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| * Summary * |
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Strengthening local democracy to create a sustainable cityThis document, resulting from the collaboration of hundreds of people, is concerned with making London an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable city. Environmentally, London is currently one of the least sustainable cities, with inordinate impacts on its global hinterland. Economically, it has extended its role as an international centre for trade and finance, but Londoners feel increasingly uncertain about jobs, housing, pollution and the future. This can change. London was a pioneer of large-scale urban growth: now it should be at the forefront of a new world-wide movement for sustainable urban development. Exciting possibilities lie ahead, but London requires transformations on many levels. What is most needed is a wider sense of ownership, by enabling Londoners to participate in key decisions affecting their city, and their own lives. To make London work sustainably, we need a new, directly elected, strategic authority, and a new political culture - an active democracy in which Londoners can help to shape policies for economic development, housing, energy use, transport, education, health, waste processing, and planning. As a catalyst to promote these changes, this document proposes a London Citizens Forum. |
London cannot become sustainable overnight, but it can start by becoming a learning city, intent
on transformation to sustainability. We need to start an on-going London-wide learning process on
the challenges and the opportunities for sustainable development - reducing London's global
impact and creating new jobs in a stable, diverse economy. To enhance the learning process,
London needs to join international city organisations, in which it is currently not represented.
London needs to play its part on the European and world stages through democratically elected
representatives, benefiting from and contributing to the wide variety of innovative ideas for urban
sustainable development.
A learning city
Making London work sustainably will require a new strategic London-wide authority. This
document proposes a strong strategic authority, directly elected by proportional representation,
with appropriate powers and resources, working with both central government and the existing borough councils, implementing strategic decisions of concern to the whole of London. There is wide support for the idea of a Mayor for the Greater London area, reporting to a directly elected non-executive assembly.
A directly elected strategic authority
We need to extend popular participation in decision-making to restore confidence in local
democracy. Consultation is not enough. To strengthen local democratic processes, methods
such as such as neighbourhood forums, action planning and consensus-building should be widely
used, because in appropriate circumstances these lead to better decisions and easier
implementation. At the London-wide level 'partnership' with business is not enough. With the
help of modern communications technologies, wider citizens' involvement can be incorporated into
strategic decision-making.
An active democracy
London should learn to benefit more from the expertise and knowledge of thousands of
organisations in the voluntary and non-government sector. Voluntary organisations represent the
heart of London. They make an enormous contribution to the well-being of the city, utilising the
great diversity of skills represented in London. But their wisdom is largely untapped in the
processes of local authority decision-making. To achieve this aim, there needs to be more co-ordination between them on London-wide issues and their input needs to be given a much higher
profile.
A strong role for the voluntary sector
A strategy to make London work sustainably needs to be developed by a process actively involving
all sectors of the city. Vitally important is that this process should be carried out in a very public
manner, with wide opportunities for popular participation. It must be conducted in an impartial way
to be decided by the participants themselves. Building on the work already carried out by the
individual boroughs and by other initiatives, and benefiting from experience elsewhere, a vigorous programme should be instituted to establish the principles and practical measures for
making London work sustainably.
London's agenda for the 21st Century
We propose a high profile London Citizens Forum, so that Londoners can keep sustainable development at the top of the city's agenda. London's decision-making processes need to reflect informed popular opinion and non-governmental expertise. The Forum will promote 'bottom-up' decision-making at all levels and provide a space for grass-roots involvement in London-wide issues. Londoners will have their own channel for monitoring progress towards environmental and social sustainability.
A London Citizens Forum
Creating a directly elected authority must await action by Parliament. But a London Citizens Forum can be established without delay.
| * Hearts and Minds * |
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| ''Local government will not survive and flourish unless it has roots in the hearts and minds of ordinary people'. Michael Young in Governing London, 1996 |
The quest for sustainability takes many forms: initiating dialogue, creating documents, forming organisations and stimulating government action are only part of a much wider process. In addition to political approaches, cultural activities - concerts, dance, film, drama, exhibitions, events etc. - are vital in raising aspirations, breaking down barriers, changing attitudes, and developing the potential of individuals. We wish to stress that SLT's initiative is only one of many complimentary activities, by numerous organisations large and small, local and London-wide. Some are mentioned in these pages, but not all, only because a document of this length could not possibly represent all the many initiatives in a vast city such as London.
| * The greatest wonder * |
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| 'I have seen the greatest wonder which the world can show to the astonished spirit. I have seen it
and am still astonished - and ever will there remain fixed indelibly on my memory the stone forest
of houses, amid which flows the rushing stream of faces of living men with all their varied passions,
and all their terrible impulses of love, of hunger, and of hatred - I mean London.' Heinrich Heine, 1827 |
It was Jane Taylor who suggested the manifesto and the London Citizens Forum. Thanks to all those who contributed, especially all the members of our working parties, Roger Levett of CAG Consultants, Max Dixon, Flora Gathorne-Hardy, Janice Morphet and Roy Madron and to many others who have encouraged us to carry through this initiative. Thanks to Julia Wright for initial help with design. Special thanks to Pat Goodman, William Mortada and Terri Jones for research and administration in the office, and to Linda Clancy for design and layout of the published version. Hypertext conversion by Matthew Rhys-Roberts.
