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02 - sustainable dev.pptx
Summary
# The concept and evolution of sustainable development
This section explores the foundational ideas and historical development of sustainable development, tracing its origins from early environmental concerns to its formal definition and international recognition through key reports and conferences.
### 1.1 Early acknowledgments of environmental limits
Concerns about the sustainability of endless growth in a world of finite resources emerged early on. The idea that "Infinite growth is unsustainable in environment of limited resources" was articulated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Study of Critical Environmental Problems (SCEP) in 1972. This sentiment suggested that the prevailing Euro-American civilization model, which assumed an open-ended system, was becoming a relic of the past, necessitating new approaches.
### 1.2 The "Limits to Growth" report
A significant milestone in articulating these concerns was the 1972 publication of "The Limits to Growth" by the Club of Rome. This report highlighted the fundamental reality that Earth's resources are finite, challenging the paradigm of perpetual economic expansion without regard for ecological constraints.
### 1.3 The Brundtland Report and the formal definition of sustainable development
The concept of sustainable development gained widespread formal recognition and a concrete definition through the 1987 report "Our Common Future." This report was produced by the World Commission on Environment and Development, led by Gro Harlem Brundtland. It defined sustainable development as:
> "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
This definition encapsulates the intergenerational equity aspect, emphasizing that current development practices should not deplete resources or degrade the environment to the detriment of future populations. The establishment of the World Commission on Environment and Development by the United Nations in 1983 was a key step in formalizing this global discourse.
### 1.4 Key international conferences and documents
The concept of sustainable development was further propelled onto the global agenda through major international conferences and their subsequent documents:
* **Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992 (Earth Summit):** This pivotal conference brought together over 170 countries and 10,000 delegates, including 116 national leaders. It resulted in several crucial documents:
* **Agenda 21:** An action plan for the 21st century, it introduced the concept of sustainable development with its three core pillars.
* **Rio Declaration on Environment and Development:** A statement of principles for sustainable development.
* **Statement of Forest Principles:** Guidelines for the sustainable management of forests.
* **UN Framework Convention on Climate Change:** An international treaty to combat climate change.
* **UN Convention on Biological Diversity:** An international treaty to conserve biodiversity.
### 1.5 The three pillars of sustainable development
Sustainable development is understood as a comprehensive set of strategies that integrate economic instruments and technologies to meet human social needs—both material and spiritual—while respecting environmental limits. It is commonly conceptualized through three interconnected pillars:
* **Environmental sustainability:** This refers to a state where the demands placed on the environment can be met without diminishing its capacity to support the well-being of all people, both now and in the future. It involves maintaining ecological processes, functions, biodiversity, and resources.
* **Economic sustainability:** This involves the strategic and optimal use of existing resources to achieve a responsible and beneficial balance over the long term. It focuses on generating wealth and improving living standards without depleting natural capital or undermining social well-being.
* **Sociopolitical sustainability:** This relates to the capacity of a community to develop processes and structures that not only satisfy the needs of its current members but also empower future generations to maintain a healthy and thriving community. It emphasizes social equity, participation, and good governance.
> **Tip:** For exams, understanding the core definition of sustainable development (Brundtland Commission) and its three pillars is essential.
### 1.6 Agenda 21: An action plan for the 21st century
Agenda 21, adopted at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, is a comprehensive program of action designed to improve the quality of life. It outlines 38 main areas of action that, if implemented, could lead to improvements in the quality of life at community, regional, and global levels.
#### 1.6.1 Main principles of Agenda 21
The implementation of Agenda 21 relies on broad societal agreement and cooperation among various stakeholders, including authorities, citizens, and entrepreneurs. Its key principles include:
* Cooperation on all levels of governance and society.
* Inter-sectoral cooperation (e.g., between authorities and companies, citizens and authorities, NGOs and companies).
* Elimination of social problems and reduction of conflicts among citizens.
* Open and transparent dealing with all situations.
* Wide public involvement in decision-making processes.
* Participation in local development decisions.
#### 1.6.2 Local Agenda 21 (LA21)
Local Agenda 21 (LA21) is a crucial tool for implementing the principles of sustainable development at local and regional levels. It serves as a process for improving public administration, strategic planning, and public engagement.
> **Example:** Local Agenda 21 encourages cities and towns to develop strategic plans that integrate economic, social, and environmental aspects in cooperation with their residents.
LA21 encompasses:
* **Sustainable development principles:** Incorporating the core ideas of SD into local planning.
