Halimaton Saadiah Hashim, Ph.D

Senior Fellow

Institute for Environment & Development (LESTARI)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Presentation outline:

1. Why A21Sel?

2. About the A21Sel Project, 1998-2003

3. Overview of A21Sel

4. Is A21Sel still relevant?

5. The Way Forward for A21Sel

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Why A21Sel? 1. In 1998, ‘Selangor A Developed State by 2005’ was just

around the corner - 15 years earlier than Malaysia!

2. There were many unsustainable development indicators in Selangor in the 1990’s

3. There was (is) no specific Malaysian sustainable development strategy in the form of Agenda 21 as recommended by the UN Agenda 21, although its principles have been embedded in the five-year Malaysia Plans

4. Need for an operational definition, principles, strategies and action plan to form a policy framework for Local Agenda 21 by local authorities and stakeholders in Selangor

5. Need for an Action Plan for Implementation of Sustainable Development to guide Selangor to be a sustainable developed state by 2005 and beyond

Why A21Sel?...Unsustainable development indicators in Selangor in the 1990’s

Increasing geohazards

Land slides, flash floods, sedimentation, river banks

erosion, increasing sink holes

Worsening air pollution

Declining river water quality

Extreme weather conditions

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Why A21Sel?...Unsustainable development indicators in Selangor in the 1990’s

Declining ethnic integration

Need for national integration

Declining moral behaviour

Youths with low morals

White collar crimes

Money politics

Weaknesses in the marriage institutions

Materialistic values

Individualistic values

Religious fanatism

Environmental deterioration

Destruction and loss of

natural resources

Imbalance welfare

between ethnic groups and

urban-rural divide

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6

DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENTALLY

SENSITIVE AREAS

Development has

encroached on to

environmentally

sensitive areas,

particularly in

Petaling, Klang and

Gombak districts

MAIN CHALLENGE

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT IN

SELANGOR

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DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

•All rivers are medium

polluted or polluted, except

Sg. Selangor

•Change of land use around

Sg.Buloh and Sg. Klang have

influenced the deterioration

of water quality

•Sg. Buloh and Sg. Klang

were categorised as

polluted in 2000.

River water quality

Development Goalsof Selangor as A Developed State HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE

Community well-being (peaceful, healthy,

comfortable, wealthy)

Infrastructure and utility development

Healthy and sustainable economy

Adequate public facilities and services

Urban and rural cleanliness

Beautiful and tranquil landscapes

Healthy and sustainable environments

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The A21Sel project…

Initiated by the Selangor Town & Country Planning Department (JPBD Sel.) in 1998

Support by the Menteri Besar and State Secretary as well as approved and financed by the Selangor State Government in 1998

Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), UKM as TCPD Sel.’s research partner and project collaborator (1998 – 2003)

Participation of and consultation with government agencies, local authorities, NGOs and private sector representatives

The A21Sel Project 1998-2003

Goal: To realize Sel’s commitment towards SD through the formulation of an implementation approach and enhancement of the capacity of state implementing agencies, local authorities, the private sector and local communities to pursue SD objectives

Objectives:

1. Identify ESA status and devise guidelines

2. Prescribe strategies based on the UN Agenda 21, in accordance with local socio-economic conditions & resources

3. Formulate an action plan based on the Strategy for SD of Sel

4. Conduct pilot studies for the implementation of A21Sel

5. Devise guidelines for the implementation of A21Sel

6. Build the capacity of Sel state agencies, local authorities and local communities through networking and outreach activities

Selangor’s commitment towards sustainable development, 1999

1. Building knowledgeable communities

2. Protecting the ecosystem health

3. Strengthening the economic foundation

4. Ensuring that natural resources are efficiently and sustainably exploited

5. Enhancing high productivity agricultural activities

6. Ensuring liveable settlements

7. Providing adequate infrastructure

8. Developing human resources

9. Public participation in planning and management

10. Integration of susttainable development principles 11

A21Sel – The guiding documents

Important project components/documents of A21Sel:

1. Selangor’s Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in Kawasan Sensitif Alam Sekitar (KSAS) Selangor, 1999

2. Sustainable Development Commitment in Iltizam Pembangunan Mampan Selangor ,1999

3. Selangor’s Sustainable Development Strategy in Strategi Pembangunan Mampan Selangor, 2000

4. Selangor Agenda 21 in Agenda 21 Selangor, 2001

5. Guideline for the Implementation of A21Sel in Panduan Perlaksanaan Agenda 21 Selangor, 2002

6. A21Sel – Selangor’s Commitment Towards Sustainable Development in Agenda 21 Selangor – Iltizam Selangor Ke Arah Pembangunan Mampan, 2003

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Doc 1: Selangor’s ESAs (KSAS), 1999

Main objective: to identify Selangor’s ESAs; suggest development strategies; & suggest development guideline policies

Specific objectives:

1. To obtain an agreement on the concept and definition of ESAs

2. To inentorise the status of Sel’s ESAs

3. To assess the status of development of ESAs & predict impacts

4. To introduce the concept of Integrated ESAs

5. To introduce strategies for development in & arounds ESAs

6. To prepare guidelines for the development of ESAs in Selangor

1. The Sel ESA Policy was approved by SPC in April 1999 & by the State EXCO in June 1999

Doc 2: Sel Sust Devt Strategy, 2000 Sel accepts UNCED’s definition of SD

Operational definitions were introduced based on the philosophy, requirement and approach of development currently taking place:

“development that requires a reformation of the economy that takes into serious account the impact of development on the environment, natural resources and society.”

