Defining Sustainability Report

ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY AND Agenda Item 5.1 INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT COVER SHEET

14 October 2004 DEFINING SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

Division Corporate Performance

Presenter Stuart Gillespie , Acting Manager Continuous Improvement

Purpose

To present the City of Melbourne’s definition of second generation Sustainability and Triple Bottom Line.

To propose an upgrade to the sustainability assessment process which will assist sustainability reporting and decision making.

Time Frame

Work will commence on the upgrade of the Sustainability Assessment intranet tool in October-November 2004.

Caretaker Policy

The actions detailed in the recommendation relating to the support of sustainable development are neither major policy decisions nor ‘significant’ decisions for the purposes of the Caretaker Policy.

Finance

There are no direct financial implications arising from the recommendation contained in this report.

Legal

No direct legal issues arise from the recommendations contained in the report.

Sustainability

Sustainability is the capacity to continue operations indefinitely. It means that we must restore human and natural capital and add to the prosperity and well being of current and future generations. If sustainability is to be a genuine quality of our organisation we cannot take for granted that the way we do things now is the way things should always be done. The improved Sustainability Assessment for Committee Report (SACR) will cater to the diversity of responses to the sustainability test. However we cannot rely on the SACR alone. Sustainable development has to be supported by consistent messages from senior decision makers at regular intervals. The subject of this report is an aspect of the integrated plan to assist people deliver Council’s sustainability objectives. The program is not expensive, nor is it time consuming, but it does in some respects represent new values. Sustainable development is now more than positive public relations. For the city to demonstrate leadership it must provide evidence of decisions made consistently at policy and operational levels that reflect the principles of sustainability.

Recommendation

That Environment, Sustainability and Indigenous Affairs Committee:

· endorse the following actions in support of sustainable development:

Ø upgrade the sustainability assessment tool to;

- removal of the impact, likelihood, magnitude formula on some of the questions;

- provide drop down lists to new pages with specific relevance to specific disciplines;

- removal of outdated references and programs;

- provide access to supporting documentation available on the corporate document register, eg Greening Events, Green Buildings Planning Policy, Social Inclusion Framework etc;

- release the second generation definition for sustainability with supporting statements on the sustainability page of the intranet; and

- include a link to an on-line information kiosk via the HR on line induction tool for new staff;

Ø remove theme headings under the sustainability section of the Committee report template;

Ø introduce sustainability advisors across the corporate divisions;

Ø provide access to sustainability support sessions for both staff and Councillors;

Ø retain the term ‘triple bottom line’ in the corporate lexicon;

Ø adopt the proposed definition for sustainability as being;

“Sustainability is the capacity to continue operations indefinitely;

Sustainability means that we must restore human and natural capital and add to the prosperity and well being of current and future generations; and

If sustainability is to be a genuine quality of our organisation we cannot take for granted that the way we do things now is the way things should always be done”; and

2 Ø to the following supporting statement;

“Sustainability is our collective task to maintain Melbourne’s intrinsic qualities for current and future generations. It involves our collective capacity to respond to local, national and international pressures on workers, visitors and residents, their social and economic systems and the ecological systems upon which we all depend. Melbourne is Australia's second largest city and a thriving commercial centre. It is outward looking and highly creative. Melbourne is a city passionate about art, culture and sport, with striking public buildings, a multicultural cafe culture and a relaxed, outdoor lifestyle. Set on the estuarine lowlands of the Yarra River, the city’s sustainability depends on our capacity to engage with our work and include others to ensure that the City continues to be one of the most livable and sustainable cities in the world.”

· note that this decision is being made by the Committee under delegation from the Council and is subject to the referral notice process.

Attachment: 1. Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Cities 3 ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY AND Agenda Item 5.1 INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT

14 October 2004 DEFINING SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

Division Corporate Performance

Presenter Stuart Gillespie , Acting Manager Continuos Improvement

Purpose

1. To present the City of Melbourne’s second generation definition for Sustainability and Triple Bottom Line.

2. To propose an improved process to internal systems which assist sustainability reporting and decision making.

Background

3. At its 12 August 2004 meeting the Committee endorsed the following actions being undertaken in support of Triple Bottom Line (TBL) implementation:

“continue to support sustainable development via the Triple Bottom Line approach to reporting and decision making, maintaining the undertaking of sustainability assessments as a mandatory requirement , but no longer requiring a physical attachment with committee reports;

maintain the paragraph titled ‘Sustainability’ in the committee report template;

enhance Sustainability Assessments for committee reports to better meet the requirements of users; and

a further report be prepared for the October 2004 meeting presenting the second generation definitions of Triple Bottom Line and sustainability and a proposal for systems and processes for reporting.”