* **Public involvement:** Actively engaging citizens in decision-making and implementation.
* **Systematic attitude:** Applying a strategic and managerial approach by public administration.
The aims of LA21 are to enhance the quality of life in all its aspects and to foster a greater sense of responsibility among citizens for their lives and the environment.
#### 1.6.3 Assets of Local Agenda 21
The implementation of LA21 offers numerous benefits:
* **Improved quality of life:** Leading to better satisfaction of inhabitants and enhancement of overall well-being.
* **Efficient local development:** Through strategic planning and optimal problem-solving.
* **Conflict prevention:** Reducing contradictions and fostering cooperation within the locality.
* **Environmental improvement:** Leading to higher environmental quality.
* **Citizen engagement:** Promoting active involvement and a common vision for local development.
* **Strengthened governance:** Enhancing trust in authorities, fostering democracy, and improving city management through feedback.
* **Better resource utilization:** Leveraging local knowledge and potential.
* **Increased resilience:** Improving a city's ability to respond to challenges.
* **Enhanced intergroup cooperation:** Fostering understanding and collaboration between different social and professional groups.
LA21 techniques involve community campaigns, strategic planning (both expert and community-driven), health conceptions, and citizen involvement, supported by initiation groups and cooperating subjects.
### 1.7 National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS)
National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS) are integral to translating global and regional sustainability goals into concrete national actions. As of 2009, a significant number of UN Member States were implementing such strategies.
Chapter 8 of Agenda 21 specifically calls for countries to adopt NSDS. These strategies are intended to harmonize diverse sectoral economic, social, and environmental policies and plans operating within a nation. The UN General Assembly has repeatedly emphasized the importance of NSDS, setting targets for their formulation and elaboration.
### 1.8 European Union Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS)
The European Union has developed its own strategy for sustainable development, first adopted in 2001 and revisited in 2006. The overarching goal of the EU SDS is to achieve continuous long-term improvement in the quality of life by fostering sustainable communities that manage resources efficiently, leverage innovation, and ensure prosperity, environmental protection, and social cohesion.
#### 1.8.1 Key priority challenges addressed by the EU SDS
The EU SDS identifies and addresses seven key priority challenges:
1. Climate change and clean energy.
2. Sustainable transport.
3. Sustainable consumption and production.
4. Conservation and management of natural resources.
5. Public Health.
6. Social inclusion, demography, and migration.
7. Global poverty and sustainable development challenges.
The strategy promotes an integrated approach to policymaking, emphasizing better regulation and guiding principles for sustainable development. It also considers the external dimension of sustainable development, integrating global resource use and international development concerns into EU policies. The EU SDS aims to be a comprehensive strategy for the entire EU, promoting coordination with other levels of government and encouraging the involvement of businesses, NGOs, and citizens.
#### 1.8.2 Instruments and governance of the EU SDS
The EU SDS highlights the importance of education, research, and public finance as facilitators for transitioning to more sustainable production and consumption patterns. A robust governance cycle ensures effective implementation and monitoring, with the European Commission producing progress reports every two years for discussion and guidance at the European Council.
### 1.9 The WHO Healthy Cities project
The World Health Organization's (WHO) Healthy Cities project is a global initiative that engages local governments in health development through political commitment, institutional change, capacity-building, and partnerships. This project emphasizes putting health high on the social, economic, and political agenda of city governments.
> **Tip:** Recognize that the Healthy Cities project is a practical implementation framework inspired by broader sustainable development goals.
#### 1.9.1 Principles and definition of a healthy city
The Healthy Cities movement advocates for comprehensive and systematic policy and planning for health, addressing issues such as health inequality, urban poverty, and the needs of vulnerable groups. It emphasizes participatory governance and the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental determinants of health.
A healthy city is defined by its **process** rather than a specific outcome; it is a city that is conscious of health and actively strives to improve it. The core requirements are:
* A commitment to health.
* A dedicated process and structure to achieve health improvements.
A healthy city is one that continuously enhances its physical and social environments and expands its community resources, enabling mutual support among residents to reach their full potential.
#### 1.9.2 The Healthy Cities approach
The approach aims to elevate health to a prominent position in city agendas and build a strong local public health movement. Key features include:
* Emphasis on equity, participatory governance, and solidarity.
* Intersectoral collaboration and action on health determinants.
* Innovative actions addressing all aspects of health and living conditions.
* Extensive networking between cities.
* Explicit political commitment, leadership, institutional change, and intersectoral partnerships.