“development that is enduring, characterised by a philosophy of respecting the carrying capacity of natural resources, preserving the quality of the environment and ensuring the well-being of society”.

Basic principles of Sel SD strategies 1. Principle of Holistic Approach: The framework for

sustainable development is the foundation for decision-making processes in all sectors and at all levels of administration of development in Selangor

2. Principle of Integration: Planning for de velopment is effectuated in an integrated manner, taking into account the views of all stakeholders

3. Principle of Inter-relatedness: Development in one sector has a close relationship with development in others and this should always be taken into account in all development measures

4. Principle of Incremental Change: In planning, decision-making processes and implementation of development, all parties should make incremental changes according to carrying capacity and technology capability

Doc 3: A21Sel, 2001 Chap 1: Global, national and local sustainability scenario

Chap 2-4: Cross-sector strategic action plan (economy, communities and environmental sustainability)

Chap 5-7: Capaicty building strategic action pelan (governance, human resource development, public participation and accountability)

Chap 8-11: Sectoral strategic action plan (industry, agriculture and rural, infrastructure and urban sustainability)

Chap 12: Introduction to Sustainable Development Indicators (SDI) for implementation and monitoring

Chap 13: A21Sel Implementation Management System

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A21Sel: Strategic Action Plan for Sustainable Development

788 strategic actions for sustainable development of Selangor

Suggested Lead implementors – either Fed/State agency, state implementing agency, a local authority, private entity, NGO, community-based orgnization or the public.

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TOTAL STRATEGIES & ACTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SELANGOR

SECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY TOTAL STRATEGIES

TOTAL ACTIONS

Sustainable economies 30 109

Susatainable society 33 139

Sust environment & natural resources

21

51

Governance 11 37

Human Resource Devt 14 37

Public participation & accountability

8 43

Sustainable industrialization 14 60

Sustainable urbanization 14 60

Sustainable infrastructure 14 102

Sustainable agriculture & rural devt 33 167

Organizational Structure for Implementation of A21Sel

SE

L S

US

TA

INA

BL

E D

EV

T U

NIT

SEL. SUST DEVT COUNCIL Chairman: Menteri Besar

SEL. SUST DEVT STEERING COMMITTEE

Chairman: State Secretary

SUST. DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTING

COMMITTEE Chairman: Deputy State

Secretary

IMPLEMENTATION: Executing Agency at State Level,

Local Authorities, Private Sector, Community Groups

Cross boundaries Coordinating

Committee

Technical Groups

Sustainable Development in Selangor

Implementation of A21Sel

through Local Agenda 21 (LA21)

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IMPLEMENTATION OF A21Sel

21

AGENDA 21 SELANGOR

(Sustainable Development Action Pelan)

AGENDA 21

(Fed & State

Implementing

Agencies)

AGENDA 21

(NGOs)

AGENDA 21

(Private Agencies)

LOCAL AGENDA 21

(Local Authorities

Sust Devt Action

Pelan)

“THINK GLOBAL ACT LOCAL” (LOCAL AGENDA 21)

A21Sel provides the global framework for Local Agenda 21 in Selangor

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Implementors of Agenda 21 Selangor

Implementation Level

Federal/

State Implementing

Agencies

Local Authorities

Swasta NGO CBO/

Public

Providing Public Needs

/ / /

Policy Makers & Implementors

/ /

Planning / / / / /

Implementors / / / / /

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Decision making in S21Sel towards Sustainable Development …

Society-oriented decision-making process

Actions towards poverty eradication and fringed groups in the society are priorities

Environmental thresholds are respected

Balance between cost-effectiveness and benefits are main considerations

The planning process takes into consideration the long-term perspectives

Stakeholders participation are in the main agenda

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Is A21Sel still relevant?...YES!

Q: Do the following

unsustainable development indicators of the 1990s still exist? Increasing geohazards

Land slides, flash floods,

sedimentation, river banks

erosion, increasing sink holes

Worsening air pollution

Declining river water quality

Extreme weather conditions

Weaknesses in the

marriage instituions

Materialistic values

Individualistic values

Religious fanatism

Environmental

deterioration

Destruction and loss of

natural resources

Imbalance welfare

between ethnic groups

Declining ethnic

integration

Need for national

integration

Declining moral behaviour

Youths with low morals

Whike collar crimes

Money politics

A1: The unsustainable

development indicators of the 1990s do not only exist but are intensifying

A2:The SD Global Agenda

is of more concern

A3: A21Sel is still relevant

The way forward for A21Sel 1. Implementing the organizational structure of A21Sel

2. Audit and monitor the implementation progress of 788-A21Sel strategic actions at the State level and review every 5 years

3. Audit and monitor the implementation of LA21 at the state level

4. Until there is the Selangor SD Council, institutionalise the A21Sel as a fixed dedicated agenda at the State Planning Committee Meetings

5. Implement the Sustainable Development and Sustainability Reporting System by all agencies, monitored by the Selangor SD Council or the State Planning Committee

6. Establish the Selangor SD Unit at the State Secretariat to coordinate the above

Terima Kasih