Building the Environment Roles for Urban Environmental Management Systems Urban Environmental Management United Nations Environment Programme Division

Building the Environment

Roles for Urban Environmental Management Systems

UrbanEnvironmentalManagement

United Nations Environment ProgrammeDivision of Technology, Industry and Economics

The UNEP-International Environment Technology Centre (IETC)Building the EnvironmentRoles for Urban Environmental Management Systems

Copyright © 2003 UNEP-IETC This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or nonprofit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP-IETC would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from UNEP-IETC.

First edition 2003 The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Environment Programme, concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Moreover, the views expressed do not necessarily represent the decision or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, nor does citing of trade names or commercial processes constitute endorsement. UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMMEINTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

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UNEPInternational Environmental Technology Centre

“Enhancing Human Security: Safe Cities in the 21st Century”

CITIES ASIA SUMMIT 2002

Singapore, 4-7 November 2002.

Building the EnvironmentRoles for Urban Environmental Management Systems

Dr. Hari SrinivasChief of Urban Environmental Management Unit

International Environmental Technology CentreUnited Nations Environment Programme

2-110, Ryokuchi Koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka 538-0036, Japan

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CITIES ASIA SUMMIT 2002Building the Environment: Roles for Urban Environmental Management Systems

• “Incomplete” democracy• Population increase• Low education and illiteracy• Unity in a multi-cultural context• National identity• Freedom and a sense of duty

After more than half a decade of independence from colonial rule, problems still exist:

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• Reforms at State Level• Priority on Rural Development• Targeting Poverty• Changing Energy Patterns• Infrastructure Provision• Human Resource Development• Increasing attention to Social and

Environmental Concerns• Private Sector Participation

Some of the current patterns of development visible in South Asia:

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• Economic liberalization• Political decentralisation• Social empowerment

Developing countries in Asia are going through three fundamental transitions:

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These transitions are particularly visible in the growing cities and urban areas of Asia:

• Major population shifts to urbanized areas

• Urbanization growth rates is at 2.4 percent per year

• 1/4 to 1/3 of the population is urban

• Six megacities (>10 mil pop.) are in south Asia

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Country/Territory Estimated

Urban GDP (%)

Bangladesh China Fiji Hong Kong Indonesia Korea, Republic Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Pakistan Singapore Sri Lanka Thailand

32 48 34 99 37 79 37 54 53 47

100 42 41

The primacy of urban areas, and their

contribution to the national GDP is rarely

highlighted.

Cities produce a high percentage of the national GDP:

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But significant urban environmental problems have risen as a result:

Water

Waste

Air quality

Energy

Transportation

Building and construction

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MaterialsProduction

(10.9%)

Transport (5.0%)

Constructionwork (1.3%)

BusinessOperation

(9.9%)

BuildingOperation

(10.2%)

Other sources (62.7%)

Sources of CO2 Emissions in Construction versus Other Sources (Converted to a Carbon Basis)

On average the constructionindustry accountsfor 37% of Global CO2 Emissions

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Cities also contribute considerably to environmental problems, local as well as global:

Most environmental problems can be traced

back, directly or indirectly, to cities.

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Effects, impacts, shortages etc.

Problems, causes, lifestyle

issues, consumption

patterns

There is a clear cyclical link between cities and urban areas on one hand, and global environmental problems on the other …

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National/Global

City/Urban AreaCommunityHousehold

We also need to understand the scale of urban environmental problems, from the micro to the macro:

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How can we (re)define Cities?

• Cities as human settlements and population concentrations• Cities as centers of economic activity• Cities as areas with high quality of life (living and

infrastructure)• Cities as repositories of knowledge, information and ideas• Cities as compact ecosystems

There is a clear need for a new, comprehensive and holistic approach to cities:

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CommunityParticipation

InformedConsent

Public Choice

DecisionMaking

Processes

Education& Awareness

Building

UrbanGovernance

Decentralizationand

Local Autonomy

InformationDisclosure

Capacity Building

Many new paradigms are emerging that calls for a rethinking of how we manage our environment:

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Urban Capacity Building

Urban Governance

It is not the growth of cities per se that is the problem, but their effective management:

… for repackaging cities

… for mainstreaming urban management1.

2.

The need of the day -

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Urban Governance

… for mainstreaming urban management

Urban governance refers to the complex set of values, norms, processes, and institutions by which society manages its development and resolves conflict, formally and informally. It involves the state, but also the civil society.

The first key component of urban management is urban governance:

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Urban Capacity Building

… for repackaging cities

Urban capacity building is a process that involves value added instruction, the training of trainers, activities with multiplier effects, and networking. It involves both institutional capacity-building, as well as human capacity-building.