The concept draws inspiration from the WHO European Health for All strategy and Health21 targets.
### 1.10 Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic
The Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic (HCCZ) is an interest association of legal entities committed to the systematic support of health and quality of life, and the active application of sustainable development at local, regional, and international levels. Its mission is to connect municipalities and professional organizations to foster cooperation in these areas. Membership in HCCZ signifies a commitment to supporting and developing programs like the WHO Healthy City Project and Local Agenda 21.
#### 1.10.1 LA21 Criteria in the Czech Republic
An official set of LA21 Criteria has been developed in the Czech Republic to measure and evaluate the quality of LA21 implementation. These criteria, approved by the Governmental Council for Sustainable Development, provide a transparent guideline for the basic elements of procedure, rather than a rigid manual. The criteria are classified into four main categories (A-D), reflecting achieved levels of LA21 implementation, preceded by a "starting" group for applicants.
> **Example:** The LA21 criteria help municipalities demonstrate their commitment to sustainable development, which can be beneficial for securing EU grants and subsidies.
Modified sets of LA21 Criteria exist for different types of municipalities and regions, considering their specific contexts. The categories and their general requirements are:
* **Category A: Long-term Process** (Highest level): Requires strategic, long-term development with active public involvement based on sustainable development principles, leading to improved citizen quality of life.
* **Category B: Management System** (Advanced level): Requires the implementation and use of a municipality management system aligned with LA21 principles.
* **Category C: Stabilisation** (Lower advanced level): Requires active public participation and political patronage of the LA21 process.
* **Category D: Start** ("Beginners'" level): Requires organizational setup for the LA21 process and initiation of information activities.
* **Applicants Category:** Open to all registered parties interested in LA21, including municipalities and non-profit organizations.
### 1.11 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, represents a global blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. It comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are an urgent call for action by all countries—developed and developing—in a global partnership.
The Agenda is organized around five critical areas:
* **People:** Ending poverty and hunger, ensuring dignity, equality, and a healthy environment.
* **Planet:** Protecting the planet from degradation through sustainable consumption and production, resource management, and urgent climate action.
* **Prosperity:** Ensuring that all humans can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives in harmony with nature.
* **Peace:** Fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies free from fear and violence, recognizing that peace and sustainable development are interdependent.
* **Partnership:** Mobilizing the means required through a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, focusing on the needs of the most vulnerable and involving all stakeholders.
The interconnected and integrated nature of the SDGs is crucial for realizing the Agenda's ambitious goals and transforming the world for the better.
---
# Agenda 21 and local implementation
Agenda 21 and local implementation provide a framework for achieving sustainable development through coordinated action at global, national, and local levels.
## 2. Agenda 21 and local implementation
Agenda 21 is a comprehensive action plan for sustainable development, introduced at the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, aiming to improve the quality of life on Earth.
### 2.1 Principles of sustainable development
Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This concept emerged from a growing awareness of the Earth's limited resources and the unsustainable nature of infinite growth.
#### 2.1.1 Historical context and key reports
* The notion of limited resources was highlighted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's "Study of Critical Environmental Problems" (SCEP) in 1972.
* The book "Limits to Growth" by the Club of Rome, also published in 1972, further emphasized the finite nature of Earth's resources.
* The 1987 report "Our common future" by the World Commission on Environment and Development, led by Gro Harlem Brundtland, formally defined sustainable development and advocated for its widespread adoption.
#### 2.1.2 Pillars of sustainable development
Sustainable development is built upon three interconnected pillars:
* **Environmental sustainability:** This refers to a state where human demands on the environment can be met without diminishing its capacity to support present and future populations in living well.
* **Economic sustainability:** This involves the optimal use of existing resources through various strategies to achieve a balanced and beneficial outcome in the long term.
* **Sociopolitical sustainability:** This is the ability of a community to develop processes and structures that not only meet the needs of its current members but also support future generations in maintaining a healthy community.
#### 2.1.3 The Rio Earth Summit (1992)
The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro was a landmark event that brought together over 170 countries. It resulted in several key documents, including:
* Agenda 21
* The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
* The Statement of Forest Principles
* The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
* The UN Convention on Biological Diversity
### 2.2 Agenda 21: an action plan for the 21st century
Agenda 21 is a package of suggestions aimed at improving the quality of life through sustainable development. It comprises 38 main points or chapters, addressing issues that, if realized, could lead to improvements in the quality of life at community, regional, and global levels.
