The UN’s Agenda 21 recognised that changing to a less unsustainable way of living had to be bottom up – it had to start with grassroots action and feed up into national policy making.
This local case study feature may focus on work in a few localities but it also blueprints what work on sustainability can be undertaken elsewhere.
On this page a few quotes from Agenda 21 – which was agreed by the UK and all other countries attending the first Earth Summit – are followed by a look at how our localities have been responding.
“One of the major challenges facing the world community as it seeks to replace unsustainable development patterns with environmentally sound and sustainable development is the need to activate a sense of common purpose on behalf of all sectors of society. The chances of forging such a sense of purpose will depend on the willingness of all sectors to participate in genuine social partnership and dialogue, while recognizing the independent roles, responsibilities and special capacities of each.”
Paragraph 27.10, United Nations Agenda 21, 1992.
“Governments should take measures to:
Establish or enhance an existing dialogue with non-governmental organisations and their self-organised networks representing various sectors, which could serve to: (i) consider the rights and responsibilities of these organisations; (ii) efficiently channel integrated non-governmental inputs to the governmental policy development process; and (iii) facilitate non-governmental coordination in implementing national policies at the programme level;
Encourage and enable partnership and dialogue between local non-governmental organisations and local authorities in activities aimed at sustainable development
Paragraph 27.10, United Nations Agenda 21, 1992.
“Effective execution of Agenda 21 will require a profound reorientation of all human society, unlike anything the world has ever experienced – a major shift in the priorities of governments and individuals and an unprecedented redeployment of human and financial resources.
“This shift will demand that a concern for the environmental consequences of every human action be integrated into individual and collective decision-making at every level.”
United Nations Agenda 21, 1992.
“Society, governments and international bodies should develop mechanisms to allow non-governmental organisations to play their partnership role responsibly and effectively in the process of environmentally sound and sustainable development.”
Paragraph 27.5, United Nations Agenda 21, 1992.
Local Support for the UN Earth Summit 2012
In order to raise the profile of this year’s Earth Summit and its links to locality working, surveys were sent to councils across Coventry and Warwickshire and Staffordshire. Feedback from the Staffordshire councils will be uploaded shortly.
Survey Questions
Name of LSP:
Catchment:
Point of Contact for ongoing correspondence on sustainability and participation (S&P) concerns:
1. What input into international preparatory processes has the local Partnership and / or Council been making through such national channels as the Local Government Association?
2. The enclosed Report includes details of recent nationwide and regional third sector sustainability initiatives, such as One World Week. What support is the LSP / Council giving VCOs in their efforts to promote sustainability at grassroots level?
3. Have Partnership members made aware of the historical links between LSPs and the UN Earth Summits? What arrangements are in place to report to Partnership / Council members on the extensive international preparations for the Summit?
4. How can Links assist you in providing free information on critical S&P concerns for dissemination to Partnership / Council members?
5. Are plans being made for the Partnership / LSP to follow up UN Earth Summit recommendations?
Thank you for completing this brief survey.
Circulation of Survey
Coventry Dawn Ford, Manager, Coventry Partnership, Room 67, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RR,
North Warwickshire Steve Maxey, North Warwickshire Community Partnership, Council House, South Street, Atherstone, CV9 1BQ,
Nuneaton and Bedworth Christine Kerr, Chief Executive, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Town Hall, Coton Road, Nuneaton, CV11 5AA,
Rugby Andrew Gabbitas, Executive Director, Rugby Borough Council, Town Hall, Evreux Way, Rugby, CV21 2LB,
Stratford-upon-Avon Paul Lankester, Chief Executive, Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HX,
Warwick Chris Elliot, Chief Executive, Then to, Mrs Liz Young, Joint Area Team, Warwick District Council, Town Hall, Leamington Spa, CV32 4AT,
Warwickshire Jim Graham, Chief Executive, Warwickshire County Council, Shire Hall, Warwick, CV34 4RR,
Name of LSP
Coventry Coventry Partnership
North Warwickshire North Warwickshire Community Partnership
Nuneaton and Bedworth Nuneaton and Bedworth LSP
Rugby Rugby LSP
Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford District Partnership
Warwick Warwick District LSP
Warwickshire Warwickshire LSP has been replaced by Warwickshire Public Services Board. The work that is undertaken by theme groups elsewhere is the responsibility of partnerships (eg, those with climate change and biodiversity remits) reporting directly to the County Council.
