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Leaders Snapshots - Archive 2011Back to Word from the CEO Desk Thriving Neighbourhoods: Conference Outcomes
By Lindsay Bevege Thriving communities will always be about the ‘ability to renew’: they are resilient, thus able to adapt creatively to changes and shocks, such as climate change, population growth, social upheaval, economic crises, and rapid technology change. It may take time, but thriving neighbourhoods can emerge from different types of developments: be they in inner city or urban fringe areas, in greenfield or infill developments, or in high- or low-density areas. The Thriving Neighbourhoods Conference showed how emerging techniques for the planning, design and management of communities are set to radically improve health, social engagement, environmental conservation and productivity in communities. Such communities will have the resilience needed to enable them to adapt creatively to unexpected changes, even shocks, such as climate change, population change, social upheaval and economic crises. The complexity of the systems involved in creating thriving communities poses difficult and challenging issues for planners, developers and managers. But the potential returns on the invested effort and resources are massive. Read on.... Word from the CEO Desk - October 2011
Dear colleague, As an international association of local governments with a commitment to sustainability we support Member councils in their work through advocacy, networking, information sharing, recognition and program support. Member councils are provided by the ICLEI World Secretariat based in Bonn, Germany and the Oceania Regional Secretariat with information on local initiatives though our bulletins and newsletters, on-line case studies, participation in webinars on specific topics and access to international and national forums and conferences. We also place local government’s sustainability agenda before other levels of government and the international community on behalf of Members and the local government sector. The focus of ICLEI Oceania over the coming year will be on servicing the needs of elected representatives and senior management. Our Thriving Neighbourhoods Conference was held on 25 & 26 October with our Principal Partner the City of Port Phillip. Our Sponsors included City West Water, Department of Planning and Community Development, the Victorian Building Commission, MIRVAC, Bankmecu, Moreland Energy Foundation and VEIL – Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab. Our Auspicing Societies included Municipal Association of Victoria, Victorian Local Governance Association, Melbourne Sustainability Institute, International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Green Building Council of Australia. The inaugural Conference was an outstanding success and the attendance of 160 delegates augurs well for next year’s conference to be held from 11 – 15 November at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The highlights were many but Paul Hawken (Environmentalist and entrepreneur and author of ‘Blessed Unrest’), Tony Arnel (Building and Plumbing Commissioner of Victoria and Chair of the Green Building Council of Australia), Anne Barker (Managing Director, City West Water) and Anna Meroni (Visiting Professor, Department of Industrial Design, Politecnico di Milano) were keynote presentations that were both insightful and challenging. The diverse range of panelists from government, business, academia and community were inspiring and informative. As Members will be aware ICLEI Oceania formed a partnership with Ironbark Sustainability over 12 months ago. Ironbark Sustainability has over 20 years of experience working with councils in auditing, project managing and implementing sustainability projects and we are currently reviewing our agreement to ensure that the benefits are responsive to your needs. The partnership agreement provides Member councils with a discounted rate for on the ground work with environment officers, team leaders, managers and staff from building assets, maintenance, and other departments and includes project management and implementation. Our Water Campaign continues to support councils in Western Australia and in the City West Water, Melbourne Region. In Western Australia there are 42 Councils participating in the State Government funded Program and in the City West Water region there are 9 councils participating in the campaign. Our international program is focused in Indonesia and in collaboration with the ICLEI South Asia office in New Delhi, India and the South East Asia Office based in Manila, Philippines. The Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) has been working with ten cities from India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to assist them to develop Climate Resilience Strategies. A climate planning guide for Asian cities is currently being trialed in three Indian cities, in partnership with South Asia Office, and will then be made available widely throughout the region, including Australia and New Zealand. The GIZ Policy Advice for Climate Change (PAKLIM) has a dual focus – to help cities prepare for and adapt to the changing climate and to support cities to measure and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. ICLEI has been contracted to provide ongoing technical support as the PAKLIM program is rolled out in Indonesia. And finally as mentioned in last month’s e-News we are seeking to develop a series of Member council case studies on sustainability initiatives to be presented at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June 2012. If your councils wishes to contribute please contact the ICLEI Office on 03 9639 8688 or by email - martin.brennan@icle.org