Defining Sustainability

4. Redefining sustainability for City of Melbourne staff and Councillors is an important milestone in the development of Council’s commitment to sustainable development. The origins of sustainable development for local government go back to 1992 at the United Nations conference on Environment and Development in Rio De Janeiro, (the Earth Summit). The 172 nation states, attending, including Australia signed the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 to implement the Bruntland Report. Chapter 28 of Agenda 21 relates directly to local authorities:

“Because so many of the problems and solutions being addressed by Agenda 21 have their roots in local activities, the participation and cooperation of local authorities will be a determining factor in fulfilling its objectives. Local authorities construct, operate and maintain economic, social and environmental infrastructure, oversee planning

4 processes, establish local environmental policies and regulations, and assist in implementing national and sub national environmental policies. As the level of governance closest to the people, they play a vital role in educating, mobilizing and responding to the public to promote sustainable development.”

5. The full implementation of Agenda 21 was strongly reaffirmed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 26 August to 4 September 2002 at which Lord Mayor John So presented the Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Cities to the local government session. This act in itself firmly asserted Melbourne’s international participation on sustainable development.

6. The Bruntland Report (published in 1987) defines sustainable development as:

“Development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations.”

7. The Australian Federal Government published its National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development in 1992 which describes sustainability as:

“Ecologically sustainable development means using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.”

8. The City of Melbourne’s current definition was created through the influence of John Elkington (who coined the term TBL in 1994) when he visited Melbourne in 1999. Council’s vision for sustainability published in City Plan 2010 is sometimes understood as the phrase which defines sustainability. In fact it is a statement which describes our aspiration for prosperity, equity and quality and calls this sustainability:

“Our vision is for the City of Melbourne to be a thriving and sustainable city. Melbourne City Council will work with all who have a stake in the City of Melbourne’s future to realise this vision and will simultaneous pursue economic (prosperity), social (equity) and environmental (quality)”, and that “the path to achieve sustainability is long and will take many years to travel.”

9. The Victorian Auditor General in his recent Occasional Paper: Beyond the Triple Bottom Line: Measuring and Reporting Sustainability stated:

“The concept of sustainability has broader applicability than the environmental arena. In fact like good governance, sustainability is fast becoming a cornerstone of public sector management”; and

“Sustainability refers to the broader concept of balancing the environmental, social and economic concerns relating to any issue.”

10. The organisation's next (second generation) definition for sustainability must recognise that a balanced compromise of economic, social and environmental activity may not be the path to achieve sustainable development. The objective of City of Melbourne’s new definition is to set an example by managing our institution in ways that restore human and natural capital. These are the forms of capital in short supply and where investment makes sense.

New Definition for Sustainability for City of Melbourne

5 11. Sustainability is a ‘quality’ which describes an activity. When we say that something is sustainable we mean that it can continue indefinitely. From this idea comes the term renewable, which means that we can reproduce a material in order to continue with an activity.

12. Sustainability is also a unifying principle which can be applied to all people irrespective of their political, moral or religious disposition. The commonality relates to a test which examines if any activity can be continued, indefinitely.

13. In context with our work at the City of Melbourne a definition for sustainability and including supporting statements (see also paragraph 15) is offered as follows:

13.1. “Sustainability is the capacity to continue operations indefinitely;

13.2. Sustainability means that we must restore human and natural capital and add to the prosperity and well being of current and future generations; and

13.3. If sustainability is to be a genuine quality of our organisation we cannot take for granted that the way we do things now is the way things should always be done”.