The final text was written by John Jopling and Herbert Girardet.
Please forgive any omissions and inaccuracies with respect to the originally published document: these are due to the source files for conversion being the penultimate versions before submission for DTP.
SLT is a registered charity, no. 1050354.
The Trust is supported by the Diana Edgson Wright Charitable Trust.
| * Who says we need to change our lifestyles? * |
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| 'We need a new agenda for the 21st Century. We have no choice but to radically change our lifestyle. People from all corners of each community need to pull together - schools, businesses, families, local councils, land owners, developers, special interest groups. We all have strengths to contribute, and need to share a vision of a more sustainable future achieveable in our lifetime.' Michael Dower, Director General of the Countryside Commission, Derek Langslow, Chief Executive of English Nature, and Chris Green, Chief Executive of English Heritage, in their Preface to Ideas into Action for Local Agenda 21 |
In a fast-changing world, rapid development is bound to continue. But increasingly the question is being asked: what sort of change do we really want? The formula adopted by the international community is: 'sustainable development'. That is the agreed touchstone. The test to be applied to all development, indeed to all human activity, is: does it have the capacity to continue?
An appropriate response to this question is vital because, as we approach the Millennium, humanity faces a profound crisis: human activities are threatening the very support systems on which our health, even our survival, depends. Many other species, all of which have their place in a delicately balanced global ecological system, are being eliminated daily.
The concept of sustainable development is not merely concerned with environmental factors. Poverty and gross inequality are just as unsustainable as pollution. A sustainable future requires a fair sharing of the benefits and burdens of development.
Thus sustainability encourages an holistic overview. It offers a basis for a pro-active, aspiration- driven approach to the future. It displaces short-termism, which only responds to major issues when forced by some catastrophe to do so.
| * City Planning in Seattle * |
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| In creating its Comprehensive Plan, Seattle's Chief Planner Gary
Lawrence (with strong support from an enlightened political leadership) was guided by the
philosophy that planning is not so much a technical process as a political one, because it is
primarily about people's lives. An ambitious and forward-looking participation process established
an on-going partnership between the local authority and local citizens. To illustrate the value of
input from local citizens Gary Lawrence referred to the vital contribution of bus-drivers (the process
included 2 years of focus groups of bus-drivers), kids (the view from their height and their need for
independence), women (on average, frightened once per day, highlighting safety issues on the
walk between home and public transport) and car drivers (reasons why they used their car in the
city). He had also found that industry was only a small part of the problem and a vital part of the
solutions. Gary Lawrence at the ALG An Agenda for London conference, |
The documents signed at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 insist that sustainable urban development is of crucial importance. The same message came out of the Habitat II conference in Istanbul in June 1996 which specifically addressed the future of human settlements: 'We need to respect the carrying capacity of ecosystems and preservation of opportunities for future generations'. Cities and their people today have to meet the historic challenge: how to implement the necessary technical and organisational challenges.
We take as our working definition that - a 'sustainable city' is a city that works so that all its citizens are able to meet their own needs without endangering the well-being of the natural world or the living conditions of other people, now or in the future.
It is for Londoners to determine what this means for London. London's own growth depended on gaining
access to resources world-wide and on unprecedented technological development. Can London become a sustainable city, maintaining its role as a global market place and a centre of international finance whilst respecting the aspirations of people at the local level and protecting the natural environment?
Sustainable London?
Our definition concentrates the mind on fundamentals. The emphasis is on people and their needs. These include not only good quality air and water, healthy food and appropriate housing, but also education, health care, satisfying employment or occupation, factors such as safety in public places, supportive relationships, equal opportunities and freedom of expression, and the special needs of the young, old or disabled people. In a sustainable London, we have to ask: are all its citizens able to meet these needs?
Next we have to ask: is London's production and consumption threatening the Earth's life-support systems?