#### 2.2.1 Core principles of Agenda 21
The successful implementation of Agenda 21 relies on broad societal agreement and cooperation between various stakeholders. Its main principles include:
* **Cooperation on all levels:** Encouraging collaboration across different scales of governance and society.
* **Inter-sector cooperation:** Fostering collaboration between authorities, businesses, citizens, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
* **Elimination of social problems:** Addressing and resolving social issues and conflicts among citizens.
* **Public and open dealing:** Ensuring transparency and open dialogue in addressing all situations.
* **Wide public involvement:** Actively engaging the public in decision-making processes.
* **Participation in local decisions:** Empowering citizens to participate in decisions affecting their communities.
### 2.3 Local Agenda 21 (LA21)
Local Agenda 21 is a crucial tool and process for implementing the principles of sustainable development at the local and regional levels. It focuses on improving public administration, strategic planning, and public involvement.
#### 2.3.1 Aims of Local Agenda 21
The primary aims of LA21 are:
* Enhancing the quality of life in all its aspects.
* Increasing the responsibility of citizens for their own lives and for the lives of others in space and time.
#### 2.3.2 Nature of Local Agenda 21
LA21 is a program for the development of settlements and regions that integrates the principles of sustainable development into practice. It functions as a strategic plan that interconnects economic, social, and environmental aspects, developed in cooperation with the wider public. Key features include:
* Taking local problems into consideration.
* Leading to a good and sustainable quality of life and a high-quality environment within the locality.
#### 2.3.3 Assets and benefits of Local Agenda 21
Implementing LA21 yields numerous benefits:
* **Improved satisfaction and quality of life:** Better satisfaction of inhabitants and an overall enhancement of quality of life.
* **Efficient local development:** Higher efficiency in local development and the finding of real problems and their optimal solutions.
* **Conflict prevention:** Prevention of possible conflicts and a decrease in contradictions within the locality.
* **Common vision:** Development of a common vision for local or regional development.
* **Active involvement:** Active involvement of inhabitants in the development process.
* **Inter-group cooperation:** Cooperation between different social and professional groups.
* **Enhanced trust and understanding:** Increased understanding for the work and decisions of authorities and representatives, and enhanced trust in their decisions.
* **Feedback in city management:** Providing valuable feedback for city management.
* **Strengthened democracy:** Strengthening democratic processes and a sense of belonging to the city.
* **Leveraging local potential:** Better utilization of local knowledge and potential.
* **Financial opportunities:** Extension of possible financial sources for city development.
* **Adaptability:** Increased reflexivity of the city to upcoming challenges.
#### 2.3.4 Techniques and actors in Local Agenda 21
LA21 employs various techniques, including community campaigns, community strategic planning, expert strategic planning, health conceptions, and improvement interventions. The process involves several key actors:
* **Initiation group:** The driving force behind the LA21 process.
* **Key actors:** Individuals or groups with significant influence.
* **Cooperating subjects:** Entities that actively participate in the process.
* **Wider community:** The general public.
These local efforts are situated within a broader context of public and national sustainable development strategies, ultimately contributing to global frameworks like the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
### 2.4 National and international frameworks for sustainable development
#### 2.4.1 National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS)
Chapter 8 of Agenda 21 calls for countries to adopt National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS). These strategies aim to harmonize various sectoral economic, social, and environmental policies and plans operating within a country. By 2009, 106 UN Member States were implementing NSDSs.
#### 2.4.2 EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS)
The European Union's Sustainable Development Strategy, first adopted in 2001 and revisited in 2006, aims for continuous long-term improvement in quality of life through sustainable communities. It focuses on efficient resource management, harnessing ecological and social innovation, and ensuring prosperity, environmental protection, and social cohesion. The strategy identified seven key priority challenges, including climate change, sustainable transport, and sustainable consumption. It also emphasizes integrated policymaking, the external dimension of sustainable development, and the involvement of various levels of government, businesses, NGOs, and citizens. Education, research, and public finance are recognized as critical instruments, with a governance cycle for monitoring and follow-up.
#### 2.4.3 Healthy Cities project
The WHO Healthy Cities project is a global movement engaging local governments in health development. It promotes political commitment, institutional change, capacity-building, and partnerships. The project's primary goal is to place health high on the social, economic, and political agenda of city governments.
##### 2.4.3.1 Principles of the Healthy Cities movement
The movement emphasizes:
* Addressing inequality in health and urban poverty.
* Considering the needs of vulnerable groups.
* Promoting participatory governance.
