Pirmin Knecht AER Summer School 2007 Sustainable Development Zurich How to integrate sustainable development into governance; the Zurich approach Swiss

Pirmin KnechtAER Summer School 2007

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ch How to integrate sustainable

development into governance; the Zurich approach

Swiss specialties

The Canton of Zurich

The Zurich approach to sustainable development Support sustainable development; what cantons can do

Sustainability report

Integration of sustainable development into political guidelines


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Alpine country in the heart of Western Europe

Population of 7.36 million (around 20% foreigners)

Jura (10%)Plateau (30%)Alps (60%); 48 summits higher than 4,000 metres

High density of population, with many regional differences

Confoederatio Helvetica (CH)


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Multicultural, crossroads of European cultures

4 national languages:German, French, Italian and Rumantsch

Influence on traditions, festivals and local customs

4 cultures, 4 languages

Geographic distribution of the national languages (2002)

German 63.7 %

French 20.4 %

Italian 6.5 %

Rumantsch 0.5 %

Non-national languages 8.9 %


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Political structure on three levels:

Federal state26 cantons~2,900 communesDecentralised Solidarity among cantons

Federalism

Communal boundaries

Cantonal boundaries


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Direct democracy including

popular rights (initiative and

referendum)

Average of four popular

votes per year

Part-time parliament: two-

chamber system with

chambers representing

people and cantons

Government:

7 members, 4 parties

Political structure


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Swiss specialties






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Canton of Zurich in relation to Switzerland

ZurichBasel

Geneva

Area: 1,700 km2 -> 42‘000 km2 (4%)

Population: 1.25 million -> 7.3 million (17%)

Jobs: 0.75 million -> 3.6 million (20%)

Bern


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Zurich offers an Outstanding Quality of Life

Zurich ranked 1st for the sixth consecutive year

The study is based on the assessments and evaluations of 39 key quality of life determinants, like economics, schools & education, medical & health, politics and culture.

City (New York = 100)

Zurich

Amsterdam

Oslo

London

Barcelona

Madrid

Index for overall quality of life

108.1

105.7

103.5

101.2

100.6

100.5

Rank

1

13

26

39

41

42


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ch Ease of attracting the right kind of people

Randy Knaflic, Lead Recruiter for Engineering, Google

“It’s much easier to attract people here from all over Europe than to anywhereelse.

“As you can see in companies like IBM, Microsoft and Google, they all are doing important research and development here in Zurich. We all see a good reason in being in Zurich; we can attract the right kind of people.”


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ch What makes Zurich efficient

• excellent schools• well educated

population • highly motivated

workforce of 750‘000+• multi-cultural tradition• excellent infrastructure


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Commutes seldom exceed 30 min. door-to-door

City of Zurich – AirportDistance: 10 km

15 min. 10 min.

City of Zurich – WinterthurDistance: 25 km

15 min. 20 min.

City of Zurich – MeilenDistance: 12 km

20 min. 14 min.

WinterthurAirport

City

Meilen

45 km

60

km


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ch Attractive Corporate Income Tax

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%D

ub

lin

Zu

ric

h

Ge

ne

va

Lo

nd

on

Bru

ss

els

Vie

nn

a

Pa

ris

Am

ste

rda

m

Fra

nk

furt

Ne

w Y

ork

• In % of Corporate Income


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Charming Zurich

land of lakes and

rivers, mountains

and hills


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What makes Zurich lovely

excellent gastronomy

top sports facilities


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Swiss specialties






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ch KV Art. 6 Sustainability (2005)

Canton and municipalities care for the preservation

of the basis of life. To take responsibility for future

generations, they are obliged to an ecologically,

economically and socially sustainable

development.


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ch Possible activities for Cantons

Sustainable Development Strategy

Monitoring of sustainable development

assessment of sustainability of important projects

Support municipalities (LA 21)

Marketing the vision of sustainable development

Initiate special projects which have a lasting effect towards sustainable development


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Sustainable Development Strategy Swiss Federal Council (1997/2002/2007)

http://www.are.admin.chhttp://www.are.admin.ch

Review

Review

January 2

007

January 2

007

Stra

tegy

Stra

tegy

March

200

2

March

200

2


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Sustainablilty report

Present the development of the whole canton with a focus on sustainable development

Normally indicator-based reports


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Objectives of the sustainability reportrecognising the ongoing development Sustainable development is a basic principle of the

canton of Zurich. SD must be integrated into all policy areas and grow to be increasingly important

Sustainable development is to be conceived as a social process of searching, learning and structuring

Create overwiew of status for important political decision-makers (e.g. cantonal council)

Basis for the decision-making prozess to work out the objectives of the legislature or the sustainable development strategy


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environment

BiodiversityNature and

landscapeEnergy qualityEnergy consumtionClimateUse of resources Water balanceWater qualitySoil consumtionSoil qualityAir qualitiy

economy

IncomeLiving costsEmployment marketInvestmentsEfficient utilisation of

resources InnovationEconomic structureKnow-howPublic fundsTaxes

society

NoiseMobilityHealthSecurity Distribution of incomeParticipationCulture and leisureEducationSozial SupportIntegrationEqual rightsNorth-South Solidarity

Subject areas


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Context: other important reports

Environmental report

Social report

Spatial planningreport

Economic develop-ment report

Incr

easi

ng

lev

el o

f d

etai

ls



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ch Embedded sustainability report


Objectives of the legislature / SD strategy

JI

DS

FD

VD

SK

BI

BD

GD

Decisions by cantonal council

Orders from theCantonal council

Co

ntro

lling

Decisions by cantonal council


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Timetable Decision by the cantonal council to establish a sustainability

report (April 2006)

Constituting Steering Commitee (Mai, June 2006)

Definition indicators, collection of datas, interviews with about 40 people (June – November 2006)

Writing all texts, summary, guest commentary (Sep. – Dec. 2006)

Consultation in all departments (January – February 2007):

Publication (April 2007)

Decision by the cantonal council to work out a sustainable development strategy (April 2007)

Elections for the cantonal council (April 2007)

Elaboration of the objectives of the legislature (Mai – Juli 2007)


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Sucess stories

Clear directions by the cantonal council

Steering committee with senior representatives of the departments (political group)

Support group provided good inputs (functional support)

Personal contact with 40 people who helped to establish the texts of the sustainability report

Additional resources of about + 100 % for one year

Cantonal council of our Department of Construction «carries the flag»


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SD in the preambule of the objectives of the legislature (guiding principles)

SD as an important obective of the legislature

SD as measures which are based on the objectives of the legislature

Ideal situation (objectives for the legislature):


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There are 3 guiding principles in the preambule Strengthen competitiveness of Zürich ( economical dimension)

Protection of the natural ressources ( ecological dimension)

Ensuring social cohesion ( social dimension)

No concrete objectives yet

We are trying to link the 3 guiding principles to measures

Additional: We are now working out a sustainable development strategy


Status August 2007 (objectives for the legislature):

Documents

Pirmin Knecht AER Summer School 2007 Sustainable Development Zurich How to integrate sustainable development into governance; the Zurich approach Swiss