Examples are the excessive use of energy and water, or the discharge of wastes damaging the local and global environment, or the use of timber taken from virgin tropical forests. Such activities are unsustainable. Cities can only be sustainable with a considered, efficient use and re-use of resources, and by developing a sustainable relationship with the outside world.
Then, what about the city's trading and financial activities: how do these affect the living conditions of other people or the health of ecosystems world-wide?
For instance, when a banker makes a loan to a foreign business, hir decisions have far- reaching repercussions. If London is to become a sustainable city, we have to examine these effects: how can we ensure that Londoners and their institutions play a life-enhancing, not life-destroying, role in the world?
The definition implies the need for London to bacome a 'learning city'. And it emphasises the importance of self-help: sustainability does not mean creating a global 'welfare state', or even a civic one; it is more concerned with how best to use the resources, including our own human resources.
| * Sustainable development and politics * |
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| "Sustainable development is a political process, inextricably linked with local democracy and
participation. The problems that we are trying to address through sustainable development are
caused by all of us. They can only be solved by all of us. This means that all citizens need to take
an active role in the process, rather than simply casting their vote at election times and then
getting on with 'business as usual'. Local councils can, and must, enable and encourage citizens
to work with them. Remembering that responsibility and power go hand in hand, citizens must be
invested with a greater stake in decision-making if they are to accept greater responsibility". (From Leicester's Environment City report 'Local Sustainability', 1995) |
| * Manchester 2020 * |
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| This project looks 25 years ahead, at the scope for sustainable development in a major conurbation - Greater Manchester. It examines present conditions and trends, sets targets for 2020 and outlines the actions and the actors to be involved. It looks at the whole city-region, as well as the urban area itself, and at both local and global effects of the city system. 'The result is a demonstration and vision of how things can and should change - not so much a blueprint, as a direction of travel towards the future.' The project is being conducted by the Town and Country Planning Association in partnership with C.E.R. Research and Consultancy at Manchester Metropolitan University. It has received sponsorship from the European Regional Development Fund. The Overview document goes on to state that 'Applying the 2020 perspective to other cities, the changes needed in national and global policy, regulation, technology and the market, will be broadly similar for any city in the UK which is aiming at a sustainable development path'. It concludes: 'This project is a demonstration produced by an expert panel - the next step is a large-scale consensus building progeamme involving all the stakeholders through the political system. Each city needs to carry this out on its own terms, both for the short term, and for a timescale of up to 2020 and beyond. |
From the 18th century onwards London developed its special character as a city with the whole world as its back yard. The hub of the world's greatest empire, it became a centre for international trade. London's unprecedented size was matched by its huge, diverse economy which has provided a livelihood for generations of Londoners.
However, its special character as an international centre has made London vulnerable to the very changes it has helped to generate. Whilst its financial and trading sector has expanded, London has suffered a dramatic loss of manufacturing, turning it into a 'hot house city' vulnerable to decline in international demand for its services. 80 percent of London's jobs are now in the services sector. There is now much insecurity about the city's economic stability and its systemic high levels of unemployment. Londoners are also uncertain about how their city's local and global environmental impacts can be tackled.
How can Londoners, with all their creativity, reinvent London to make this an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable city? London's greatest asset are its own people; can London's future strength emerge from within?
London's own environment has been subject to great changes over the last 200 years. In the 19th Century, London's growth was accompanied by the creation of many parks, greatly improving living conditions for millions. But no major new park has been created in London for decades. How can London's own internal environment be improved to benefit the next few generations of Londoners?
London is the 'mother of mega-cities'; in the early 19th century it became the world's first city to
exceed a million people. From 1800 to 1940 it grew tenfold to 8.6 million people. Through its
pioneering use of urban technologies, London has contributed to the process of urbanisation all
over the world. Underground and suburban railways, street lighting, piped water supply, and a
comprehensive sewage system have made large cities such as London possible. However, today
London has fallen behind with regard to the application of a new generation of urban technologies
for ensuring energy efficiency, waste recycling and the most effective uses of public transport
systems.
The mother of mega-cities
London, in spite of its wealth, has serious problems such as poor schools, unemployment, poor housing, homelessness, traffic congestion, high levels of crime and drug abuse, poor public transport and exclusion of minorities. Even more intractable is the fact that across society the feeling of disillusionment and lack of trust in the future is deepening. Too many people lead insecure lives, without certain means to meet their needs. Many young people leave school with little prospect of a job. Their experience is one of utter lack of opportunity in the presence of extreme wealth and privilege. It is not surprising that some feel resentful and show anti-social behaviour. People struggling to make ends meet are not likely to respond to calls from above to help conserve and improve their environment.