14. This definition of sustainability will influence how sustainability assessments are prepared for Committee reports. It will be used to assist Council staff and elected members to deliver sustainable outcomes. To achieve sustainability the definition must refer to a conceptual model which tests if an activity can be continued ‘without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs’1. A diagram illustrating this model is shown in Figure 1. The model illustrates the functional relationship between society, its economy and the natural systems which have limits. The definition will follow this conceptual rule and therefore introduce a framework for decision making. This rule underpins the Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Cities (appendix 1). The rule states that our economy is driven by the values and priorities of society and both are subject to the availability of resources, clean plentiful water, clean air, stable agricultural output and reduced waste including greenhouse gas emissions.

Environment

People

Economy

Figure 1

15. The following statement applies the conceptual rule and includes the word sustainability. It evokes the Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Cities (Appendix 1) and endeavours to engage people in the pursuit of sustainable development. The sustainability statement seeks to change attitudes people have of sustainability, engage them in the issue and amplify the small changes taking place across the organisation:

1 Our common Future. 1987, The Bruntland Report.

6 outward looking and highly creative. Melbourne is a city passionate about art, culture and sport, with striking public buildings, a multicultural cafe culture and a relaxed, outdoor lifestyle. Set on the estuarine lowlands of the Yarra River, the city’s sustainability depends on our capacity to engage with our work and include others to ensure that the City continues to be one of the most livable and sustainable cities in the world.”

16. The outcome of this statement and its attendant definition (in paragraph 13) depends on effective implementation. Without practical measures they remain corporate rhetoric. To ensure that the City of Melbourne continues to be a livable and sustainable city several activities must happen concurrently. One of these is the improvement to the sustainability paragraph in committee report templates and the sustainability assessment tool which supports the intellectual material required for the sustainability paragraph. Other supporting activities include:

16.1. sustainability sessions and inductions being introduced for council staff, the first of which will be trialed on October 8 2004, titled Climbing Mount Sustainability;

16.2. sustainability advisors being available for research and inquiries at several points within the organisation;

16.3. recognition of innovative and professional contributions proposed by staff and councillors;

16.4. regular statements supporting sustainable development from the Corporate Management Team;

16.5. sustainable development sessions tailored for new Councillors on their request; and

16.6. raising corporate awareness of Council’s sustainability targets (see paragraph 18 & 19).

The Assessment of Sustainability

17. A sustainability assessment can be understood as a whole system (holistic) assessment of an issue as opposed to a disassociated analysis using socia l, economic and environmental data. A sustainable decision may not be an easy process. Balanced outcomes are an ideal aspiration but not common in the daily business of local government decision making. A sustainability assessment ought to accurately describe and professionally critique, without trying to solve the complexities of an issue. The sustainability assessment tool (see paragraph 20) will assist staff to deliver assessments that focus the key elements of an issue and offer a professional opinion.

Measuring and monitoring sustainability

18. The test to determine if an activity can be continued indefinitely without indirectly taxing current and future generations is assisted by adherence to the City of Melbourne’s published sustainability targets. When every report writer understands they are part of a system guided by specific targets in each of the three (TBL) domains their decisions will become congruent with long and short term aspirations for sustainable development.

19. The annual reporting cycle continues to track progress on twenty six indicators and targets. These sustainability performance targets are under review with City Plan 2010 and Council Plan. The social and economic targets in particular will be the subject of special attention involving a cross corporate working group.

Sustainability Assessment Intranet Tool

7 20. City of Melbourne staff have available on the intranet a sustainability assessment tool titled the ‘Sustainability Assessment for Committee Reports’ (SACR). The current tool offers the same process for every staff member. In reality each area has specific and different requirements. For example a development planner’s understanding of sustainability is possibly different to a marketing professional’s. The test to determine if an activity is sustainable (i.e. can be continued indefinitely) should not be the same for everyone. In order to address these differences it is proposed that the SACR invite access to specific information and questions which relate to their discipline. The following actions will respond to these differences and constitute the SACR upgrade:

20.1. removal of the impact, likelihood, magnitude formula on some of the questions;

20.2. provide drop down lists to new pages with specific relevance to specific disciplines;

20.3. removal of outdated references and programs;

20.4. provide access to supporting documentation available on the corporate document register, eg Greening Events, Green Buildings Planning Policy, Social Inclusion Framework etc;

20.5. release the second generation definition for sustainability with supporting statements on the sustainability page of the intranet; and

20.6. include a link to an on-line information kiosk via the HR on line induction tool for new staff.

