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CNPYwith clear goals for resource use and environmental impacts, and “order in their own house” targets implemented. However, the municipality needs to work on involving the local residents in the preparation of Agenda 21 and also move forward with the certification of the municipalities’ own institutions. The results of the audit have shown that both the Dogme principles and the actual audit are promising tools for identifying the environmental strengths and weakness of each municipality, in a dynamic system of ongoing improvement. This is sustainable development at a local level, making a real difference. The underlying principles or “dogma” of the project are: Dogma 1: Human Impacts must be monitored and measured Dogma 2: An Agenda 21 plan must be developed to improve the local environment Dogma 3: Environmental effort must be integrated and rooted locally pLasse Kenborg, T+45 3366 5800, E-mail: kgl@cece.dk Local Initiative - Rubbish Revives Edinburgh’s Environment! Non-profit making organisations in Edinburgh are benefiting annually from £400,000 thanks to funding from a hole in the ground! The finance, supplied from the Landfill Tax credits of Waste Recycling Group plc (WRG), is available to support environmental projects in the area via the Edinburgh Environment Partnership (EEP) Grants Scheme Ltd. The key focus of the grants scheme is to minimise waste so as to reduce the environmental and financial impact of landfill. The Landfill Tax regulations seek to increase the cost of landfill and therefore encourage more sustainable waste management practices. The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme diverts 20% of this tax to non-profit organisations to implement a range of environmental projects. To date, 37 projects (£365,862) have been funded. One of these organisations is the Edinburgh Cyrenians who were awarded £12,000 to contribute to the operation of a food redistribution project involving homeless people. “Funding from the EEP Grants Scheme has helped the Fareshare project to divert 6 tonnes per week of fresh healthy food with a retail value of £15,000 to homelessness centres and hostels in Edinburgh,” said Des Ryan of The Edinburgh Cyrenians. Over 65% of funding is focussed towards pilot recycling and waste minimisation projects. Other categories eligible for grants include schemes, which create a nature or play area, investigate or restore a contaminated site or restore a historical building. “This newly secured funding from WRG will help us to fast track local community group’s access to grants for the full range of environmental projects possible under the Landfill Tax regulations”, said Councillor Maureen Child, Chair of the EEP Grants Scheme. According to Con Kerwin, Managing Director of WRG’s Scotland division, the initiative provides the opportunity to support local communities, to put their needs and the needs of the environment at the top of the agenda, leading to a greener future for all. pCath O’Shea T:+44 (0)131 469 3607, E-mail: eep.grants@edinurgh.gov.uk Web: www.edinburghenvironment.org Chepstow LIFE Sustainable Transport Project Concern over the problems associated with excessive car use has grown significantly over the last 10 years in the UK. The Chepstow LIFE project, a partnership between Monmouthshire County Council, Cardiff University and the EU’s LIFE programme, aims to identify the barriers to achieving a shift from car use to more sustainable modes of transport and to change public attitudes and travel behaviour in the town of Chepstow. Phase 1 of this four-year project has been to establish baseline travel patterns and attitudes through consultation and community participation including face to face household, employer and retail questionnaires and a series of public workshops. Phase 2 has been to produce and implement a Green Travel Plan for the town. Projects have included the establishment of a Walking Bus scheme at a primary school, a successful seminar for local businesses, a comprehensive traffic calming scheme, the re-routing and introduction of a flat fare for a local bus route and much more. The final phase to take place in the second half of 2002 will be to carry out post-test assessments to evaluate how successful the implementation of the Green Travel Plan has been at making people change to sustainable transport. A high profile identity for the project has been essential, and publicity has included a series of newsletters to households, local workshops, press releases and a dedicated website for the project: www.chepstowlife.com It is hoped that the holistic approach, based on public participation, local action and working in partnership, will go some way towards achieving an integrated transport system and modal shift in Chepstow. It should also provide experience from which other local authorities across Europe may benefit. pHazel Clatworthy, T: +44 (0)1633 644843, E-mail: hazelclatworthy@monmouthshire.gov.uk Visiting a Green Shop in Kolding, Denmark The city of Kolding has launched a project called ”Making Kolding a Little Greener” which aims to improve the environmental impact of local shops. There are presently 111 shops engaged in the project, 42 of which have been part of the project over one year. Once a shop commits to the project the shop owner is assisted by a consultant from the Centre of Urban Ecology in identifying the best ways for them to improve the environmental impact of their shop. This may involve the use of energy, water, environmentally friendly cleaning liquids, waste disposal, and recyclable tubes and light bulbs etc. Once a strategy has been developed and results have been achieved the shop will receive a special sticker, to be displayed in the front window, which indicates they are taking part in the project and have reached certain achievements in reducing the environmental impact of the shop. 4 Newsletter 25 of The European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign pSigne Sporring T: +45 76 30 71 15 F:+ 45 76 30 71 19 E-mail: sisp@kolding.dk
