Urban Environmental Planning
Day / Time Friday, June 23rd / 08:30 - 10:30
Event Description
This debate will consider the following topics: key aspects for the harmonization of the GEO Cities assessment methodology with the broader SCP/LA21 methodology for the formulation of urban environmental profiles and actions plans; how GEO Cities and SCP/LA21 instruments can be better incorporated into the formulation of urban development plans; and data, information and indicators gathered for the conduction of the GEO Cities and SCP/LA21 processes which can serve as the basis for the establishment of sustainable urban monitoring and assessment systems or observatories. Speakers include people from PNUMA, UN-Habitat, environmental and planning institutes and mayors.
Session Language
English
Spanish
Host Organization
UN-HABITAT and UNEP
Host Organization Description
UN-Habitat is the UN agency for human settlements. It is mandated to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The Sustainable Cities Programme (SCP), a joint UN-Habitat/UNEP program, was established to build capacities in urban environmental planning and management (EPM) with participatory approaches . It targets urban local authorities and their partners. The objectives of its present activities are: improve EPM/SCP applications, develop an institutional framework and network for sustained support to partners and institutionalize SCP normative activities. The Regional Office for Latin American and the Caribbean (ROLAC) of UN-Habitat collaborates with SCP/LA21 in the implementation of the regional component of the programme, presently working in 5 countries. Both offices are collaborating in the formulation of GEO-Cities studies and city environmental profiles and action plans under the SCP/LA21 component.
Report
Title of Event: Name of Organisation: Date and time of the session: |
Urban Environmental Planning UN-Habitat, ROLAC Friday, 23rd of June, 8:30 - 10:30 |
National planning institutions (Cuba); ministries of environment (Brazil/Peru); local authorities (several countries); national research and academic institutions; non-governmental organizations; donors (Belgium, UK) and international organizations.
• to review the application of GEO and SCP/LA21 instruments at local level for urban environment assessment and planning in Latin America, as part of the collaboration UNEP/UN-Habitat • to review key factors to improve transition from planning to programme design and implementation by local authorities • to asses the importance of participatory approaches on assessment and planning processes • to identify key factors to ensure the institutionalization of the GEO and LA21 processes for its sustainability
• A better understanding of how the GEO and SCP/LA21 instruments are helping municipalities to improve urban environmental planning and management • An agreement on the need of participation and support from other municipal programmes to improve the transition from planning to programme design and implementation • A conclusion that capacity building and participation are key factors for the institutionalization of the processes of environmental planning and management |
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2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUFIII? The GEO and LA21 instruments can be used by municipalities to incorporate the environmental component into the urban master plans through participatory processes and to convert these plans into actions. |
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3. What were the main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues? What new ideas have been generated as a result of the discussion? The methodology of GEO and LA21 processes are helping the municipalities to improve urban environmental planning and management . The capacity building and the participatory approaches of the assessment and planning instruments are helping to anchor and institutionalize the processes into the municipalities, through the formal urban development plans and budgetary processes |
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4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality? The participatory processes of the GEO and LA21 methodologies for the urban planning and management are one of the key aspects for the later implementation of the action plans. Linkage of the action plans to the municipal budget is also a factor of success for implementation. |
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