Sustainability Paragraph in Committee Report Template

21. It is proposed that the theme headings are removed from the report template leaving the sustainability heading. Distinct from the legal and financial sections of the report template which are completed by the appropriate professions, report writers will be responsible for completing the sustainability paragraph. This recommendation acknowledges the responsibility every author has to the sustainability test and that they are best qualified to make sustainability related judgments. Their task will be assisted by the on line SACR tool and they will have available a sustainability advisor assigned to their division.

New Definition for Triple Bottom Line

22. The acronym TBL stands for ‘triple bottom line’ and references the practice of referring to the bottom line of a financial profit and loss statement. The addition of two other bottom lines refers to social and environmental profit and loss. The phrase was coined to acknowledge and account for corporate activity which cannot be said to be sustainable if an activity degrades society and/or the environment. The message integral to the acronym is that business activity will not last if it is not cognisant of its social and environmental influences.

23. In practice TBL is a decision making tool which applies the universal test to determine if an activity can continue indefinitely without compromising the needs of future generations.

24. This report recommends the corporate language retain the term ‘triple bottom line’ in its corporate lexicon as the phrase (although not widely understood) relates directly to the organisations published approach to planning and reporting. The currency of the term depends on continued support for integrating social, economic and ecological issues in the decision making crucible. It is recommended that opportunities are taken to support staff to a holistic approach when planning, reporting and making decisions (see paragraph 16).

8 Relation to Council Policy

25. Council formally adopted a TBL program in 1999. Since that time, City Plan 2010 confirms Council’s commitment to sustainability and the use of the triple bottom line across Council’s activities. City Plan 2010 notes that:

“For Council, triple bottom line accountability means taking responsibility for achieving social, environmental and economic improvements through all of our endeavours and reporting on them openly and transparently….(Council has) adopted triple bottom line reporting and decision making for its own actions.” (City Plan 2010, p. 3).

9 Sustainability

26. The simple and renewed definition of sustainability with supporting statements will assist sustainable development. The improved Sustainability Assessment will cater to the diversity of responses to the sustainability test. However, we cannot rely on the Sustainability Assessment for Committee Reports (SACR) alone. Sustainable development has to be supported by consistent messages from senior decision makers at regular intervals. The subject of this report is an aspect of the integrated plan to assist people deliver Council’s sustainability objectives. The program is not expensive, nor is it time consuming, but it does in some respects represent new values. Sustainable development is now more than positive public relations. For the city to demonstrate leadership it must provide evidence of decisions made consistently at policy and operational levels that reflect the principles of sustainability.

Consultation

Public Sector Leadership – TBL Conference

27. During the recent TBL Conference titled Public Sector Leadership, jointly sponsored by ICLEI, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Australian Greenhouse Office and the City of Melbourne, delegates noted that challenges associated with implementing sustainability is common ground. Many organisation and their representatives are seeking new processes and terms to understand and deliver sustainable development. Those organisations with developed definitions and processes are shown below:

27.1. The Western Australian state sustainability strategy establishes a whole of government framework including a Sustainability Code of Practice which impacts three primary areas for the states government agencies. These are:

“Planning and reporting and decision making are in accordance with sustainability principles;

Agency operations support sustainability; and

Public sector employees are empowered and encouraged to embrace sustainability.”

27.2. The City of Hamilton in Canada developed a new definition for sustainability in September 2003. The (second generation) definition is published in their over arching planning document ‘Vision 2020’:

“As citizens, businesses and government of the City of Hamilton we accept responsibility for making decisions that lead to a healthy, sustainable future. We celebrate our strengths as a vibrant, diverse City of natural beauty nestled around the Niagara Escarpment and Hamilton Harbour. We are able to achieve our full potential through safe access to clean air and water, food, shelter, education, satisfying employment, spirituality and culture. We weigh social/health, economic and environmental costs, benefits and risks equally when making decisions.