Word from the CEO Desk - September 2011Last month I spent a day in Canberra and facilitated a workshop organised by the Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government and the Australian and New Zealand School of Government. Stefanie Pillora (ACELG) develop the content on the topic ‘Solutions to a critical problem: climate change’. There were 42 participants from across Australia plus representatives from New Zealand. Participants included elected representatives and senior management. It was a useful engagement on the key issues confronting local councils including the introduction of a carbon price. The response to climate change remains a key challenge for us in local government. We need to provide leadership for our council and community and develop responses that are locally driven and beneficial. We are after all a level of government with discrete powers and resources and we have shown in the past how we can make a difference locally and when actions are aggregated nationally and internationally. And that brings me to the international stage on which ICLEI will play its part in June 2012 at the Rio+21 Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio. Councils continue to register their interest on the ICLEI Global website and we will be contacting those councils to support their efforts on sustainability at home and provide assistance to those who are able to join the Oceania delegation. There will also be our triennial World Congress prior to Rio+20 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The Congress provides an opportunity for Members to gather and share their experiences and provide direction and support for ICLEI’s role. And finally back home, the Oceania Board met last week for a work planning session. The meeting focused on key outcomes, objectives, strategies and tasks that the office will undertake over the coming 12 months. A report will be prepared and circulated in the form of as survey for you input. I look forward to your comments and continued support for our work at home and abroad. Leaders in local government in CanberraOn Thursday I, along with Stefanie Pillora, Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government, will facilitate a session as part of the ANZSOG/ACELG Leadership Program on climate change. With 42 local government leaders, elected and administrative attending, it should be informative, challenging and enjoyable! Sustainable Councils 2011 - BrisbaneSustainable Councils 2011 held at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5 – 6 September 2011 brought together local governments to share their knowledge, present case studies of their initiatives, hear from leaders in sustainability and environment practice,and work to build a sustainable future. Peter Matic, Councillor for Toowong Ward and Chairman of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee for Brisbane City Council and I provided opening presentations at the Conference. Cr Peter Matic holds the office of Chairman of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee. Peter is responsible for progressing sustainable development in Brisbane, particularly the natural environment, parks, air quality, climate change, energy efficiency and integrated water management agendas. Peter is a Board member of ICLEI Oceania and a member of the Global ICLEI Committee. Paul Hawken coming to MelbourneIt is exciting to be able to announce that Paul Hawken will be the keynote speaker at ICLEI’s Thriving Neighbourhoods conference, which will explore the role of Local Governments in creating and managing thriving neighbourhoods. It will examine how Local Governments engage their stakeholders including the property, planning, parks, community health, and other government sectors. It will take these diverse groups out of their silos and work collaboratively to create a living environment where residents are healthy and productive. The conference program is on http://thrivingneighbourhoods2011.org/ Paul whose first major book in 1993, The Ecology of Commerce, argued for the concept of full-cost accounting: that in order to truly gauge the impact of a business decision, businesses must analyse all costs – social, environmental and economic. Thus developed the concept of ‘triple bottom line’ (TBL), which John Elkington coined in 1998. He is also the author of the bestseller Blessed Unrest, which examines the movement of non-profit groups and community organisations dedicated to restoring environmental health and fostering social justice. Hawken observes that the movement has no charismatic leader and follow no unifying ideology, but the movement expresses ‘humanity’s collective genius’ and is becoming an unstoppable force in redefining people’s relationship with the environment and with one another. A sustainable future will be low carbon!I was pleased to have the opportunity to speak at the Sustainable Government Conference in Melbourne last week on the topic 'A low carbon future: a local government perspective'. I emphasised the need for a new language and a new approach to a low carbon future. The points made included - - challenges we face globally and locally rests on our capacity to create sustainable communities and thus an enduring plant. - local councils have a long track record and been a key player in sustainable development and responding to the causes and impacts of climate change - at ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability we look at the challenges and opportunities for local governments through the sustainability prism. - Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and the writing of chapter 28 of Agenda 21 – Local Agenda 21, has provided a sustainability framework for local government to inform its planning, decision-making and reporting - June 2012 world leaders will return to Rio de Janeiro for the Rio+20 Conference – can it put the international community back on track? - the challenge of climate change needs to be seen in the context of global market volatility, social dislocation and political dysfunction and therefore requires a broad economic, social and environmental approach - at the core of our response to climate change should be underpinned by the sustainability principles expressed in Local Agenda 21 - What is a low carbon future? Can we apply sustainability principles to local actions for a low carbon future? - CCP – remains a legacy on which councils across Australia and around the world have built their on-going political commitment, goal setting, plans and evaluation and reporting. - our focus needs to be on energy - energy efficiency, renewable energy, and distributed generation - in 2009 ICLEI entered into a partnership agreement with Ironbark Sustainability recognising our mutual objectives and common constituency and clients. Low-Carbon Cities of the Future: Resilient CitiesBoyd Cohen People have asked me why I am so passionate about cities when I discuss the book Climate Capitalism since most assume my focus would be on the private sector. There are many reasons for my obsession about cities. 