Catchment
Coventry n/a
North Warwickshire
Ansley, Arley, Astley, Atherstone, Austrey, Baddesley Ensor, Baxterley, Bentley, Birchmoor, Blythe End, Caldecote, Coleshill, Corley, Curdworth, Dordon, Fillongley, Furnace End, Gilson, Great Packington, Grendon, Warwickshire, Grendon, Atherstone, Hartshill, Heath Whitacre, Hurley, Hurley Common, Kingsbury, Lea Marston, Little Packington, Mancetter, Maxstoke, Merevale, Middleton, Moxhull, Nether Whitacre, Newton Regis, Over Whitacre, Polesworth, Seckington, Shustoke, Shuttington, Warton, Water Orton, Whitacre Heath, Wiggins Hill, Wishaw, Wood End (near Kingsbury), Wood End (Near Fillongley)
Nuneaton and Bedworth Nuneaton, Bedworth, Bulkington
Rugby Bilton, Hillmorton, Brownsover , Newbold-on-Avon, New Bilton, Overslade, Hillside, Rugby
Stratford-upon-Avon
Admington, Alcester, Alderminster, Ardens Grafton, Arlescote, Arrow, Aston Cantlow, Atherstone-on-Stour, Avon Dassett, Barcheston and Willington, Barton-on-the-Heath, Bearley, Beaudesert, Bidford-on-Avon, Billesley, Binton, Bishops Itchington, Brailes, Broom, Burmington, Burton Dassett, Butlers Marston, Chadshunt, Chapel Ascote, Charlecote, Cherington and Stourton, Chesterton and Kingston, Claverdon, Clifford Chambers and Milcote, Combrook, Compton Verney, Compton Wynyates, Coughton, Dorsington, Ettington, Exhall, Farnborough, Fenny Compton, Fulbrook, Gaydon, Great Alne, Great Wolford, Halford, Hampton Lucy, Harbury, Haselor, Henley-in-Arden, Hodnell and Wills Pastures, Honington, Idlicote, Ilmington, Kineton, Kinwarton, Ladbroke, Langley, Lighthorne, Lighthorne Heath, Little Compton, Little Wolford, Long Compton, Long Itchington, Long Marston, Lower Shuckburgh, Loxley, Luddington, Milcote, Moreton Morrell, Morton Bagot, Napton-on-the-Hill, Newbold Pacey, Northend, Old Stratford and Drayton, Oldberrow, Oversley Green, Oxhill, Pillerton Hersey, Pillerton Priors, Preston Bagot, Preston-on-Stour, Priors Hardwick, Priors Marston, Quinton, Radbourne, Radway, Ratley and Upton, Salford Priors, Sambourne, Seckington, Shipston-on-Stour, Shotteswell, Snitterfield, Southam, Spernall, Stockton, Stoneton, Stourton and Cherington, Stratford-upon-Avon, Stretton-on-Fosse, Studley, Sutton-under-Brailes, Tanworth-in-Arden, Temple Grafton, Tidmington, Tredington, Tysoe, Ufton, Ullenhall, Upper Shuckburgh, Warmington, Watergall, Weethley, Welford-on-Avon, Wellesbourne, Weston-on-Avon, Whatcote, Whichford, Whitchurch, Wilmcote, Wixford, Wolverton, Wootton Wawen, Wormleighton
Warwick
Ashow, Baddesley Clinton, Baginton, Barford, Beausale, Bishops Tachbrook, Blackdown, Bubbenhall, Budbrooke, Bushwood, Cubbington, Eathorpe, Haseley, Hatton, Honiley, Hunningham, Kenilworth, Lapworth, Leamington Spa, Leek Wootton, Norton Lindsey, Offchurch, Old Milverton, Radford Semele, Rowington, Sherbourne, Shrewley, Stoneleigh, Wappenbury, Warwick, Wasperton, Weston Under Wetherley, Whitnash, Wroxall.
Warwickshire See above.
Survey Responses
Designated Point of Contact for ongoing correspondence on sustainability and participation (S&P) concerns
Coventry Michael Checkley, Environment Theme Group Advisor, Coventry Partnership, Room 67, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5R. 024 7683 2155.
North Warwickshire -
Nuneaton and Bedworth -
Rugby -
Stratford-upon-Avon -
Warwick Mrs Liz Young, Joint Area Team, Warwick District Council, Town Hall, Leamington Spa CV32 4AT.
Warwickshire -
1. What input into international preparatory processes has the local Partnership and / or Council been making through such national channels as the Local Government Association?
Coventry There has not been any information from the LGA on the Summit. When I phoned LGA on 12 December they were unaware of any guidance re preparatory processes.
North Warwickshire -
Nuneaton and Bedworth -
Rugby -
Stratford-upon-Avon -
Warwick -
Warwickshire -
2. The enclosed Report includes details of recent nationwide and regional third sector sustainability initiatives, such as One World Week. What support is the LSP / Council giving VCOs in their efforts to promote sustainability at grassroots level?
