The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide - Democrats Against UN ...

The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide
• Does problem X strengthen or weaken system Y?”
Once a score is indicated in each cell, total these scores along both the vertical and horizontal axes. The vertical totals— the “total
system significance”—indicates the extent to which each system is important to the solution of the identified priority issues and
problems. Those systems with the greatest negative totals (i. e. -44 is a greater negative than -12) should be given priority attention.
The horizontal totals—the “total symptom significance”—indicates the extent to which each issue or problem is impacting upon the
systemic health of the community. Although these issues may not be seen as the most urgent issues facing the community, their
solution is fundamental to the long-term health of the community and they should be given immediate attention.
3.2.2 APPENDIX 2
RAPID URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (RUEA)
Background
Rapid Urban Environmental Assessment (RUEA) is an environmental auditing methodology developed by the World Bank/UNDP/
UNCHS Urban Management Programme. The methodology has been employed on a test basis in six cities: Accra, Jakarta, Tunis,
Katowice, Sâo Paulo, and Tianjin, as well as the urbanizing area of Singrauli, India.
The objective of RUEA is to “enable local (city-based) experts to rapidly assess the state of the urban environment” as input into a
“strategic urban environmental management process” that includes the development of an environmental management strategy and
the implementation of an environmental action plan.
The RUEA methodology has three main components:
1. completion of an environmental data questionnaire;
2. preparation of an urban environmental profile; and
3. validation of the questionnaire and profile through public consultation.
Environmental Data Questionnaire
An environmental data questionnaire has been prepared by the Urban Management Programme with the objective of measuring a
consistent set of data that is cross-sectoral and cross-media in nature, and that provide a comprehensive picture of existing
conditions. The questionnaire is designed to rapidly collect data from existing sources. An outline of the environmental data
questionnaire can be found in Figure 13. Full versions of this questionnaire are available from the Urban Management Programme in
hard copy and on diskette in English, French, and Spanish.
The questionnaire covers the following categories of information:
• baseline social and economic statistics;
• baseline housing conditions;
• baseline health conditions;
• the natural environment;
http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/448-2/ (63 of 180)18/10/2010 12:47:23 AM