POINT OF VIEW
PERSPECTIVE ON DOHA CONFERENCE IN 2012
Making the case that CITY programs are more effective than NATIONAL programs
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Most financial metrics show growth and are therefore considered better
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Stock market
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Intangible value
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Money supply
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World GDP growth
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US GDP growth
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GDP v GPI
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GOOD NIGHT DOHA ... AND WAKE UP
Kay Embren in Stockholm asking the basic question about conference performance, especially in the case of climate change. Surely there is a better way. He suggests the city level would be better than the national level.
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Why should we give any hope to national governments to succeed in a deal on Climate Change. It is a waste of money to take more then 10.000 people to a negotiation in Doha based on false hope. It is time to create a parallel negotiation with city leaders and put the investors money into cities – then you will see results.
National governments have proven that they do not have what is required to meet the global challenges of climate change and the unsustainable use of our planet’s resources. The shortcomings of the latest Rio summit acts as testament to this. With the burden of recession and austerity, short-sighted national governments have thus far shown themselves unable to handle sustainable development issues.
Within the arena of sustainable development, the boundaries of responsibility are undergoing a monumental shift. This allows new actors to take pole position in the creation of new opportunities. Old infrastructures are being replaced by new ones that are better designed to cope with the challenges facing cities and regions.
We should stop directing our attentions and frustrations towards impotent governments. Instead we must focus on more localized models that simmer from below but come to influence and inspire national actors to greater action.
Better levels of engagement and the development of local and international networks have prompted a wider range of actors to become involved in sustainability, from both within and outside the market. The umbrella term for this is usually ‘Sustainable Cities’, but as we say in Sweden, ‘a loved child has many names’.
Over the past five years we have seen several strong international networks emerge from municipalities and regions. To get a wider understanding of this phenomenon I undertook some research that shows just how many locally-focussed organizations use their involvement in these networks to bring about sustainable solutions that can have a real impact. I must say that I was impressed by what I found and you can read the full report here. (Text copied below)
But the question in front of Doha is now – where is the Mayors that will take the lead?
Stockholm 22nd of November 2012
Kaj Embrén
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Network with focus on Sustainable cities and regions
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International networks
1. United Cities and Local Governments – Founded in 2004, UCLG is an umbrella organisation for local governments in international sphere, represented by over 1,000 cities across 95 countries, and 112 Local Government Association. Due to its wide representation, the structure of UCLG is set to improve an effective representation of local governments in global governance. In parallel, the work of 12 committees and 6 work groups, ensure that the organisation cover a wide range of matters. Moreover, UCLG has actively produced reports and events on important global issues, such as climate change. An interesting compilation can be found on their website.
Source: http://www.cities-localgovernments.org/
1.1 Regional programmes
1.1.1 United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) – The UCLGA is the umbrella organization to promote integration of local governments in Africa. It gathers 40 national associations of local governments and 2,000 cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants from all regions of Africa.
Find more on their major events, Africities Summit and Exhibition on:
http://www.africities.org/an and
http://africitessalon.org/en
Source: http://www.uclga.org/pages/homepage/?#1
1.1.2 Federación Latinoamericana de Ciudades, Municipios y Asociaciones (FLACMA) / Latin American Federation of Cities, Municipalities and Associations of Local Governments – Founded in 2004, FLACMA has over 16,100 members in local governments, being the largest and most representative organisation in Latin America and Caribbean.
Find more on their environmental initiatives on:
http://www.portalambientallatinoamericano.com/ (In Spanish)
Source: http://www.flacma.com/
1.1.3 UCGL Euro-Asian Regional Section – The youngest regional section of UCGL consists of more than 100 cities and local government associations. The office collaborates with many United Nations initiatives and programmes in the region, such as UN-Habitat.
Source: http://www.euroasia-uclg.ru/index.php?lang=en
1.1.4 UCGL- Asia-Pacific – Based in Jakarta, UCGL-ASPAC is the biggest sections in UCLG, with linkages to more than 7.000 local governments. It represents well over 3.76 billion people - more than half of the world population - and incorporates economically fast developing countries such as China, India and Indonesia.
Source: http://www.uclg-aspac.org/
1.1.5 Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) – The European section of UCLG dates back in 1951, and stands as the largest organisation of local and regional governments in Europe, having more than 50 associations of towns from over 40 countries. CEMR has been actively involved in the European Sustainable cities and towns campaign, and supports the exchange of experience in the field of local sustainability.