Coventry Voluntary Action Coventry is the main means by which the LSP communicates with VCOs in the city. The LSP also maintains close contact with Coventry Community Empowerment Network. Both organisations receive updates on sustainability and climate change initiatives such as the current consultation on the climate change strategy.
North Warwickshire -
Nuneaton and Bedworth -
Rugby -
Stratford-upon-Avon -
Warwick -
Warwickshire -
3. Have Partnership members made aware of the historical links between LSPs and the UN Earth Summits? What arrangements are in place to report to Partnership / Council members on the extensive international preparations for the Summit?
Coventry I’m unaware that Partnership members have been made aware of the links – LGA guidance required.
North Warwickshire -
Nuneaton and Bedworth -
Rugby -
Stratford-upon-Avon -
Warwick -
Warwickshire -
4. How can Links assist you in providing free information on critical S&P concerns for dissemination to Partnership / Council members?
Coventry Please include the Partnership secretariat on the mailing list for your newsletter.
North Warwickshire -
Nuneaton and Bedworth -
Rugby -
Stratford-upon-Avon -
Warwick -
Warwickshire -
5. Are plans being made for the Partnership / LSP to follow up UN Earth Summit recommendations?
Coventry Recommendations which filter down to Government policies or legislation would be picked up through revisions to climate change strategy or sustainable community strategy.
North Warwickshire -
Nuneaton and Bedworth -
Rugby -
Stratford-upon-Avon -
Warwick -
Warwickshire -
Other Comments
Coventry Generally the Partnership is happy to promote events such as this (eg COP 15) but local relevance is key in order to get engagement of partners.
It might be a challenging time to obtain publicity for the Earth Summit given its proximity to the start of the Olympics in Coventry and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee nationally.
North Warwickshire -
Nuneaton and Bedworth -
Rugby -
Stratford-upon-Avon -
Warwick -
Warwickshire -
Log
29 November 2011 Original circulation date, with covering letter and report on 2012’s UN Earth Summit.
13 December Survey response from Michael Checkley, Environment Theme Group Advisor, Coventry Partnership. Received 15 December.
22 December Acknowledgement of survey: Chris Elliot, WDC CEO, advised that the matter had been passed to Mrs Liz Young of the Joint Area Partnership Team. Received 30 December.
20 January 2012 Follow up circulation, with request for information under the Freedom of Information Act:
Original Covering Letter
29 November 2011
Dear
Re: ??? Partnership and 2012’s UN Earth Summit
I’m attaching a survey and a copy of Links’ latest Report, which is again highlighting next year’s United Nations Earth Summit. Rio + 20 marks the twentieth anniversary of the first Earth Summit, which launched the worldwide Agenda 21 initiative.
Information about the 1992 Summit, Agenda 21 and their historical links with Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) working is available in the free pdf guides available from sustainabilitylinks.org
As the June Summit will review progress on the grassroots sustainability work that international and national processes made the responsibility of LSPs and SCSs, please could you complete the brief survey.
Thank you for your help with the queries. Your responses will be fed back to local Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) through local third sector channels.
Yours sincerely
Follow up Letter Requesting Information under the Freedom of Information Act
20 January 2012
Dear
Re: ??? LSP and 2012’s UN Earth Summit
I am seeking information to discover what support the Council, as lead member of ???LSP, is recommending that Partnership members should give to the United Nations 2012 Earth Summit.
I believe that the members will appreciate both a) the historical links between UN Earth Summits and locality based working and b) the critical need to factor the impacts of our global unsustainability into local decision taking and policy making.
The attached survey was sent to you on 29 November, with a request for a response by the end of the year. As yet I have not received a reply, advice that the matter is being referred to the next LSP meeting or any acknowledgement of receipt.
I am now requesting this same information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and, as the questions are related to environmental concerns, also under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. I would also refer you to the related series of directives on information access, public participation, decision making and environmental justice aligning EU law with the 1998 UN Aarhus Convention.
I am sure you know that requests made under the Act and Regulations have to be met within 20 working days.
For further information about this year’s Earth Summit and other relevant material see the Links website and pdf files. Shortly the site will also be including case study details of all approaches and responses regarding the Summit.
I am attaching a copy of the survey enclosed with the initial approach. Thank you for any assistance you now give with this matter.
Yours sincerely
Coming soon…
The Sustainability Links website is being relaunched shortly. The new site will include downloadable files on a range of S&P issues, together with a chat room, set to become a meeting place for all those of us who recognising the critical need to bring sustainability into local decision making processes
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Please
contact us with any information or feed back:
E-mail - info@sustainabilitylinks.org.uk