Australian Local Government Association

WSSD Report

ALGA report - World Summit on Sustainable Development

26 August - 4 September, 2002
Johannesburg, South Africa

Local Government debrief

Local government members of the Australian delegation

Mayor Lynn Mason, Senior Vice President, Australian Local Government Association
Mr John A Pritchard, Executive Director, Policy and Research, ALGA

Complete list

Advisory staff

Ms Marie Illman, National Environment Resource Officer and Assistant Director, Environment Policy

Summary

Outcomes

WSSD Plan

The World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation further builds on the achievements made since UNCED and expedites the realisation of these remaining goals, including a commitment to undertake concrete actions and measures at all levels and to enhancing international cooperation, taking into account the Rio Principles. These efforts are intended to promote the integration of the three components of sustainable development - economic development, social development and environmental protection - as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars.

Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development

A declaration by the representatives of the peoples of the world, assembled at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa from 2-4 September 2002, reaffirming their commitment to sustainable development.

Local Government overview

In the decade since Rio, local government's role as a 'Major Group' in the UN 'Sustainable Development Process' has become better recognized and reached a new level of maturity in coordination and expression.

At Johannesburg, over 750 local government representatives from across the globe demonstrated the energy and commitment of organized local government to implementing the outcomes of WSSD. A four (4) day Local Government Parallel Event endorsed the Local Government Declaration to the Summit on Sustainable Development as well as the Johannesburg Call. 

Approximately 45 local government delegates from Australia attended WSSD. ALGA met with, and provided regular briefings to Australian local government representatives throughout the period 22 August - 5 September. Mayor Lynn Mason convened several important meetings:

Meetings

All Australian local government delegates to discuss strategy and relevant issues to WSSD

Outcome (summary) - Agreed to seek an ongoing relationship with the Commonwealth (in particular) and seek support for the conduct of a 'Australian summit' to progress the outcomes of WSSD.

Representatives from global Peak National and International Local Government Associations

Outcome (summary)- Establishment of an informal contact group to share experiences in progressing the outcomes of WSSD.

ALGA, Minister Kemp and Australian local government delegates to discuss mutual Australian local government aspirations and propose domestic strategies to progress the outcomes of WSSD in Australia

Outcome (summary)- Minister agreed to work with ALGA to examine this proposal of a 'Summit' further and to explore opportunities to progress the outcomes of WSSD.

ALGA, Minister Kemp, Minister Edwards (WA), Minister Woods (ACT) and State representatives

Meeting to discuss collaboration between the three spheres of government to progress the outcomes of WSSD in Australia.

Outcome (summary)- Mutual agreement to work collaboratively and to develop a strategy to better engage the three spheres of government to progress the outcomes of WSSD.

Other significant features

• ALGA representatives met with the AusAid Australia/South African Local Government Capacity Building team and received a comprehensive briefing on the project.
• ALGA representative met with Father Mkhatshwa Chairperson, Councillor Helen Jenkins, Deputy Chairperson and senior staff representatives of the South African Local Government Association as well as Mayor Masondo, Mayor of Greater Johannesburg,
• Melbourne City Council launched the 'Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Cities' during the Local Government Parallel Event and achieved support and endorsement from 5 Cities across the world and the United States Conference of Mayors. Further information can be obtained directly from the Melbourne City Council.
• State/sub-national governments established a global network to facilitate their participation in the UN 'Sustainability Movement', and to support their respective work in sustainable development. Western Australian Environment Minister, Dr Judy Edwards MP is a founding member of the network, and is a member of the Working Group established to facilitate the continued development of the network. Members of the networks recognized the critical importance of local government in the implementation of sustainable development and noted the need to maintain strong linkages between State/Sub-national government and local government.
• The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives convened the local government session.

Outcomes

Key features of the local government session included:

Global outcomes

• Adoption of the Local Government Declaration
• Launch of Local Action 21 - a new set of mechanisms to implement Agenda 21 at the local level
• Input of key people - Nitin Desai, Klaus Topfer and Ministers from many countries

Domestic outcomes

• Launch and announcement of a set of implementation partnerships, including the Agenda to Action 21 Asia Pacific Network supported by Japan, Korea, Thailand and Australia
• Closer cooperation between Australian and New Zealand local governments, especially on greenhouse and Cities for Climate Protection
• Confirmation of UNEP/ICLEI Water Workshop in Western Australia in November 2003
• New partners and councils in Australia for the Water Campaign, Green-Purchasing and Eco-Budgeting programs.
• A local government assessment of the Plan of Implementation is in Attachment 1 below.

Attachment 1

Extract from an ICLEI assessment of the Plan of Implementation from a Local Government perspective. The ALGA representatives at WSSD endorse these comments.

1. We welcome the agreement of national governments to "support efforts by all countries, particularly developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, to enhance national institutional arrangements for sustainable development, including at the local level (para 148).
2. We are content that national governments recognize and agree "to enhance the role and capacity of local authorities as well as stakeholders in implementing Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the Summit and in strengthening the continuing support for Local Agenda 21 programmes and associated initiatives and partnerships, and [to] encourage, in particular, partnerships among and between local authorities and other levels of government and stakeholders to advance sustainable development as called for in, inter alia, the Habitat Agenda. (para 149)
3. We are satisfied that national governments encourage "relevant authorities at all levels to promote public procurement policies that encourage development and diffusion of environmentally sound goods and services" (para 18 c) but would have been in favour of a commitment specifically "to establish" public procurement policies instead.
4. The Plan of Implementation also rightly differentiates the role of local governments from that of other Major Groups such as NGO's or Business.
5. In the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, national governments clearly recognize the role of local governments when they state "we assume collective responsibility to advance and strengthen sustainable development at the local, national, regional and global levels" (para 5).
6. National governments equally recognize the value of Local Agenda 21 when stating "sustainable development requires a long term perspective and broad based participation in policy formulation, decision-making and implementation at all levels" (para 23).
7. Furthermore, it is relevant to note that national governments have pointed out the duty of the private sector "to contribute to the evolution of equitable and sustainable communities and societies" (para 24) as well as on the need for the private sector "to enforce corporate accountability" (para 26).
8. Finally, national governments agreed "to strengthen and improve governance at all levels for the effective implementation of Agenda 21, the Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation" (para 27). Although we would have welcomed a more explicit paragraph 27 that included a direct reference to local governments (as appeared in a previous draft), we believe that we have achieved our main goal, namely, that local governments are recognized and supported by national governments worldwide as equal partners to other spheres of government in our commitment to achieve sustainable development.
9. At the World Summit, in an unprecedented step, local governments and other Major Groups enjoyed space and a permanent place in the plenary alongside national delegates and delegates from international agencies throughout the Summit meetings.
10. We were particularly pleased with the interaction with national delegations in which local government leaders were able to engage at the Local Government Session, during plenaries or behind the scenes of the Summit, and at the many side events. Several dozen local government representatives were members of their national delegations as well. All of these efforts have clearly resulted in a newly recognized and confirmed place for local governments in United Nations politics with regard to sustainable development.