* Recognizing the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health.
* Integrating health considerations into economic and urban development efforts.
A "healthy city" is defined by its process of striving to improve health and create environments that enable people to live to their full potential, rather than a specific health status.
##### 2.4.3.2 Healthy Cities in the Czech Republic
The Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic (HCCZ) is an interest association connecting municipalities and professional organizations to systematically support health and quality of life, and to actively apply sustainable development. Its mission is based on the WHO "Health 21" document and the UN's Agenda 21. The HCCZ has 136 members, including cities, towns, villages, and regional entities.
### 2.5 LA21 Criteria in the Czech Republic
An official set of LA21 Criteria was compiled in the Czech Republic in 2006 to measure and evaluate the quality of LA21 implementation. These criteria serve as a transparent guideline for basic elements of procedure, rather than a prescriptive manual. The twenty-one criteria are classified into four main categories (A, B, C, D) indicating the achieved level of LA21, preceded by a "starting" group for new applicants.
#### 2.5.1 Categories of LA21 Criteria
* **Applicants:** This category includes all registered parties interested in LA21, including non-profit organizations actively engaged in its realization.
* **Category D ("Start"):** Represents the beginner's level, requiring organizational assurance of the LA21 process and the initiation of selected information activities (e.g., articles, website).
* **Category C ("Stabilisation"):** A lower advanced level requiring active public participation and political patronage of the LA21 process.
* **Category B ("Management System"):** An advanced LA21 level demanding the implementation and use of a municipality management system aligned with LA21 principles.
* **Category A ("Long-Term Process"):** The highest LA21 level, necessitating strategic and long-term development with active public involvement based on sustainable development principles, ultimately leading to improved citizens' quality of life.
Modified sets of LA21 Criteria exist for different types of municipalities and regions, including statutory cities, small municipalities, sub-regions, and regions. Monitoring LA21 processes using these criteria can support applications for EU grants and subsidies.
### 2.6 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provides a global framework for action over the next fifteen years. It addresses critical areas for humanity and the planet, focusing on:
* **People:** Ending poverty and hunger, ensuring dignity, equality, and a healthy environment for all.
* **Planet:** Protecting the planet from degradation, promoting sustainable consumption and production, sustainable resource management, and urgent action on climate change.
* **Prosperity:** Ensuring all individuals can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives, with economic, social, and technological progress in harmony with nature.
* **Peace:** Fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies free from fear and violence, recognizing that sustainable development and peace are interdependent.
* **Partnership:** Mobilizing the means required through a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, emphasizing global solidarity, and the participation of all countries, stakeholders, and people.
The interlinkages and integrated nature of the SDGs are crucial for realizing the Agenda's purpose and transforming the world for the better.
---
# National and regional sustainable development strategies
This section outlines national and international strategies for sustainable development, including the EU's approach and the specific implementation of the 'Healthy Cities' initiative and Local Agenda 21 in the Czech Republic.
### 3.1 The concept of sustainable development
Sustainable development is a multifaceted concept that emerged from the recognition of limited global resources and the need for a new approach to civilization's interaction with the environment. The core definition, popularized by the Brundtland Commission in 1987, states that sustainable development is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This concept is underpinned by the idea that humanity has "borrowed" the land from future generations.
Sustainable development encompasses a comprehensive set of strategies that utilize economic instruments and technologies to satisfy human social needs (both material and spiritual) while respecting environmental limits. It is often visualized as having three main pillars:
* **Environmental sustainability:** This refers to a state where the demands placed on the environment can be met without diminishing its capacity to support all people in living well, both now and in the future.
* **Economic sustainability:** This involves employing existing resources optimally through various strategies to achieve a responsible and beneficial balance in the longer term.
* **Sociopolitical sustainability:** This is the capacity of a community to develop processes and structures that meet the needs of current members and enable future generations to maintain a healthy community.
> **Tip:** For the exam, understand the core definition of sustainable development and its three interconnected pillars. While precise wording isn't essential, grasp the underlying principle of intergenerational equity and balancing present needs with future well-being.
### 3.2 International frameworks and strategies
The concept of sustainable development gained international traction through several key events and documents:
* **The Club of Rome's "Limits to Growth" (1972):** This influential report highlighted the finiteness of Earth's resources, challenging the notion of infinite growth.
* **The World Commission on Environment and Development (1983) and "Our Common Future" (1987):** Chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland, this commission formally defined sustainable development.