IV• NEWS FROM CENTRAL & EASTERN E U R O P E Montenegro and Local Agenda 21 Montenegro has recently become very active in the field of sustainable development and in implementing local actions in order to protect their environment. As such, Kotor Municipality and the Association of Young Ecologists of Montenegro published a book entitled “Montenegro and Local Agenda 21” in order to raise awareness of these issues within Montenegro. The overall aim of this book is to encourage and support the local authorities in their actions for the protection of the environment and Local Agenda 21 strategies. Also, by outlining modern trends and methodologies, the authors aim to help solve current environmental problems of local communities, and to emphasize the significance of cooperation and partnership of all of the sectors on the local level. pMarija Kostic, E-mail: mk_ayem@cg.yu Sustainable Devleopment in Shkodra, Albania In the framework of sustainable development, the Municipality of Shkodra in cooperation with the Centre for Habitat Development and with the support of the Albanian Foundation of Civil Society, organised an Urban Forum in early February 2002 entitled: “Public discussion on Strategic Development of Shkodra Municipality”. The Forum launched a public debate on the issues that concern civil society in Shkodra, related to urban, social and economic problems. As such participants came from different sectors including the University “Luigj Gurakuqi” of Shkodra, the Historical Museum, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Regional Environment Agency, and NGOs. After a short general presentation by Shkodra Municipality of its role and responsibilities, the discussion focused on identifying the main problems to sustainable economic development within Shkodra and the instruments needed to improve the situation. The Forum concluded with the presentation of a Strategic Plan for Urban Development of Shkodra Region, consisting of a list of priorities and the establishment of a vision for the future of Shkodra. pZemaida MOZALI, T/F: +355 22 47273 E-mail: foreignrelat@albnet.net V• NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE STEERING C O M M I T T E E ACRR - European Campaign for Sustainable Consumption in Cities The project Sustainable Consumption in Cities, supported by DG Environment, aims at encouraging cities and regions to move towards sustainable consumption through increased waste prevention and recycling. Sustainable consumption is about consuming differently and efficiently. Indeed, waste represents a loss of valuable resources. Reducing waste throughout products’ lifecycle and improving product efficiency can contribute to the conservation of resources. Local and regional authorities have a particular role to play through encouraging citizens to consume differently and efficiently and to participate in recycling schemes.The project aims at raising awareness on: - the relations between current ways of life and the consumption of natural resources, - the economic, social and environmental benefits and drawbacks of waste prevention and recycling, - the opportunities for sustainable consumption e.g. ecodesign, ecolabels etc The activities carried out will consist of: - an exhibition in 8 cities in the EU and Candidate countries; - a catalogue of good practices and an Award competition within the Sustainable Cities Award; - g u i d e l i n e s illustrated by good practices for prevention and recycling of WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipment); - a Citizens’ Parliament to enlarge the debate and initiate future action; - a website with a virtual forum. pFrancis Radermaker, T: + 32 (0) 2 775 75 85 E-mail: fra@ibgebim.be Web: http://www.acrr.org Climate Alliance - Climate Star 2002 - The European Award for local climate protection activities Climate Alliance invites all European cities and municipalities to participate in the award “Climate Star 2002”. The goal is to document experience and success at the municipal level and to illustrate the various local benefits of active climate protection efforts. It is within the municipalities, where people live and work, that the majority of energy is consumed and as such is the prime factor in greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore at municipal level that awareness can be raised and people motivated to make their own contributions to protecting the world’s climate. Cities and municipalities furthermore have a broad range of powers and options for intervention as well as the opportunity to cooperate with the private sector. At the local level it is very clear that climate protection serves not only global goals but also yields local benefits such as job creation, pollution and noise abatement as well as incentives for innovation. The award ceremony will take place on 28 November in St. Pölten, Austria, where representatives of the winning municipalities will receive the Climate Star for the first time. The deadline for participation of cities, municipalities and district authorities in the Climate Star 2002 is 20 May. Detailed information and the application form are available through the website or a copy can be sent by request. pClimate Alliance T:+49-69-717139-0, F:+49-69-717139-93 E-mail: europe@klimabuendnis.org Web: www.klimabuendnis.org Energie-Cités - “Rio + 10 Campaign” As an association of European cities that p r o m o t e s sustainable local energy policies and on the occasion of the Earth Summit 2002, Energie-Cités has decided, that throughout this year, it will demonstrate the practical actions undertaken by its members in the last ten years as well as the commitments they have made for the next decade. Energie-Cités therefore has launched an “Energy and RIO +10” Campaign which will include the following actions: 1. Preparation and dissemination of a leaflet and a poster presenting Energie-Cités members and their projects, these documents being made available to all member cities Newsletter 25 of The European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign 5 nnkcl
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