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The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide Prior to 1992, structural plans for the city of Gothenburg did not contain an analysis of the balance of materials. In preparation for the city’s 1993 Comprehensive Plan, Gothenburg developed “material cycles” for water and nitrogen (Nielsen et al., 1992). The aim was to stimulate informed public debate on eco-cycle issues in the city and to ultimately influence the planning process itself. Later, a study of the city’s carbon cycle was also completed. Measurement of the water cycle in Gothenburg provided a flow representation that linked land, water, and air, and crossed municipal and regional boundaries. It also identified and described the cycles that link human activities to water sources, pollution, and liquid and solid waste. Because nitrogen cannot be seen, the nitrogen cycle is less understood than the water cycle. However, nitrogen is associated with a number of environmental problems and is recognized as an important element to measure and report to the public. The nitrogencycle model developed in Gothenburg included, and demonstrated the linkages between, many urban activities such as transportation, heating, industrial production, cultivation, food, waste deposits, and sewerage systems. The presentation included facts on the average citizen’s annual nitrogen emissions from energy use in the home, in transport, and in the generation of solid and liquid waste. Describing the materials cycles for one or more damaging substances was considered important as a means of explaining the need to keep natural cycles intact if they are to be sustained. For this reason, material cycles for toxins were tested as an educational tool. Gothenburg explored the development of a material cycle for chlorinated benzenes and household solvents. Due to an effective educational program that led to a reduced use of chlorinated benzenes, and due to the fact that household solvents are almost exclusively emitted into the air and therefore impossible to track, these substances proved to be poor examples for promoting the discussion of toxic material cycles. The strength of eco-balancing lies in its ability to track the flow of a substance. The anticipated results from a study of a quicksilver (mercury) cycle in Gothenburg are expected to be more useful. Mercury is still used and does not evaporate, and is therefore easier to trace. The material cycles method has been used to compile information on the overall state and functioning of the city’s “metabolism.” Based on this information, discussions with politicians were initiated. As a result of these discussions, the city’s Planning Committee decided to include questions about sustainability and eco-cycles into the regular consultation process for the Structural Plan. Between June and September 1992, a public consultation was conducted with more than 100 groups and organizations. Discussions were guided by questions regarding the city’s metabolism, eco-cycles, and sustainability. The outcomes of these consultations have been subsequently integrated into the Structural Plan. One priority identified was the need to reduce the sprawl of residential development on the urban periphery by restricting new suburban housing developments. Eco-balancing studies in Gothenburg have increased awareness about the linkages between land development and material flows and cycles in the city and the local environment. They have educated policymakers and residents about the metabolism of the city and about the imbalances in the city’s imports of materials and exports of wastes. These studies have mobilized support for work on sustainability and have provided the opportunity for consideration of ecological cycle issues in urban planning. The future challenge is to develop an eco-balancing tool or model that will have more direct input into the structural planning process. Contact Mr. Lars Berggrund Comprehensive Planner City of Gothenburg P.O. Box 2554 S-403 17 Gothenburg, Sweden Tel.: +46-31/61-1711 Fax: +46-31/61-1733 References Berggrund, Lars. “Ecocycles in the Gothenburg Structure Plan,” in Ecology-based Planning and Construction in Sweden. The Swedish Council for Building Research, 1994. http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/448-2/ (82 of 180)18/10/2010 12:47:23 AM
The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide Nielsen, B. et al. “The Nitrogen Cycle in Gothenburg,” in Structure Plan for Gothenburg. Gothenburg, Sweden: Base Material, 1992 CHAPTER 4 Action Planning 4.0 Introduction The creation and implementation of an Action Plan is the central element in sustainable development planning. Every activity that precedes it—the formation of partnership planning structures, the establishment of a community vision, and the analysis of issues and priorities—is preparatory work for creating an attainable and effective Action Plan. These Actions Plans are said to be “strategic.” No matter how focused the plan might be on a specific issue, a strategic plan addresses problems and needs at a systemic level and with a long-term perspective. It mobilizes local resources, and creates “synergies” by combining the efforts of different stakeholders to achieve a common goal. To assure that strategic goals are implemented, an Action Plan is linked to existing, formal planning processes such as mandated five-year development plans, general plans, and operating and capital budgets. Finally, a strategic Action Plan contains concrete targets for both short- and long-term progress and describes the mechanisms by which the achievement of these targets can be evaluated. All of these factors require that strategic Action Plans are, in essence, multi-stakeholder agreements. If important stakeholders do not feel ownership of the plan, then they will not contribute to its implementation. Worse yet, they may create competing plans or continue acting in a way that undermines the ultimate purpose of a strategic Action Plan, which is the sustainable provision of desired services and the maintenance of desired living conditions. To help in the design of local action plans, the following action planning approach can be taken. This approach aims to create a “living” plan, which recognizes and sanctions the many partnerships and independent actions that can be taken to meet a community’s strategic goals. This being said, the following approach is intended for use only as a guideline. In each local situation, an action planning approach will need to reflect existing planning processes and traditions. A strategic Action Plan addresses problems and needs at a systemic level and with a long-term perspective. It contains concrete targets for both short- and long-term progress and describes the mechanisms by which the achievement of these targets can be evaluated. 4.1 Structure and Objectives Citizens, local institutions, and organizations can be invited to submit implementing agreements to be included as an annex to the strategic Action Plan. Astrategic Action Plan can be seen as a framework document to which the specific action commitments of different institutions or http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/448-2/ (83 of 180)18/10/2010 12:47:23 AM
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