Source: http://www.ccre.org/en/
1.1.6 UCLG-Middle East and West Asia (MEWA) – The foundation of this alliance dates back in 1987. In 2004, MEWA became a regional section of UCLG, counting with more than 20 members.
Source: http://www.uclg-mewa.org/
1.1.7 METROPOLIS Network (World Association of Major Metropolises) – Organisation that gathers cities and metropolitan regions with more than a million inhabitants. It was created in 1985 and currently consists of over 120 members. Find more about the triennial congress and other interesting initiatives on: http://www.metropolis.org/main-activities and http://www.metropolis.org/initiatives
Source: http://www.metropolis.org/
1.1.8 Union of the Baltic Cities
106 cities in an organisation around the Baltic Sea. Main focus on Sustainability and environmental issues. Established 1991.
http://www.ubc-environment.net
visit the database of 500 good practise implemented by cities at
http://www.ubcwheel.eu/
2. International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives – ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) – Association of over 120 local government members, coming from 70 different countries, with 14 offices around the world. Founded in 2003, the organisation provides technical consulting, training and information services for cities and many other networks.
Find more on their Sustainable Cities Programme on:
http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=801
Source: http://www.iclei.org/
3. C40 (Large Cities Climate Leadership Group) – Founded in 2005, the group is an international network of ca. 60 megacities taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2006, it works in collaboration with Clinton Foundation’s Climate Initiative, who provides technical and communication support. C40 has developed an online platform for cities’ representatives to share information and interesting ideas related to sustainable development. It counts with the World Bank and ICLEI as its main partners to accelerate climate action in cities through streamlined financing, greenhouse gas accounting and uniform reporting.
Find more on:
http://live.c40cities.org/
Source: http://www.c40cities.org/
4. Clinton Foundation’s Climate Initiative – The foundation implements programs that create and advance solutions to the root causes of climate change. Among other major programmes, CCI, in partnership with the C40 Climate Leadership Group (C40), focuses on helping large cities reduce their carbon emissions. CI-Cities aims at combining the efforts of C40 members (58 cities) and preeminent climate action organisations in the world.
Find more on CI-C40 Cities Alliance and its initiatives on:
http://www.clintonfoundation.org/main/our-work/by-initiative/clinton-climate-initiative/programs/c40-cci-cities.html
Source: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/main/our-work/by-initiative/clinton-climate-initiative/about.html
5. World Mayor Council on Climate Change – Founded in 2005, WMCCC is an alliance of local government leaders committed to climate change. They advocate for enhanced engagement of local governments in issues of global sustainability, such as reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The organisation is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, and supported technically and strategically by the ICLEI.
Find more on Cities Climates Registry (database of sustainable actions taken by cities):
http://citiesclimateregistry.org/
Source: http://www.worldmayorscouncil.org/
6. Sustainable Cities Network – Created in 1992, the organisation is an active network of over 40 international cities embracing long-term urban sustainability.
Source: http://www.sustainablecities.net/
7. United Nations
7.1 United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) – This is the United Nations agency for human settlements. Based on the UN General Assembly’s will to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all, UN-Habitat has 3 regional and 5 liaison offices. It works in close connection with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the Sustainable Cities Programme. Find more on:
http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?typeid=19&catid=540&cid=5025
Source: http://www.unhabitat.org/
7.2 United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) – The UN office launched a campaign called ‘Making cities resilient’, engaging over 1,000 cities, towns and local governments in improving their ability to cope when natural disasters hit.
Source: http://www.unisdr.org/campaign/resilientcities/
8. World Bank – The organisation has carried many initiatives devoted to promoting urban development and sustainable cities. Find more on the latest debate of practitioners on the institutional blog:
http://blogs.worldbank.org/sustainablecities/about-us
Source: http://go.worldbank.org/NMQBWKVX90
9. Cities Alliance – Global partnership of cities for urban poverty reduction and the promotion of the role of cities in sustainable development. Created in 1999, the alliance focus on management of cities where slum growth is taking place. It counts with the institutional support of many international and regional organisations, such as UN-Habitat, World Bank, and European Union.
Source: http://www.citiesalliance.org/
10. World e-Governments Organisation of Cities and Local Governments (WeGO) – International cooperative body for cities and local governments, that aims at improving the life quality with IT-led public administration. Created in 2008, the organisation already counts with over 50 members.
