the challenges of municipalities in performing good environmental governance presentation

The challenges of municipalities in performing good The challenges of municipalities in performing good

environmental governanceenvironmental governance

WPSC 2011

4-8 July 2011, Perth – Western Australia

Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro

Daniela Salgadoa, [email protected]

&

Teresa Fidéisb, [email protected]

a,b Department of the Environment and Planning University of Aveiro, Portugal.

1

Departure IssuesDeparture Issues

� Local authorities face a challenge of tremendous importance: managingmanaging

environmentalenvironmental issuesissues..

� Governance of environmental affairs must be analysed in smallersmaller scalesscales..

� There is a dearth of studies which examine environmental governance at the local

level, especially with regard to the principlesprinciples ofof goodgood environmentalenvironmental governancegovernance..


Aim of the study:

� Provide some relevant insights and a critical analysis regarding principles of good

environmental governance at the locallocal levellevel..

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Research questionsResearch questions

1. What are the locallocal instrumentsinstruments adopted by the municipality and in which way

they contribute to improve environmental governance?

2. Based on the analysisanalysis ofof locallocal environmentalenvironmental instruments,instruments, is the municipality

under study working towards ‘good environmental governance’?


3. If so, what are the mostmost visiblevisible principlesprinciples and how the municipality has been

following them?

4. Finally, what are the aspectsaspects toto bebe improvedimproved towards good environmental

governance?

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Paper structurePaper structure

11stst sectionsection:: principles of good environmental governance, the role of municipalities in

governing environmental issues and some local instruments to promote good

environmental governance.

22ndnd sectionsection:: case study – municipality of Águeda, Portugal.


33rdrd sectionsection:: instruments related to the management of local environmental issues

adopted by this municipality.

LastLast sectionsection:: critical analysis and conclusions.

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BackgroundBackground

Principles of good environmental governance Principles of good environmental governance

Some relevant insights from the literature review:Some relevant insights from the literature review:

� Environmental governance has been widely discussed by academics and by

institutions, especially at the global level;


� Re-incorporation of the term ‘governance’ in academic literature in the 1980s -

emerged with a different meaning;

� ‘Governance’ highlights the shift from the traditionaltraditional conceptconcept ofof ‘government’‘government’ toto aa

broaderbroader conceptconcept basedbased onon sustainabilitysustainability;;

� Environmental governance �� the way societies cope with environmental problems.

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The EC White Paper (2001) challenges for good governance in Europe: The EC White Paper (2001) challenges for good governance in Europe:


i) openness: EU actions and decisions are to be communicatedcommunicated toto thethe generalgeneral publicpublic

in an accessible language;

ii) participation: wide publicpublic participationparticipation throughout the policy-making chain;


iii) accountability: all Member States and institutions responsible for the development

and implementation of EU policies should be transparenttransparent andand responsibleresponsible;;

iv) effectiveness: policies must be effectiveeffective and well-timed, with clearclear objectives,objectives,

based on previous experiences;

v) coherence: policies and actions must be coherentcoherent andand easyeasy toto understandunderstand..

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SomeSome definitionsdefinitions regardingregarding ‘Good‘Good environmentalenvironmental governance’governance’::

� Principles of ‘good environmental governance’ are similarsimilar worldwideworldwide and may vary

according to the purposes under consideration.

� Regarding the compliancecompliance toto andand enforcementenforcement ofof environmentenvironment--relatedrelated measures,measures,

good environmental governance includes (Harman, 2005):


»» (i) providing information to the general public, allowing transparency and accessible

decision-making;

»» (ii) promoting the participation of stakeholders to ensure that practices meet

expectations, and

»» (iii) adequate environmental regulation.

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� Effective delivery of basic environmental services in a transparent,transparent, accountable,accountable, andand

participatoryparticipatory manner (Malayang, 2004).

� Working instrument for assessing performance of local environmental governance

may involve (Malayang, 2004):

»» (i) effective delivery of basic environmental services;


»» (i) effective delivery of basic environmental services;

»» (ii) transparency;

»» (iii) accountability, and

»» (iv) participation.


