Making Cities Work: The role of local authorities in the urban environment

Cities around the world are facing severe environmental challenges; many have high levels of air and soil pollution, overcrowding, poor sanitation and growing waste disposal problems. This book takes a positive attitude; cities can be made to work sustainably, and many are already doing so. Their high population density works in the environment's favour if they achieve efficient use of resources such as energy and water supplies, and improve transport and infrastructure. The best cities today are clean, resource efficient, green and pleasant, and act as cultural and entertainment centres as well as being efficient generators of economic activity. Making Cities Work looks at the vital role which local authorities can and are playing in safeguarding and developing our towns and cities. Their role is crucial, and the aim of this book is to make governments, international bodies, local authority associations and interested readers aware of how potential environmental and social problems can be overcome, and what can be achieved particularly through cooperation between local governments around the world. The second part of the book comprises 18 case studies from around the world which demonstrates how cities can learn from each other's best practice in urban sustainable development. Written by urban development experts, based on material supplied by the world's leading city associations and commissioned and commissioned by UNCHS for the Habitat II Conference, this is a crucial contribution to the urban debate. Clearly written, accessible and illustrated throughout with photographs, figures and graphs, it is ideal for students, fascinating reading for the general public, and essential for those involved in local authorities, planning and development. Originally published in 1996

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Biographical Notes Part I: Overview Chapter 1. Local Authorities and the Environment Introduction Cities, Towns and Local Authorities; Urban and Suburban The First Urban Century Global Economic Trends and their Impacts on Cities Advantages and Disadvantages of Cities for People and for the Environment Sustainable Development Brown and Green Agendas for Sustainability Environmental Sustainability and the Size and Wealth of Cities Sustainable Cities, or Cities in a Sustainable World? Agenda 21 and the Role of Local Authorities in Securing Sustainable Development Governance vs Government Why Good Governance is Important to Sustainability Thinking Locally in Order to Act Globally Global Decentralization Trends Region by Region Municipal Cooperation What is yet to Come Chapter 2. Issues for Local Action Introduction Governance A Decentralized Framework A Stable Institutional Framework The Importance of Inclusiveness Effective Local Leadership and Policy Setting Challenges of Implementation Capacity Expanding Capacity through Collaboration Actions and Initiatives to Secure Sustainability Conclusion Chapter 3. Local Government in Action; Summary Case Studies Introduction Waste Management Issues Capacity Building for Sustainable Development Political Change and Urban Environmental Planning Northern Cities and Sustainable Development Chapter 4. Local Authorities and Worldwide Sustainable Development Overview Urbanness and Global Interconnectedness The Emerging Worldwide System of Urban Interdependence A Worldwide System for Urban Sustainability Funding Agencies Regional Multilateral Institutions Associations of Municipalities Municipal International Cooperation Examples of Municipal lnternational Cooperation Programmes How the System of Municipal lnternational Cooperation Might be Improved Chapter 5. Recommendations Introduction The Six Major Themes of this Book Recommendations to lnternational Agencies Recommendations to National Governments and Agencies Recommendations to Local Authorities Recommendations to Municipal Associations Conclusion Part Two: Case Studies Democratization and Consensus Building for a Sustainable Development Plan; The Municipality of Cajamarca, Peru Mobilizing Local Resources to Address Urban Environmental Issues; the Metropolitan Concepcion Sustainable Cities Project, Concepci6n, Chile Participatory Solid Waste Management; Urban Community of Dakar, Senegal Greenpoint-Williamsburg Environmental Benefits Programme, New York City, US Vision 2020 Sustainable Community Initiative; the Regional Municipality of Hamilton Wentworth, Canada The Restructuring of Municipal Finances; Islamabad, Pakistan Agenda 21 Kanagawa; Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan Municipal Policy and Participatory Dynamics; Kayes, Mali Solid Waste Collection and Treatment Programme; Lille, France Ecological Waste Management Project; Manila, Philippines A Concerted Environmental Action Plan; Rabat, Morocco The Fight Against Waste Pollution; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Comprehensive Solar Energy Initiative; Saarbriicken, Germany Rehabilitation of the Rio Torres Grande de Tarcoles; San JosC, Costa Rica Environmental Audit and Green Strategy; 'kipoli, Lebanon The Troyan Environmental Action Project; Troyan, Bulgaria Local Agenda 21 in the United Kingdom Bibliography Addresses of Associations of Local Authorities List of Acronyms and Abbreviations