* **The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro (1992):** This landmark event brought together over 170 countries and thousands of delegates. It produced several key documents:
* **Agenda 21:** An action plan for the 21st century, outlining how sustainable development could be achieved. It introduced the three pillars of sustainable development and offered a package of suggestions for improving quality of life.
* **Rio Declaration on Environment and Development:** A set of principles on environment and development.
* **Statement of Forest Principles:** Principles for a global consensus on the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.
* **UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):** An international treaty to combat climate change.
* **UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):** An international legally-binding instrument with three main goals: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
#### 3.2.1 Agenda 21 and Local Agenda 21
Agenda 21 is a comprehensive program of actions aimed at improving the quality of life on local, regional, and global scales. Its implementation relies on broad social agreement and cooperation among stakeholders. Key principles include:
* Cooperation at all levels.
* Inter-sectoral collaboration (authorities, companies, citizens, NGOs).
* Elimination of social problems and conflicts.
* Open and public engagement with all situations.
* Wide public involvement in local decision-making.
**Local Agenda 21 (LA21)** emerged as a crucial tool for implementing Agenda 21 principles at the local and regional levels. It represents a process of improving public administration, strategic planning, and public involvement. The aims of LA21 are:
* Enhancing quality of life in all its aspects.
* Increasing citizens' responsibility for their lives and the lives of others.
LA21 is both a tool and a process, incorporating sustainable development, public involvement, and a systematic approach to public administration and strategy. It involves developing strategic plans that interconnect economic and social aspects with environmental protection, in cooperation with the wider public, and taking local problems into consideration.
> **Tip:** Recognize that LA21 is about translating global sustainable development goals into concrete local actions through inclusive processes.
Benefits of LA21 include:
* Greater inhabitant satisfaction.
* Higher efficiency in local development.
* Prevention of conflicts and reduction of contradictions.
* Improvement of environmental quality.
* Identification of real problems and their optimal solutions.
* Development of a common vision for local/regional development.
* Active involvement of inhabitants.
* Enhanced cooperation and understanding between different groups and authorities.
* Strengthening of trust in decisions.
* Democracy strengthening.
* Better use of local knowledge and potential.
* Extension of financial sources.
* Increased reflexivity of cities to challenges.
The LA21 technique involves community campaigns, strategic planning (expert and community-based), health conceptions, interventions, citizen involvement, initiation groups, key actors, cooperating subjects, and the wider community.
#### 3.2.2 National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS)
Chapter 8 of Agenda 21 explicitly calls on countries to adopt National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS). These strategies aim to harmonize various sectoral economic, social, and environmental policies and plans. By 2009, 106 UN Member States were reportedly implementing an NSDS. The importance of NSDS was reaffirmed by the UN General Assembly in 1997, setting a target for their formulation by 2002.
#### 3.2.3 EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS)
The European Union's Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS), first adopted in 2001 and revisited in 2006, aims to achieve continuous long-term improvement in quality of life by fostering sustainable communities. These communities are envisioned to manage resources efficiently, harness ecological and social innovation, and ensure prosperity, environmental protection, and social cohesion.
The EU SDS identified seven key priority challenges for the period until 2010, many with an environmental focus:
* Climate change and clean energy.
* Sustainable transport.
* Sustainable consumption and production.
* Conservation and management of natural resources.
* Public Health.
* Social inclusion, demography, and migration.
* Global poverty and sustainable development challenges.
The strategy promotes an integrated policy-making approach, emphasizing better regulation and guiding principles for sustainable development. It also incorporates the external dimension of sustainable development into EU internal policies and external actions. The EU SDS aims to be a strategy for the entire Union, calling for improved coordination with other government levels and greater involvement from businesses, NGOs, and citizens. This includes a process for voluntary peer reviews of national strategies to share best practices.
Education, research, and public finance are identified as crucial instruments for transitioning to more sustainable production and consumption patterns. A strong governance cycle is in place for monitoring and follow-up, with the European Commission producing biennial progress reports for discussion and guidance at the European Council.
### 3.3 The 'Healthy Cities' initiative and its implementation
The 'Healthy Cities' project, initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a global movement engaging local governments in health development. It emphasizes political commitment, institutional change, capacity-building, partnership-based planning, and innovative projects. The WHO European Healthy Cities Network comprises nearly 100 cities, with over 1400 cities and towns in national networks across the WHO European Region.
The primary goal of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network is to elevate health as a priority on the social, economic, and political agendas of city governments. It recognizes that health is a concern for all sectors and that local governments are uniquely positioned to lead in protecting and promoting citizens' health and well-being.