In our sustainable community, change supports the ecosystems and human systems on which we depend. We have a co-ordinated and collaborative approach to planning, policy-making and action, which includes public participation. We know that our success depends upon widespread understanding of the critical relationship between people and their environment.” These words are followed by Hamilton’s principles of sustainability;

10 27.2.1. fulfillment of human needs;

27.2.2. maintenance of ecological integrity;

27.2.3. provision for self determination; and

27.2.4. achievement of equity.

Government Relations

28. The Council Plan 2004-2008 and City Plan 2010 both include sections which state Council’s continuing commitment to a TBL Framework. As these are public documents stakeholders (including other tiers of government) expect the City to develop our strategic planning and decision making process in line with the TBL framework.

Conclusion

29. The Local Government (Democratic Reform) Act 2003 states that the primary objective of a Council is:

29.1. to endeavour to achieve the best outcomes for the local community having regard to the long term cumulative effects of decisions2, and,

29.2. to promote the social, economic and environmental viability and sustainability of the municipal district.3

30. Sustainability is core business for local government. Our revised definition for the word sustainability underscores the importance of planning for our children’s children. The new definition and supporting statements are designed to help staff consider the long term viability of actions and decisions. This report proposes improvements that will recognise, support and communicate many minor responsibilities that lead to sustainable development.

Recommendation

31. That Environment, Sustainability and Indigenous Affairs Committee:

31.1. endorse the following actions in support of sustainable development:

31.1.1. upgrade the sustainability assessment tool to;

31.1.1.1. removal of the impact, likelihood, magnitude formula on some of the questions;

31.1.1.2. provide drop down lists to new pages with specific relevance to specific disciplines;

31.1.1.3. removal of outdated references and programs;

2 Part 1A Local Government Charter, Local Government (Democratic Reform) Act 2003 3 ibid

11 31.1.1.4. provide access to supporting documentation available on the corporate document register, eg Greening Events, Green Buildings Planning Policy, Social Inclusion Framework etc;

31.1.1.5. release the second generation definition for sustainability with supporting statements on the sustainability page of the intranet; and

31.1.1.6. include a link to an on-line information kiosk via the HR on line induction tool for new staff;

31.1.2. remove theme headings under the sustainability section of the Committee report template;

31.1.3. introduce sustainability advisors across the corporate divisions;

31.1.4. provide access to sustainability support sessions for both staff and Councillors;

31.1.5. retain the term ‘triple bottom line’ in the corporate lexicon;

31.1.6. adopt the proposed definition for sustainability as being;

“Sustainability is the capacity to continue operations indefinitely; Sustainability means that we must restore human and natural capital and add to the prosperity and well being of current and future generations; and If sustainability is to be a genuine quality of our organisation we cannot take for granted that the way we do things now is the way things should always be done”; and 31.1.7. to the following supporting statement;

31.2. note that this decision is being made by the Committee under delegation from the Council and is subject to the referral notice process.

12 Attachment 1 Agenda Item 5.1 Environment, Sustainability and Indigenous Affairs Committee 14 October 2004

Melbourne Principles For Sustainable Cities

Preamble

Cities are fundamental for economic opportunities and social interaction, as well as cultural and spiritual enrichment. However, cities also damage the natural environment and exploit natural resources in an unsustainable manner which can jeopardise long- term prosperity and social wellbeing. This is of global concern, as more than 50% of the world’s population lives in cities and trends indicate that this will increase.

The transformation of cities to sustainability will require cooperation between various levels of government, resource managers, the business sector, community groups and all citizens. Their collective and individual contributions are essential in achieving a common purpose. Improving the sustainability of cities will not only benefit their inhabitants, but also significantly contribute to improving the wellbeing of people around the world.

A Vision for the Creation of Sustainable Cities

To create environmentally healthy, vibrant and sustainable cities where people respect one another and nature, to the benefit of all.

Objectives of the Melbourne Principles

Sustainable development is defined by the Brundtland Commission as ’development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs‘. The Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Cities have been developed to assist cities that wish to achieve this sustainable development objective. The Principles provide a simple set of statements on how a sustainable city would function.

The Melbourne Principles are intended to guide thinking and provide a strategic framework for action. The Principles are not prescriptive. They allow cities to develop sustainable solutions that are relevant to their particular circumstances. They can help to bring together citizens and decision-makers, whose participation and cooperation is essential in transforming our cities to sustainability.