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TheThe rolerole ofof municipalitiesmunicipalities inin governinggoverning environmentalenvironmental issuesissues::

� Implementation of sustainabilitysustainability at the local level (Thomas, 2010; Fidélis and Pires, 2009; Pires

2011);

� Local government units are key actors in the implementationimplementation ofof EUEU integrationintegration

policiespolicies (Kosecik and Sagbas, 2004).


policiespolicies (Kosecik and Sagbas, 2004).

� Local governments are responsible for providingproviding publicpublic servicesservices andand enforcingenforcing

democracydemocracy;;

� Localocal stakeholdersstakeholders andand thethe generalgeneral publicpublic »» key actors in governance actions.

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SomeSome locallocal instrumentsinstruments toto improveimprove environmentalenvironmental governancegovernance


� The instruments adopted by Águeda, some of them widely used in the international

context, can help municipalities to improveimprove environmentalenvironmental governancegovernance::

» Local Agenda 21 (LA21);


» Environment-related strategies and plans;

» Local government instruments for communication and public participation;

» Environmental Management Systems of the ISO 14000 family.

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ÁGUEDA

Case study and methodologyCase study and methodology

The municipality of ÁguedaThe municipality of Águeda

Europe

ÁGUEDA

Fig. 1: Location of Águeda, Portugal.

Source: Águeda Local Council (2010).


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� Location: central region of Portugal, Aveiro district.

� Population: aprox. 50,000 inhabitants;

� Territorial features: 335.3 km2, 20 parishes;

Brief descriptionBrief description


� Natura 2000 Network: 12% of its territory;

� Embedded in a complex lagoon ecosystem called “Ria de Aveiro”;

� High number of local associations, almost 200 (emphasis on the culturalcultural and socialsocial

areas).

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Methodology Methodology


� Identification and critical analysis of the instruments related to the management of

local environmental issues adopted by Águeda City Council.

� From the instruments previously presented, Águeda has adopted:


� “State of Sustainability 2010” (LA21 process);

� Municipal Water Plan;

� Local structure for communication and public participation: ‘Green Line’ and Citizen

Service Office.

131313

» LALA2121

� It has started to be set up in 2008 with the adhesion of the municipality to the

AalborgAalborg commitmentscommitments;;

AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal strategiesstrategies

AnalysisAnalysis ofof locallocal strategiesstrategies


� CitizenryCitizenry andand locallocal organizationsorganizations are considered to be key actors;

� Águeda has formed a coordinator group with the involvement of some City Council

members and locallocal communitycommunity..

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i) Governance;

ii) Local management for sustainability;

iii) Responsible consumption and lifestyle choices;

� The Local Council has elaborated the report “State of Sustainability in Águeda”,

which characterizes the municipality according to the following areas:


iii) Responsible consumption and lifestyle choices;

iv) Planning and urban design;

v) Better mobility, less traffic;

vi) Natural common goods;

vii) From local to global.

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Areas Main ongoing actions

i) Governance

For a sustainable city: Municipal Master Plan (PDM),

LocalLocal AgendaAgenda 2121..

Participation capacity of local community : Local

Council Website, SMS, MMS and e-mail services,

CitizenCitizen ServiceService OfficeOffice (certified by ISO 9001),

TelephoneTelephone lineslines for direct contact with the municipal

Table 1 – Local sustainability characterization in Águeda.


TelephoneTelephone lineslines for direct contact with the municipal

services.

Openness, accountability and transparency of

decisions: Award for Best Practices in the Public

Sector, thethe levellevel ofof satisfactionsatisfaction withwith administrativeadministrative

services,services, amongst others.

ii) Local Management for

sustainabilityContinuousContinuous improvementimprovement cyclecycle for local

sustainability system: participated planning,

implementation, checking, reviewing.

Source: Águeda Local Council (2010).16


Areas Main Ongoing Actions

iii) Responsible Consumption

and Life Style Choices

Recyclable waste collection, energy certification of municipal

buildings, computerizedcomputerized proceduresprocedures andand informationinformation

management,management, amongst others.

iv) Urban Planning and Design MunicipalMunicipal MasterMaster Plan,Plan, Noise Charter, Natura 2000 Network.

v) Better mobility, less traffic MobilityMobility plan,plan, studies on traffic and mobility, promoting the

use of public transport and cycling.

