pond. After 10 years, it’s hardly grown……. And in year 20, it’s not much larger….. But, by the 29th year, it covers half the pond… And in the final year it covers the remaining half 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 10 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 11 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 12 Shifts in global prosperity and power… Currently there are about 1.5 billion people in the global economy 65% of the human population has never made a telephone call. 1/3rd has no access to electricity All indications are that this will change significantly as a consequence of developments in China, India and the Pacific rim 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 13 China is on track to quadruple its economy by 2020 • • If China is to drive cars at the same density as Germany, this will mean 650 million new vehicles Beijing aims to encourage every citizen to eat 200 eggs per year. This = 260 billion eggs = 1.3 billion chickens = a grain crop equal to Australia's annual production India is predicted to replace China as the world’s most populous country by 2050 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 14 Local government has a key role to play in delivering sustainable development but….. Local government cannot achieve this alone The engagement of individuals and local organisations will be essential Local sustainable development is most likely to be achieved when local governments and local communities work together 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 15 Government or Governance? The traditional/normative model: the government – governance continuum Top down Government ‘Bad’ 2015/7/17 Bottom up Governance ‘Good’ 16 The DISCUS Model Governing Government Governance From ‘Governing Sustainable Cities’ by Evans, Joas, Sundbach & Theobald, Earthscan Press, 2004 2015/7/17 17 So governance is……. part of the process of governing and it is the sphere of public debate, partnership, interaction, dialogue and conflict entered into by local citizens and organisations and by local government 2015/7/17 18 Local government is the key to local governance Effective urban governance is nurtured by local government The governance process can build institutional capital The governance process can build social capital 2015/7/17 19 One key task is to develop the institutional capacity of local government………. Institutional capacity may be defined as: the organisational, knowledge and leadership resources of local governments, the possession of which may be a motor for change If sustainable development is regarded as a way of doing things rather than an end in itself, the long term aim must be to embed the principles of sustainability into the day to day actions of local government and other public sector organisations 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 20 INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY….. Administrative Capacity – delivering policy and functions Governance Capacity – managing relationships outside Political Capacity - leadership Intellectual Capacity – knowledge, skills, information 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 21 If local government is to deliver the sustainability agenda……….. there is an urgent need to consider how best to develop institutional capacity at the local level and to invest in this process more advice and support to local government will be needed it will necessary to reappraise and reframe the central-local government relationship to permit greater levels of local autonomy, initiative and creativity 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 22 Professor Bob Evans Sustainable Cities Research Institute Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK [email protected] www.sustainable-cities.org.uk 2015/7/17 ©Sustainable Cities Research Institute 23