Londoners themselves are greatly concerned about the future of their city. In recent surveys they have made it clear that they feel that their needs are not being adequately met. Pollution, closely followed by crime, affordability of housing, economic security and health care, are concerns that people feel are not being sufficiently addressed.
Most Londoners are prepared to protect the environment - by recycling products, by having them repaired and by using products less harmful for the environment. Better choices for the widespread use of public transport, rather than reliance on cars, and concrete measures for reductions in energy use would meet with approval.
The concerns about jobs and housing clearly need to be addressed. There is also every indication that Londoners are highly aware about local and global environmental issues. Even more significantly, Londoners are willing to take steps to meet important challenges. London is rich in local groups, voluntary organisations and expertise of every kind. Why then is it that we are doing so little to make the way we live in London more sustainable?
London's blocked energy
One reason is political. Sustainability involves everyone. The solutions are often complex and require co-operative action right across the city. They require changes in how people, organisations and communities live and work for generations to come. But in London today there is a widespread feeling of powerlessness. Many people do not feel that they have a tangible stake in the future. London is run by the government's London Office which is not democratically accountable to Londoners, and by the 33 boroughs which give Londoners very little opportunity to participate in decision making processes.
Large sections of the community, including women, young people and minorities, are inadequately represented in the corridors of power. Thousands of innovative organisations in the voluntary sector, which often command far more public respect than politicians and bureaucrats, are excluded from the processes of governance at all levels. The public has lost confidence in a system of local government in which people merely have a right to vote, and a right to stand for election as a borough councillor, every few years.
| * Chattanooga, USA * |
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| In 1969, Chattanooga was the worst polluted city in the USA. In 1990 it was recognised as that country's best turn-around story. In 1984 all members of the community had been invited to envision what they wanted their city to be like by 2000. Sustainable community development
emerged from a shared vision of what citizens want for the future. Affordable housing, public
education, transportation alternatives, better urban design, parks and greenways and
neighbourhood vitality were ons top of people's agenda. The energetic collaboration of government
agencies, manufacturers and citizens resulted in successful initiatives to clean up the air and
revitalise a city in decline. Several eco-industrial parks were established to rebuild the city's
economic base, proving that economic development and environmental stewardship can be
achieved together. What stands out in the story of Chattanooga is the determination of all parties
to set in motion a comprehensive, interrelated and strategic process for sustainable community
development. Best Practices Programme, UNCHS, Nairobi. |
To grasp this opportunity, Londoners must take charge of their future. They must insist on London having its own strategic government with appropriate powers. A city-wide learning exercise is needed to arrive at a common understanding of London's assets, predicaments, aspirations and responsibilities. Londoners can develop more truly participatory methods of decision-making at all levels. We can value the local, the small, the diverse and the voluntary as building blocks of city life, we can devise new, open and non-confrontational ways of addressing London-wide issues and we can adopt new concepts of leadership that reflect this new paradigm.
| * The Evening Standard Debates organised by the Architecture Foundation * |
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| These monthly debates in the first half of1996 on 'London in the 21st Century', focusing on the built environment, have been enormously successful. By offering free entry and engaging high-profile speakers they have attracted large audiences and wide publicity. Audience participation has been a feature of the events. It is important that the energy generated is not allowed to dissipate: the London Citizens Forum would help to build on this work. |
London is a centre for many organisations engaged in environment and sustainable development on a world-wide scale. Yet London as a financial centre has shown little concern about the global impact of its financial transactions. Around one third of London's jobs are in the financial services sector. All the more important that the City of London should concern itself with the implications of its activities for sustainable development.
London grew out of its own bio-region, the Thames Valley with its farmland and forests and the
river which is still central to its geography. Today it is part of a much wider system, reaching out to
farmland, forests, and oceans beyond the horizon, as well as embracing its trading and business
partners all over the world. London should establish more sustainable relationships with
the ecosystems supporting it, and reassess the trading system underpinning its existence.
The city as part of an ecosystem
London currently depends on a global hinterland for many of its supplies. Yet its immediate hinterland or bio-region, the South East of England and the Home Counties, could grow far more of the city's food needs, thereby enhancing local employment, whilst reducing the amount of energy used in transporting food longer distances. Of London's own 400,000 acres, nearly 10 per cent are classified as farmland, yet only a small proportion is actually used for growing food. Enhancing local food production could be the basis for developing a positive interdependence between city and country, the one providing a secure local market for agricultural produce, the other a place for city-dwellers to enjoy outdoor activities.