The Principles also provide cities with a foundation for the integration of international, national and local programmes, gaps to be identified and addressed, as well as realising synergies through partnerships.

For the Melbourne Principles to add value, they will need to be supplemented by relevant case examples and decision support tools to assist cities on their journey towards sustainability.

Principle 1

Provide a long-term vision for cities based on: sustainability; intergenerational, social, economic and political equity; and their individuality.

Elaboration

A long-term vision is the starting point for catalysing positive change, leading to sustainability. The vision needs to reflect the distinctive nature and characteristics of each city.

The vision should also express the shared aspirations of the people for their cities to become more sustainable. It needs to address equity, which means equal access to both natural and human resources, as well as shared responsibility for preserving the value of these resources for future generations.

A vision based on sustainability will help align and motivate communities, governments, businesses and others around a common purpose, and will provide a basis for developing a strategy, an action programme and processes to achieve that vision.

Principle 2

Achieve long-term economic and social security.

Elaboration

Long-term economic and social security are prerequisites for beneficial change and are dependent upon environmentally sound, sustainable development.

To achieve triple bottom line sustainability, economic strategies need to increase the value and vitality of human and natural systems, and conserve and renew human, financial and natural resources. Through fair allocation of resources, economic strategies should seek to meet basic human needs in a just and equitable manner. In particular, economic strategies should guarantee the right to potable water, clean air, food security, shelter and safe sanitation.

Cities are the locus of human diversity; their policies, structures and institutions can significantly contribute to fostering cohesive, stimulating, safe and fulfilled communities.

Principle 3

Recognise the intrinsic value of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and protect and restore them.

Elaboration

Nature is more than a commodity for the benefit of humans. We share the Earth with many other life-forms that have their own intrinsic value. They warrant our respect, whether or not they are of immediate benefit to us.

It is through people’s direct experience with nature that they understand its value and gain a better appreciation of the importance of healthy habitats and ecosystems. This 3

connection provides them with an appreciation of the need to manage our interactions with nature empathically.

Just as humans have the ability to alter the habitat and even to extinguish other species, we can also protect and restore biodiversity. Therefore, we have a responsibility to act as custodians for nature.

Principle 4

Enable communities to minimise their ecological footprint.

Elaboration

Cities consume significant quantities of resources and have a major impact on the environment, well beyond what they can handle within their borders. These unsustainable trends need to be substantially curbed and eventually reversed. One way of describing the impact of a city is to measure its ecological footprint. The ecological footprint of a city is a measure of the 'load' on nature imposed by meeting the needs of its population. It represents the land area necessary to sustain current levels of resource consumption and waste discharged by that population. Reducing the ecological footprint of a city is a positive contribution towards sustainability.

Like any living system, a community consumes material, water and energy inputs, processes them into useable forms and generates wastes. This is the ’metabolism‘ of the city and making this metabolism more efficient is essential to reducing the city’s ecological footprint. In reducing the footprint, problems should be solved locally where possible, rather than shifting them to other geographic locations or future generations.

Principle 5

Build on the characteristics of ecosystems in the development and nurturing of healthy and sustainable cities.

Elaboration

Cities can become more sustainable by modelling urban processes on ecological principles of form and function, by which natural ecosystems operate.

The characteristics of ecosystems include diversity, adaptiveness, interconnectedness, resilience, regenerative capacity and symbiosis. These characteristics can be incorporated by cities in the development of strategies to make them more productive and regenerative, resulting in ecological, social and economic benefits.

Principle 6

Recognise and build on the distinctive characteristics of cities, including their human and cultural values, history and natural systems.

Elaboration

Each city has a distinctive profile of human, cultural, historic and natural characteristics. This profile provides insights on pathways to sustainability that are both acceptable to their people and compatible with their values, traditions, institutions and ecological realities.

Building on existing characteristics helps motivate and mobilise the human and physical resources of cities to achieve sustainable development and regeneration.

Principle 7

Empower people and foster participation.

Elaboration

The journey towards sustainability requires broadly based support. Empowering people mobilises local knowledge and resources and enlists the support and active participation of all who need to be involved in all stages, from long-term planning to implementation of sustainable solutions.