2.) Cities are major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions around the globe. Estimates suggest that as much as 80% of total GHG emissions come from cities and their residents. 3.) City leaders around the globe can enact numerous levers which can have major impacts on their GHG emissions such as transport policy, building codes and land use, district energy systems, availability of community gardens and waste management. On top of that cities themselves are owner/operators of buildings and vehicle fleets and therefore can lead by example and stimulate local climate capitalism opportunities. 4.) Cities can frequently act independently of federal or state regulators in the absence of federal action. Former Seattle Mayor, Greg Nickels, proved this years ago when he launched the U.S. Mayors for Climate Protection as a way to aggregate cities in the U.S. who were concerned about climate change and the lack of federal regulation. Today there are more than 1,000 U.S. mayors who have signed on. 5.) Cities will be the front line for adapting to climate change whether it be barrier solutions and other flood prevention policy, local food security or increased green spaces to minimize urban heat island effect. A recent research report indicated that 80% of the projected $80-$100 billon annual costs for adaptation will be absorbed by cities. Rio+20 on the go!Monday 9 May, 2011A Green Economy Takes Root in Rio de JaneiroHuffpost Green As the site of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, Brazil will be hosting an enormous number of international tourists over the next few years. But another event of global importance looms on the nation's horizon even sooner. Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, is scheduled to take place in June of 2012 in Rio de Janeiro. With just over a year to go, Brazil, and the state of Rio de Janeiro in particular (both the state and its iconic coastal city carry the same name) are intent on presenting a Brazil serious about sustainable development. To bring this goal to fruition, the Rio state government created a department devoted to Green Economics in January of this year. Though still quite young, the department's small staff is already working doggedly to bring many sectors of state and national government into the fold to promote collaboration in planning for and implementing initiatives to further green economic strategies and bolster the number of "green-collar" jobs. According to Suzana Kahn, who heads the Green Economy secretariat of Rio, the creation of the department came from "the urgent need to conciliate the concepts of economic growth with sustainability and environmental protection, which are still largely seen as incompatible." With Rio in the world's limelight due to forthcoming athletic events and due to its booming economy, the timing couldn't be riper with opportunity to launch these progressive initiatives. Copenhagen comes to MelbourneMelbourne Conversations: Cities for people: Jan GehlThe City of Melbourne invites you to this unique lecture by one of the world’s foremost authorities on the urban design of cities. Date: Monday 2 May 2011 6.00 to 7.30pm Lecture Topic: Cities for people - A lecture by Jan Gehl Melbourne Town Hall In his new book Cities for People, Gehl writes "City life and regard for people in city space must have a key role in the planning of cities and built-up areas." Renowned Danish architect Jan Gehl, and frequent visitor to Melbourne, will discuss his new book, his life long experience of urban development and the increasing connections between physical form and human behaviour. Join this timely conversation as Melburnians grapple with the issues of growth, liveability and sustainability. Moderator, Professor Rob Adams, Director of City Design for the City of Melbourne and Jill Garner, Associate Victorian Government Architect, The Office of Victorian Government Architect will form a panel discussion with Jan Gehl following his lecture. Sydney moves ahead with trigenerationThe City of Sydney has entered the first phase of the installation of a low carbon energy system at Town Hall House. City of Sydney CEO Monica Barone said the network will slash greenhouse gas emissions and stem rising electricity costs in buildings across the City. The building of a ‘trigeneration energy system’ in close proximity to the Town Hall was the first step in the council’s plans to connect its buildings to a network of low-carbon energy systems. According to a media spokesperson the council aims to also connect-up privately owned buildings in the city to its low-carbon electricity network.“[Private businesses] have no objections to trigeneration,” he said. “A group of private businesses [with trigeneration interest] was forming a group with the council an announcement about this will be made later this year.” In July last year, the City of Sydney invited energy companies to tender for the build and operation of a network of trigeneration systems to supply electricity, heating and cooling to the City's five aquatic centres, the Town Hall precinct and Customs House and the remainder of its 200-plus buildings. Local Government Climate Change RoundtableThursday 31 March, 2011ICLEI Oceania is providing assistance and support to the Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government for a ‘Local Government Climate Change Roundtable’ to be held in early May to address the question: ‘What are the policy gaps and research priorities for local government in dealing with climate change?’ Sponsored by federally funded organisations, the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) and the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCARRF), the purpose of the roundtable is to: · build a common understanding amongst leading local government researchers about ‘where councils are at’ in terms of both adaptation and mitigation · explore gaps in research and policy support available to the local government sector - especially smaller councils · identify specific actions that can be taken by the ACELG and NCAARF networks and partners. Councils, regional organisations, local government associations, professional associations, federal and state government departments, academic researchers and scientists will all be represented. Expert facilitators will be engaged to ensure the roundtable aims are achieved. Taipei snaps!