An economy operating on principles of sustainability would create conditions for greater long-term
stability of employment and job satisfaction. More local production for local markets would
strengthen small and medium-sized businesses, increasing local employment. The reduction of
London's energy use to a fraction of its present rate, by the measures described elsewhere in the
manifesto, would be good for job creation and for the quality of life, as well as for the environment. The
same applies to goods made in an environmentally friendly manner and which are constructed to
last longer or to be re-cycled. London has been a world leader in promoting the enterprise
economy. Now the task is to make London a world leader in promoting sustainable economics, resource efficiency and fair trade.
A sustainable economy
For all London's many unique attractions, it does have very serious social problems. The ending
of social and economic deprivation and all its unpleasant side-effects is an essential goal of a
sustainable city. A divided society is not sustainable. This should be seen as a shared goal for all
sectors of government and society and have a far higher priority than in the past. The concept of
sustainability is shared by many of the cultures represented in London. It could form the
cornerstone of a strong civic identity defined by tolerance and mutual respect. It could enhance
the roles played by London's diverse communities and help them to flourish in dignity, side by
side. London could thus become a city where everyone, of whatever age or race and whatever
their circumstances, feels equally respected.
An equitable and caring society
With appropriate planning, resource use and transport strategies, London could become a less
polluted and more efficient city, much more convenient and less stressful. Living conditions for
everyone in London could be healthy: the air could be clean; the water in all the rivers and canals
could be pure enough for the most vulnerable life forms. Londoners would all be able to enjoy
peace and quiet in their homes and open spaces.
London as a place in which to live and work
People's lives could be enriched in all sorts of ways. For example, with more schools with local catchment areas, more jobs located near where people live, more people could walk to school or work: a spin off could be an increased public pride in many previously run-down neighbourhoods as people rediscover their sense of local distinctiveness and community.
A number of studies in recent years have emphasised the great commercial success that London has achieved, and this is undoubtedly true. But now we need new studies that represent the complete picture, including the social and environmental impacts of London's economic success. Today we don't just need descriptions of what London is, but what it could be like, if sustainable development becomes the guiding principle. How can London's physical space, its transport system, its architecture and its use of resources be improved, for the benefit of both people and the environment?
Redefining success
This work requires the combined talents of London's academics, engineers, architects and artists, working together with communities all over London to conceptualise a sustainable city. London has been described as a knowledge based city, now we need applied knowledge of sustainable urban development from all London's professions. And we also need the great talents of London's advertising sector and the media to convey the fascinating potential of a city which has the will to reinvent itself.
| * The Big Issue * |
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| At the UN Habitat Conference in Istanbul, June 1996, the Big Issue was selected as an 'Urban Best Practice', a partnership for improving urban life of world-wide significance. A total of 700 best practices were granted that coveted status, but only one newspaper. The Big Issue is a unique publication, combining news, arts and features with campaigning articles highlighting social issues. It provides the homeless and the socially vulnerable with an opportunity to help themselves: street vendors are the sole outlet for the paper. With its base in London, the weekly magazine now sells 300,000 copies in 19 UK cities. The Big Issue is also helping to establish sister papers in other parts of Europe, South Africa and Australia. |
| * The Habitat Best Practices Programme * |
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| The best practices programme is a flag-ship initiative of Habitat, the UN's office for human settlements. It sees the creativity and dynamism of city people as critical for an urban future. Only participatory approaches can solve seemingly intractable problems such as urban pollution, deprivation and homelessness; central or local governments alone cannot hope to do so. A global best practices network is now in place. Cities can now learn from one another about all aspects of urban management - from self-help housing development, waste recycling and composting, to urban agriculture, and energy efficiency technologies. The programme emphasises that the learning process will not just be one-way, from North to South, but that cities in the South also have a great deal to teach those in the North. Best Practices are being disseminated on a special Internet service. |
| Blueprint for Leicester | ||
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| In 1992, Leicester Environment City Trust received funding from the European Commission to help develop Leicester's 'Environment City' initiative, including a Local Agenda 21 process. The need to involve the public in decision-making was appreciated and the process adopted involved 3 stages: | ||
| * Stage 1 * | * Stage 2 * | * Stage 3 * |
| A large-scale participation exercise to identify needs and aspirations | Agreement on suitable solutions | Action and review |
| The first stage has been completed involving nearly 2000 individuals and 88 groups in a visioning exercise, and 29 organisations formulating working group recommendations. The Leicester Energy Strategy is a practical example of making real change in the city. It aims to enable every citizen to make their home more energy efficient. Take-up has been brisk and households are surveyed on their satisfaction with the scheme. The Blueprint for Leicester is now moving into a new phase of concern with wider sustainability issues. | ||
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