The second key component of urban management is urban capacity building:

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This is where

Environmental Management Systems

(EMS)

comes in …

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EnvironmentalPolicy

Planning

Implementationand

Operation

Checking and Corrective

Action

Management Review

The ISO 14001 Cycle

Inspiration for an urban EMS comes from ISO 14001

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Solid Waste

Water

Energy

Transportation

Housing

…

Governance Education Technology

Actors and

actions

ManagementSystems

UrbanComponents

Urban management require the GET Matrix to be put in place:

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Governance

Education Technology

- capacity building- training- information management- education and awareness- lifestyle changes ...

- network infrastructure- urban design- water- energy- waste management- social services ...

- institutional frameworks- laws and legislation- monitoring and evaluation- decision-making- role of civil society …

The“G.E.T.”Formula

EMS

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We need a new look at urban environmental management

• “New” Solutions- Prevention through Design- Reduction at Source- Reuse- Remanufacture- Recycle

• New Mantra - “PR4”• New Concepts - “Materials Ecology,

Design for the Environment, Building Metabolism”

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For cities, prevention is of course better than cure!

• Prevention- “Conception - to - Resurrection”- Understand the local environment- Use local knowledge, skills, materials and

design principles/technologies- Design for the Environment- Management Systems- Good governance

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• Increased employment • New markets created• Better use of resources• Reduced energy consumption• Reduced waste production• Reduced disposal of wastes• Reduced impact upon the environment

So better local environments leads to better human security

Better quality of life and living conditions

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Betterlocal

environments

Better living

conditions

Better human security

Other security factors

Other security factors

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• Use global trends to develop the local environment

• Partnerships need to be developed among all local actors

• Proactive knowledge transfer to local stakeholders

• In-depth and intensive scientific research for policy and project development

The real focus is on local governments (in partnership with other local stakeholders) raising to the challenges posed by the environment:

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Further information on UNEP-IETC and its activities/projects is available at:

http://www.unep.or.jp/

or

email: [email protected]

The UNEP - DTIE International Environmental Technology Centre Established in April 1994, the International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) is an integral part of the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It has offices at two locations in Japan - Osaka and Shiga. The Centre's main function is to promote the application of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. IETC pays specific attention to urban problems, such as sewage, air pollution, solid waste, noise, and to the management of fresh water basins. IETC is supported in its operations by two Japanese foundations: The Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC), which is based in Osaka and handles urban environmental problems; and the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC), which is located in Shiga Prefecture and contributes accumulated knowledge on sustainable management of fresh water resources. IETC's mandate is based on Agenda 21, which came out of the UNCED process. Consequently IETC pursues a result-oriented work plan revolving around three issues, namely: (1) Improving access to information on ESTs; (2) Fostering technology cooperation, partnerships, adoption and use of ESTs; and (3) Building endogenous capacity. IETC has secured specific results that have established it as a Centre of Excellence in its areas of specialty. Its products include: an overview on existing information sources for ESTs; a database of information on ESTs; a regular newsletter, a technical publication series and other media materials creating public awareness and disseminating information on ESTs; Local Agenda 21 documents developed for selected cities in collaboration with the UNCHS (Habitat)/UNEP Sustainable Cities Programme (SCP); training needs assessment surveys in the field of decision-making on technology transfer and management of ESTs; design and implementation of pilot training programmes for adoption, application and operation of ESTs; training materials for technology management of large cities and fresh water basins; and others. The Centre coordinates its activities with substantive organisations within the UN system. IETC also seeks partnerships with international and bilateral finance institutions, technical assistance organisations, the private, academic and non-governmental sectors, foundations and corporations.

For further information, please contact:

Osaka Office:2-110 Ryokuchi Koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka 538-0036, JapanTel: 81-6-6915-4581Fax: 81-6-6915-0304

Shiga Office:1091 Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu City, Shiga 525-0001, JapanTel: 81-77-568-4580Fax: 81-77-568-4587

Email: [email protected]: http://www.unep.or.jp/

mailto:[email protected]





UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME – DIVISION OF TECHNOLOGY, INDUSTRY AND ECONOMICS

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (UNEP – DTIE – IETC)

Osaka Office

2-110 Ryokuchi koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka 538-0036, JapanTelephone:+(81-6) 6915-4581Telefax:+(81-6) 6915-0304

Shiga Office

1091 Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu City, Shiga 525-0001 JapanTelephone:+(81-77) 568-4581Telefax:+(81-77) 568-4587

URL: http://www.unep.or.jp/

Email: [email protected]

www.unep.orgUnited Nations Environment Programme

P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi, KenyaTel: (254-2) 621234Fax: (254-2) 623927

E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.unep.org

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Building the Environment Roles for Urban Environmental Management Systems Urban Environmental Management United Nations Environment Programme Division