The Healthy Cities movement advocates for comprehensive and systematic policy and planning for health, with a strong emphasis on:
* Addressing health inequalities and urban poverty.
* Meeting the needs of vulnerable groups.
* Promoting participatory governance.
* Recognizing the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health.
A "healthy city" is defined by its process, not its outcome. It is a city that is conscious of health and actively striving to improve it. The essential requirements are a commitment to health and a structured process to achieve it. A healthy city continually creates and improves its physical and social environments, expanding community resources that enable mutual support and individual development to their maximum potential.
The approach seeks to place health high on the political and social agenda of cities, fostering a strong movement for public health at the local level. It strongly emphasizes equity, participatory governance, solidarity, intersectoral collaboration, and action on health determinants. Successful implementation requires innovative actions addressing all aspects of health and living conditions, alongside extensive networking. Key components include explicit political commitment, leadership, institutional change, and intersectoral partnerships. The concept is supported by the WHO European Health for All strategy and the Health21 targets.
#### 3.3.1 Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic
The Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic (HCCZ) is an interest association of legal entities founded to systematically support health and quality of life and actively apply sustainable development at local, regional, and international levels. Membership is open to any municipality, association of municipalities, or other legal entity that commits to the association's statutes and mission.
The HCCZ mission is to connect municipalities and professional organizations in the Czech Republic to cooperate in the systematic support of health and quality of life, and the active application of sustainable development. Membership signifies a commitment to support, promote, realize, and develop long-term programs of the "WHO Healthy City Project" and "Local Agenda 21," based on the WHO's "Health 21" and the UN's "Agenda 21."
The HCCZ network includes 136 members, encompassing 6 regions, 12 micro-regions, 5 local action groups, and 113 cities, towns, and villages, representing 58% of the country's population.
#### 3.3.2 LA21 Criteria in the Czech Republic
An official set of LA21 Criteria was compiled and approved in 2006 by the Governmental Council for Sustainable Development to measure and evaluate the quality of LA21 implementation. These criteria summarize the fundamental aspects that municipalities should demonstrate when proceeding within the framework of LA21. The objective is not to provide a rigid manual but a transparent guideline.
The set of twenty-one criteria is classified into four main categories based on the achieved level of LA21 implementation: 'A' (highest) to 'D' (lowest), preceded by a "starting" group for applicants.
> **Tip:** The LA21 Criteria in the Czech Republic serve as a practical framework for municipalities to assess their progress in sustainable development and can be valuable for securing EU grants and subsidies.
Monitoring LA21 processes using these criteria can support applications for EU grants and subsidies from national or regional programs. Modified sets of criteria have been developed since 2010 to respect the specifics of different types of municipalities and regions. Currently, five types of criteria sets are available: for cities (basic set), for statutory cities, for small municipalities (under 2,000 inhabitants), for sub-regions, and for regions.
Each LA21 criterion has defined indicators that include activities or tasks. A limit or specific value for each indicator must be fulfilled and substantiated with precise documentation for a municipality to advance between categories.
The categories are structured as follows:
* **APPLICANTS:** Includes all registered parties interested in LA21, including non-profit organizations actively engaged in its realization.
* **Category D: "START"**: The beginner level, requiring organizational assurance of the LA21 process and the initiation of selected information activities (e.g., articles, website).
* **Category C: "STABILISATION"**: A lower advanced level, requiring active public participation and political patronage of the LA21 process.
* **Category B: "MANAGEMENT SYSTEM"**: An advanced LA21 level, requiring the implementation and use of a municipality management system aligned with LA21 principles.
* **Category A: "LONG-TERM PROCESS"**: The highest LA21 level, demanding strategic and long-term development with active public involvement based on sustainable development principles, leading to improved citizen quality of life.
### 3.4 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provides a global framework for action over the next fifteen years in areas critical for humanity and the planet. It is structured around five key pillars:
* **People:** Ending poverty and hunger, ensuring dignity, equality, and a healthy environment for all.
* **Planet:** Protecting the planet from degradation through sustainable consumption and production, responsible resource management, and urgent climate action.
* **Prosperity:** Ensuring all people can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives, with economic, social, and technological progress in harmony with nature.
* **Peace:** Fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies free from fear and violence, recognizing that sustainable development and peace are interdependent.
* **Partnership:** Mobilizing the means required to implement the Agenda through a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, emphasizing solidarity and participation from all countries, stakeholders, and people, with a focus on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.