People have a right to be involved in the decisions that affect them. Attention needs to be given to empowering those whose voices are not always heard, such as the poor.

Principle 8

Expand and enable cooperative networks to work towards a common, sustainable future.

Elaboration

Strengthening existing networks and establishing new cooperative networks within cities facilitates the transfer of knowledge and supports continual environmental improvement.

The people of cities are the key drivers for transforming cities towards sustainability. This can be achieved effectively if the people living in cities are well informed, can easily access knowledge and share learning. Furthermore, the energy and talent of people can be enhanced by people working with one another through such networks.

There is also value in cities sharing their learning with other cities, pooling resources to develop sustainability tools, and supporting and mentoring one another through inter-city and regional networks. These networks can serve as vehicles for information exchange and encouraging collective effort.

Principle 9

Promote sustainable production and consumption, through appropriate use of environmentally sound technologies and effective demand management.

Elaboration

A range of approaches and tools can be used to promote sustainable practices.

Demand management, which includes accurate valuations of natural resources and increasing public awareness, is a valuable strategy to support sustainable consumption. This approach can also provide significant savings in infrastructure investment.

Sustainable production can be supported by the adoption and use of environmentally sound technologies which can improve environmental performance significantly. These technologies protect the environment, are less polluting, use resources in a sustainable manner, recycle more of their wastes and products and handle all residual wastes in a more environmentally acceptable way than the technologies for which they are substitutes.

Environmentally sound technologies can also be used to drive reduced impacts and enhance value along a supply chain and support businesses embracing product stewardship.

Principle 10

Enable continual improvement, based on accountability, transparency and good governance.

Elaboration

Good urban governance requires robust processes directed towards achieving the transformation of cities to sustainability through continual improvement. While in some areas gains will be incremental, there are also opportunities to make substantial improvements through innovative strategies, programmes and technologies.

To manage the continual improvement cycle, it is necessary to use relevant indicators, set targets based on benchmarks and monitor progress against milestones to achieving these targets. This facilitates progress and accountability and ensures effective implementation.

Transparency and openness to scrutiny are part of good governance.

The ten Principles for Sustainable Cities were developed at an International Charrette held in Melbourne (Australia) between 3 and 5 April 2002, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme International Environmental Technology Centre, and the Environment Protection Authority Victoria. Over 40 experts from around the world contributed to the preparation of the Principles; their support throughout this process is appreciated.

The International Environmental Technology Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme thanks the co-organiser of the Charrette, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, whose support and commitment ensured its success.

The International Environmental Technology Centre also thanks all those who were involved in the International Workshop on Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems (CASE) which took place in Toronto (Canada) on 18 and 19 March 2002, organised by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. It would also like to thank Environment Canada, which was the sponsor. The CASE Workshop was instrumental in defining many of the concepts which ultimately led to the development of the Melbourne Principles.

Melbourne City Council was a major sponsor of Charrette that formulated the Melbourne Principles. On 2 May 2002, the Council formally adopted the Principles as a guiding framework for making Melbourne a sustainable city.

7 Agenda Item 5.1 Environment, Sustainability and Indigenous Affairs Committee 14 October 2004

FINANCE ATTACHMENT

DEFINING SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

There are no direct financial implications arising from the recommendation contained in this report.

Joe Groher Manager Finance Services Agenda Item 5.1 Environment, Sustainability and Indigenous Affairs Committee 14 October 2004

LEGAL ATTACHMENT

DEFINING SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

There are no direct legal implications arising from the recommendation of this report.

Section 3C(1) of the Local Government Act 1989 (“the Act”) provides that the primary objective of a Council:

“is to endeavour to achieve the best outcomes for the local community having regard to the long term and cumulative effects of decisions.”

Section 3C(2) of the Act goes on to state that in seeking to achieve its primary objective, a Council must have regard to facilitating objectives, including —

“(a) to promote the social, economic and environmental viability and sustainability of the municipal district;”

Under section 3F of the Act, Council also has the power to do all things necessary and convenient to be done in connection with the achievement of its objectives and performance of its functions.

The recommendation is therefore made in accordance with the Council's functions and powers as set out in the Act.

Alison Lyon Manager Legal & Governance