Table 1 – (Cont.)


use of public transport and cycling.

vi) From Local to Global

(climate protection).Signing of the ‘Covenant‘Covenant ofof Mayors’Mayors’ (to reduce emissions by

at least 20% by 2020), Zero Carbon City Programme,

distribution of efficient lights.

Area Main Indicators

vii) Common Natural PropertyProtect, preserve and ensure equitableequitable accessaccess toto naturalnatural

commoncommon goodsgoods:: consumption of electricity produced from

renewable energy sources, population served by public water

supply, Natural 2000 classified areas, Air Quality Index, etc.

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» MunicipalMunicipal WaterWater PlanPlan

� Implementation of Water Framework Directive;

� Participation of experts and Local Council members: scientific and technical

knowledge associated with locallocal experiencesexperiences..

AnalysisAnalysis ofof locallocal strategiesstrategies


knowledge associated with locallocal experiencesexperiences..

� The Plan consisted of:

i) a complex DiagnosisDiagnosis regarding the survey of the local environmental problems;

ii) WorkshopsWorkshops where construction of common visions were built, and

iii) ActionAction Plan,Plan, with the identification of measures to be implemented.

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Diagnosis Areas

Infrastructure, sewerage and wastewater treatment and characteristics;

sustainable management and integrated water resources;

use of surface water and groundwater;

quality of water for human consumption;

water catchments and private water standpipe, and

quality of watercourses.

Workshops Main problems


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Workshops Main problems

Areas without water supply;

low sanitation coverage and treatment;

uncontrolled discharge of industrial effluents, and

contamination of the Águeda river by agriculture practices.

Action Plan

Areas

Oversighting mechanisms;

plan leisure-tourist activity, and

efficient water use in public buildings.


AnalysisAnalysis ofof locallocal instrumentsinstruments

» CityCity CouncilCouncil structurestructure forfor communicationcommunication andand publicpublic participationparticipation

� Creation of Citizen Service Office, in 1998 (certified by ISO 9001 Quality Standard

since 2008);


� Creation of the ‘Green Line’:

� direct contact between the public and environmental

services and inspection;

� public confidence in relation to municipal

environmental services.

� direct contact between the public and environmental

services and inspection;

� public confidence in relation to municipal

environmental services.

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AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal instrumentsinstruments

» NetworkNetwork interactionsinteractions

International context

Networks

Energie-Cités;

“One Billion Tree for the Planet Program from UNEP, and

EuropeanEuropean NetworkNetwork ofof SustainableSustainable CitiesCities andand TownsTowns..

National “+ MARia” project (process of administrative modernization);


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National context

“+ MARia” project (process of administrative modernization);

AdRA - Waters of the Region of Aveiro;

Águeda 21, Águeda 21, and

NationalNational NetworkNetwork ofof LALA2121..

Local context

Several associations of social, recreational, cultural, and

environmental, amongst others.

CriticalCritical analysisanalysis

11.. WhatWhat areare thethe locallocal instrumentsinstruments adoptedadopted byby thethe municipalitymunicipality andand inin whichwhich wayway theythey

contributecontribute toto improveimprove environmentalenvironmental governance?governance?

� LA21: is the most important strategy regarding sustainability goals, with a strong

emphasis on the improvementimprovement ofof locallocal environmentalenvironmental qualityquality..

� Municipal Water Plan: reflects a complex environmental diagnosis of the water


� Municipal Water Plan: reflects a complex environmental diagnosis of the water

resources, contributing to the identification of the aspects to be improved. It is also an

initiative for intermunicipalintermunicipal waterwater governancegovernance..

� ‘Green Line’ and Citizen Service Office: reflects a great effort in communicatingcommunicating withwith

citizenscitizens and is also a channel for publicpublic participationparticipation..

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2. Based on the analysis of local environmental instruments, is Águeda working 2. Based on the analysis of local environmental instruments, is Águeda working

towards ‘good environmental governance’?towards ‘good environmental governance’?


� Local instruments reflect a great effort in improving environmental governance with

a strong emphasis on sustainabilitysustainability goalsgoals..