The interlinkages and integrated nature of the SDGs are crucial for realizing the Agenda's purpose, aiming for profound improvements in people's lives and a transformed world.
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# The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a comprehensive plan of action aimed at transforming the world for the better across five critical interconnected areas.
### 4.1 The five critical areas of the 2030 agenda
The 2030 Agenda is structured around five interconnected pillars that are essential for achieving sustainable development for all. These pillars represent areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet, and the associated goals and targets are designed to stimulate action over the next fifteen years.
#### 4.1.1 People
This area focuses on ending poverty and hunger in all their forms and dimensions. It emphasizes ensuring that all human beings can live with dignity and equality, and in a healthy environment, allowing them to fulfill their full potential.
#### 4.1.2 Planet
This pillar is dedicated to protecting the planet from degradation. It calls for urgent action on climate change, sustainable consumption and production patterns, and the responsible management of natural resources, ensuring that the Earth can support the needs of both present and future generations.
#### 4.1.3 Prosperity
This area aims to ensure that all people can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives. It advocates for economic, social, and technological progress that occurs in harmony with nature, promoting well-being without compromising environmental integrity.
#### 4.1.4 Peace
This pillar is committed to fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies that are free from fear and violence. It underscores the fundamental principle that sustainable development cannot be achieved without peace, and conversely, lasting peace is impossible without sustainable development.
#### 4.1.5 Partnership
This area emphasizes the mobilization of necessary resources to implement the Agenda through a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development. This partnership is built on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, with a particular focus on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable populations, and requires the active participation of all countries, stakeholders, and people.
### 4.2 The interconnectedness of the Sustainable Development Goals
A crucial aspect of the 2030 Agenda is the recognition of the interlinkages and integrated nature of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Realizing the ambitions across the entire Agenda is expected to profoundly improve the lives of all people and transform the world into a better place. This integrated approach ensures that actions taken in one area positively influence and reinforce progress in others, creating a holistic pathway towards a sustainable future.
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## Common mistakes to avoid
- Review all topics thoroughly before exams
- Pay attention to formulas and key definitions
- Practice with examples provided in each section
- Don't memorize without understanding the underlying concepts
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|------|------------|
| Sustainable Development | Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, encompassing social, economic, and environmental dimensions. |
| Limits of Growth | A concept and the title of a influential 1972 book by the Club of Rome, which explored the potential consequences of unchecked economic and population growth on a finite planet. |
| Our Common Future | A pivotal 1987 report by the World Commission on Environment and Development, led by Gro Harlem Brundtland, which popularized the definition of sustainable development and highlighted the interconnectedness of environment and development. |
| Earth Summit | Refers to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which brought together numerous countries and delegates to address global environmental and development issues. |
| Agenda 21 | A comprehensive action plan of the United Nations related to sustainable development, adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, outlining strategies for the 21st century. |
| Rio Declaration on Environment and Development | A declaration adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit, outlining principles for sustainable development and the rights and responsibilities of states and individuals regarding the environment. |
| UN Framework Convention on Climate Change | An international treaty adopted in 1992 to combat climate change by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. |
| UN Convention on Biological Diversity | An international legally binding treaty with three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources. |
| Environmental sustainability | A state where the demands placed on the environment can be met without reducing its capacity to allow all people to live well, both now and in the future, ensuring the preservation of natural resources and ecosystems. |
| Economic sustainability | The efficient and optimal use of existing resources to achieve a responsible and beneficial balance over the longer term, ensuring economic growth and stability without depleting natural capital. |
| Sociopolitical sustainability | The ability of a community to develop processes and structures that meet the needs of current members and support the ability of future generations to maintain a healthy and functional community. |
| Local Agenda 21 (LA21) | A process and tool for implementing the principles of sustainable development at the local and regional level, involving public administration, strategic planning, and public involvement to improve quality of life and community well-being. |
| National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) | A plan adopted by countries to harmonize various sectoral economic, social, and environmental policies and plans, building upon and integrating existing frameworks to achieve sustainable development goals. |
| EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) | A strategy developed by the European Union to achieve a continuous long-term improvement in quality of life through the creation of sustainable communities, efficient resource management, and the tapping of innovation potential. |
| Healthy Cities project | A global movement initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) that engages local governments in health development through political commitment, institutional change, capacity-building, and partnership-based planning. |
| 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development | A United Nations resolution adopted in 2015, which is a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity, setting out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. |