Thursday 24 March, 2011'2011 International Forum for a Low Carbon Future' is a national event for the 100th anniversary of Taiwan and hence is being held in the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall with the main objective to exchange information in climate change and carbon reduction education. It is supported and sponsored by the National Science Council of Taiwan. The National Taiwan Normal University has drawn on expertise from Finland (happens to be from Kolcutta), Michigan, New York State, Kentucky and Louisiana along with local academics and researchers from across Taiwan. Speakers and topics are wide ranging covering climate change education from a range of perspectives - Climate change education: the role of IPCC and future perspectives - Speaker: Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Vice President IPCC Education for climate change and water resources – Professor Daniel P. Loucks, Cornell University, USA Climate action plans in universities and campus sustainability – Professor Harold Glasser, Western Michigan University, USA How educators may implement education for energy conservation and carbon reduction – Dr Pradipta Halder, University of Eastern Finland Climate change education as a part of environmental education – David Wicks, North America Association of Environment Educators Energy management and decision-making: development and experiences of energy models in Canada, China, and Taiwan – Professor Gordon Huang, Regina University, Canada How to teach climate change in schools and to the general public? – Chris Ros, Alexandria Country Day School, Louisiana, USA Climate Change Education for a low carbon future: a local government viewpoint – Martin Brennan Taipei VisitTuesday 15 March, 2011I have been invited to participate in the 2011 International Forum for a Low Carbon Future to be held in Taipei, Taiwan from 23 - 25 March. This is a national event for the100th anniversary of Taiwan and will be held in the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The main objective of this event is to exchange information in education for climate change and carbon reduction. It is supported and sponsored by the National Science Council of Taiwan and the National Taiwan Normal University Taipei, Taiwan. This will be my fourth visit to Taiwan. My topic is ‘Climate Change Education for a low carbon future: a local government viewpoint’. Watch this space for updates on the Forum.
Give us a break!Monday 21 February, 2011Last week the The Age newspaper ran a story headlined - ‘Climate cash up in smoke'. You may be interested in the following unpublished letter sent to The Editor on the article: 16 February. 2011 Dear Editor, There was certainly no smoke and no mirrors when it came to the highly successful and reputed Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) program (‘Climate cash up in smoke’ The Age 15 February). CCP was an initiative of the internationally renowned ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability in the 1990s and was a worldwide program to secure the support and actions of cities and local governments. In Australia the program started in 1997 and over a decade attracted the participation of 240 metropolitan and rural councils across the width and breadth of Australia covering over 85% of the population. CCP councils generated GHG reductions, financial savings and investments in low carbon programs and projects. The direct investment by the Federal Government in the CCP program was around $12m and not the $203m reported in The Age. The difference can only be assumed to cover the Federal bureaucracy, funding of specific programs and projects sought by CCP councils and the cost no doubt of the reviews and evaluations of the program, each one indicating value for GHG reductions (18 m tonnes) and value for money through council investments in staff, programs and major projects. The last (Wilkins 2008) review saw the demise of the program under the Rudd Labor Government that had became solely focused on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. It is ironic to many that the Howard Government supported such a voluntary and action-based initiative under successive Ministers starting with Robert Hill and concluding with Malcolm Turnbull. Such have been the twists and turns of successive Federal Governments and their leaders that the CCP approach to building political and community support for addressing the causes of climate change through real and direct action went up in smoke along with the GHG reductions in July 2009! Yours sincerely, Wayne Wescott, Former CEO & Martin Brennan, Former Deputy CEO ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Oceania
Green Team ConventionFriday 11 February, 2011VicSuper Theatrette, Melbourne - Friday, 25 February 3.30-6.00pm On 25 February, Climate Positive is hosting the first known Green Team Convention. Climate Positive has recognised a need and demand for a forum to educate and share green ideas. The purpose of this event is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of ‘Green Teams’ through best practices, benchmarking and networking. We want to make it easier for ‘Green Teams’, of all shapes and sizes, to access proven strategies to cost-effectively and quickly reduce an organisation's carbon footprint. This is an interactive forum. Attendees are encouraged to share their own Green Team experiences with others during the 40-minute Q&A/discussion time. Following, the audience will be invited to stay on for an hour of drinks and finger food in the VicSuper Theatrette. Climate Positive is a non profit organisation whose remit includes the measurement, reduction and offset of carbon emissions. For ticket and event details, please visit http://greenteamconvention.eventbrite.com/. For further information, please call or email me at Climate Positive on 03 9698 5700. Please RSVP by Tuesday, 22 February. Active Learning Program 2011Thursday 10 February, 2011http://www.3pillarsnetwork.com.au/events/active-learning-brochure-final.pdf |
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