LALA2121::

� E.g.: goodgood practicespractices inin thethe LocalLocal CouncilCouncil (reducing paper consumption and

increasing digital information support ) or actions from outside (Mobility Plan).

� E.g.: ProximityProximity toto thethe publicpublic:: LA21 Blog, Newsletter, Telephone lines for direct

contact with the municipal services.

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� KeyKey instrumentinstrument for local environmental governance: guidance for implementation of

sound policies.

� Involvement and participation of experts and Local Council members in order to

identify the problems related to water resources and their appropriate measures.

Municipal Water Plan:Municipal Water Plan:


identify the problems related to water resources and their appropriate measures.

� Adhesion to the ‘AdRA’: more efficient management of water resources by

facilitating the interinter--municipalmunicipal waterwater governancegovernance..

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� Águeda is strongly connected with local, regional, national and international

networksnetworks in several areas:


Also…Also…

� Instruments for communication and public participation - ‘Green Line’ and Citizen

Service Office: allow democraticdemocratic principlesprinciples to be implemented.


» » Which makes the municipality dynamic and interactive,dynamic and interactive, enabling the exchange

of experiences and knowledge.

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3. If so, what are the most visible principles and how the municipality has been 3. If so, what are the most visible principles and how the municipality has been

following them?following them?


� Participation and openness.

� Águeda has been striving to engage the public and other local actors to

participate in the LA21 process;

� Águeda has been striving to engage the public and other local actors to




� creation of a Citizen Service Office and a telephone line for attending

public demands on environmental issues;

� high levels of participation in the regional context (citizen

environmental complaints);

� creation of innumerable channels for public communication and

participation (LA21 Blog, PDA events ).


� creation of a Citizen Service Office and a telephone line for attending

public demands on environmental issues;

� high levels of participation in the regional context (citizen

environmental complaints);

� creation of innumerable channels for public communication and

participation (LA21 Blog, PDA events ).

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4. Finally, what are the 4. Finally, what are the aspects to be improved towards good environmental governance?aspects to be improved towards good environmental governance?


� Fully implement the specific targets of local strategies;

� Evaluation of the practical results of such measures;


� Monitoring of local activities regarding management of environmental issues.

Make possible the evaluation of

environmental governance practices.

Make possible the evaluation of

environmental governance practices.

!

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� Accountability,Accountability, effectivenesseffectiveness andand coherencecoherence:: would demand a deep analysis of local

policies and practices.

� Local and regional authorities need to give more attention to some local problems

(e.g.: limitations of local groundwater resources).

Furthermore…Furthermore…


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ConclusionsConclusions andand recommendationsrecommendations

� Good environmental governance depends on specificspecific featuresfeatures from the local level

perspective;

� Some principles are essential to provide good environmental governance and

should be in the line of action of local governments (e.g.: those referred to in the EC

White Paper and in the expert literature).

Some relevant Some relevant insightsinsights


�� OpennessOpenness andand participationparticipation are in the line of action of Águeda:

Strongly engaged to communicate

and interact with the public.

Strongly engaged to communicate

and interact with the public.

!

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ConclusionsConclusions andand recommendationsrecommendations

� The municipality has been extremely willing to work on governance for

sustainabilitysustainability;;

� Local instruments reveal a great effort in opening channels for publicpublic participationparticipation;;

� Águeda has a strong ability to interactinteract with several networks at various scales and

In brief words…In brief words…


� Águeda has a strong ability to interactinteract with several networks at various scales and

subjects;

� LALA2121 is the local action which can better reach good environmental governance

targets;

� Finally, the municipality would take more time to develop their activities and create

conditions to be fully in line with ‘good‘good environmentalenvironmental governance’governance’ practices.

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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” (FCT),

fellowship SFRH/BD/37010/2007, and the Águeda City Council.

Thank you!Thank you!


Thank you!Thank you!

Obrigado!Obrigado!

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River Águeda Fermentelos Lagoon (“Pateira de Fermentelos”)


‘Ria de Aveiro’ÁguedaCity Center – bikes for community use

the challenges of municipalities in performing good environmental governance presentation

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relevant insights