Source: http://www.we-gov.org/history
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Regional networks
1. Latin America
1.1 Mercociudades – Mercociudades is a forum created in 1995. It is the largest group of municipalities in South America, consisting of over 160 cities. Besides working as a Consultancy Forum that constantly advocates towards the enforcement of sustainable measures, they actively organise annual summits. The programme on solid waste has been their main priority in the past years.
Source: http://www.mercociudades.org/ (In Spanish)
1.2 Unión Iberoamericana de Municipalistas (Iberoamerican Union of Municipality Authorities – UIM) – UIM promotes cooperation between local governments to favour the development of autonomous local communities. Its members (around 600) are mayors and officials of municipalities (mostly medium sized cities) in Latin America.
Source: http://www.uimunicipalistas.org/#/sobrelauim.txt (In Spanish)
1.3 Federación de Municipios del Istmo Centroamericano (FEMICA) – Federation of Central American Municipalities – Organisation created in 1991, that comprises logal government representatives in Central America.
Source: http://www.femica.org/ (In Spanish)
2. Asia
2.1 Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) – Multi-donor programme assisting medium sized Asian cities to bridge the gap between their development plans and the implementation of their infrastructure investments. Emphasis in climate change and urban governance.
Source: http://www.cdia.asia/
2.2 CAI-Asia – The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities – The organisation promotes innovative ways to improve the air quality of Asian cities through partnerships and sharing experiences. It comprises a network of government agencies, NGOs, research institutes, international organizations, and private sector firms.
2.3 CITYNET (The Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements) – Network committed to helping local authorities improve the lives of its citizens and create the urban sustainability across Asia-Pacific and beyond. It has over 120 members, i.e. local governments and organisations.
Source: http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia
3. Europe
3.1 Committee of the Regions (CoR) – Created in 1994, CoR is the European Union’s Assembly of local and regional representatives. It is constituted by 344 members (regional presidents, mayors or elected represented of regions and cities), compromised in causing a direct impact on citizens. Special attention is given to sustainable development in many programs, such as the Climate Change & Energy, Convenant of Mayors and European Green Capital. Find more on:
http://cor.europa.eu/en/activities/Pages/priorities.aspx,
http://www.eumayors.eu/index_en.html and
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/index_en.htm
Source: http://cor.europa.eu/en/
3.2 MEDCITIES – Network of over 28 Mediterranean coastal towns and cities belonging to 20 different countries. The main objective of Medcities is to examine the problems, constraints and needs of the Mediterranean coastal towns concerning environmental protection and management and to solve them in the framework of a sustainable development.
Source: http://www.medcities.org/
3.3 Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling and Sustainable Resource management (ACR+) – International network of members who share the common aim of promoting the sustainable consumption of resources and management of waste through prevention at the source, reuse and recycling. It has currently nearly 100 members, mainly local and regional authorities as well as national networks of local authorities representing around 1100 municipalities.
Source: http://www.acrplus.org/
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Local Government Associations
1. Brazil – Frente Nacional de Prefeitos (National Front of Mayors – FNP) – FNP is a Brazilian organisation that aims at connecting the interests of local governments, in order to strengthen their autonomy, cooperation and participation in the national sphere. It is constituted by over 30 cities.
Source: http://www.fnp.org.br/home.jsf (In Portuguese)
2. India – City Managers Association of India (CMA) – Created in 1997, the association gathers more than 1,500 urban local bodies across the country and works in close association with City/Country Management Association (ICMA).
Source: http://www.umcasia.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=68
3. China – China Association of Mayors (CAM) – Established in 1991, CAM has about 6,000 members and 658 cities over the country. It has been carrying out cooperation agreements with local organisations of over 30 countries, in order to accelerate economical development of cities. China and European Union signed a partnership in June 2012. Find more information on:
http://www.eumayors.eu/news_en.html?id_news=373
Source: http://www.citieschina.org/en/
4. South Korea – Governors Association of Korea – Established in 1999, the association comprises 16 cities and municipalities and aims for balanced regional growth and enhanced economy, based on the principle of sustainable development.
Source: http://www.gaok.or.kr/eng/e01_intro/intro010.jsp
5. Canada – Federation of Canadian Municipalities – The federation stands as the most representative local government organisation in the country, comprising over 2,000 municipalities.
Source: http://www.fcm.ca/
6. Sweden – Klimat Kommunerna –
Source: http://www.klimatkommunerna.se/
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