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Government - UN Environmental
Accords
Recognizing
that for the first time in history, the majority of the planet’s
population now lives in cities and that continued urbanization will result
in one million people moving to cities each week, thus creating a new set
of environmental challenges and opportunities; and Believing
that as Mayors of cities around the globe, we have a unique opportunity to
provide leadership to develop truly sustainable urban centers based on
culturally and economically appropriate local actions; and Recalling
that in 1945 the leaders of 50 nations gathered in San Francisco to
develop and sign the Charter of the United Nations; and Acknowledging
the importance of the obligations and spirit of the 1972 Stockholm
Conference on the Human Environment, the 1992 Rio Earth Summit (UNCED),
the 1996 Istanbul Conference on Human Settlements, the 2000 Millennium
Development Goals, and the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable
Development, we see The Urban Environmental Accords described below as a
synergistic extension of the efforts to advance sustainability, foster
vibrant economies, promote social equity, and protect the planet’s
natural systems. Therefore, be it resolved,
today on World Environment Day 2005 in San Francisco, we the signatory
Mayors have come together to write a new chapter in the history of global
cooperation. We commit to promote this collaborative platform and build an
ecologically sustainable, economically dynamic, and socially equitable
future for our urban citizens; and Be it further resolved
that we call to action our fellow Mayors around the world to sign the
Urban Environmental Accords and collaborate with us to implement these
actions; and Be it further resolved
that by signing these Urban Environmental Accords, we commit to encourage
our City governments to adopt these Accords and commit our best efforts to
achieve the Actions stated within. By
implementing the Urban Environmental Accords, we aim to realize the right
to a clean, healthy, and safe environment for all members of our society.
Implementation
& Recognition
The following 21 actions that comprise
the Urban Environmental Accords are organized by urban themes. They are
proven first steps toward environmental sustainability.
However, to achieve long-term sustainability, cities will have to
progressively improve performance in all thematic areas.
Implementing
the Urban Environmental Accords will require an open transparent, and
participatory dialogue between government, community groups, business,
academic institutions, and other key partners.
Accords implementation will benefit where decisions are made on the
basis of a careful assessment of available alternatives using the best
available science. The call to action set forth in the
Accords will most often result in cost savings as a result of diminished
resource consumption and improvements in the health and general well-being
of city residents. Implementation
of the Accords can leverage each city’s purchasing power to promote and
even require responsible environmental, labor and human rights practices
from vendors. Between now and the World Environment
Day 2012, cities shall work to implement as many of the 21 Actions as
possible. The ability of
cities to enact local environmental laws and policies differs greatly.
However, the success of the Accords will ultimately be judged on
the basis of actions taken. Therefore, the Accords can be implemented through programs
and activities even where cities lack the requisite legislative authority
to adopt laws. The goal is for cities to pick three
actions to adopt each year. In
order to recognize the progress of Cities to implement the Accords a City
Green Star Program will be created.
At the end of the seven years, a city
that has implemented: 19 – 21 Actions shall be recognized
as a ««««
City 15 – 18 Actions shall be recognized
as a «««
City 12 – 17 Actions shall be recognized
as a ««
City 8 – 11 Actions shall be recognized
as a «
City Energy
Renewable Energy | Energy Efficiency |
Climate Change Waste
Reduction
Zero Waste | Manufacturer
Responsibility | Consumer Responsibility Urban
Design
Green Building | Urban Planning |
Slums Urban
Nature
Parks | Habitat Restoration | Wildlife Transportation
Public Transportation | Clean Vehicles
| Reducing Congestion Environmental
Health
Toxics Reduction | Healthy Food
Systems | Clean Air Water
Water Access & Efficiency | Source
Water Conservation | Waste Water Reduction Energy Action 1
Adopt and implement a policy to increase the use of renewable energy to
meet ten per cent of the city’s peak electrical load within seven years.
Action 2
Adopt
and implement a policy to reduce the city’s peak electric load by ten
per cent within seven years seven years through energy efficiency,
shifting the timing of energy demands, and conservation measures. Action 3
Adopt a citywide green house gas reduction plan the reduces the
jurisdictions emissions by twenty five percent by 2030, and which includes
a system for accounting and auditing greenhouse gas emissions. Waste
Reduction
Action 4
Establish a policy to achieve zero waste to landfills and incinerators by
2040. Action 5
Adopt a citywide law that reduces the use of a disposable, toxic or
non-renewable product category by at least per cent in seven years. Action 6
Implemented “user-friendly” recycling and composting programs, with
the goal of reducing by twenty per cent per capita solid waste disposal to
landfill and incineration in seven years.
Urban
Design
Action 7
Adopt a policy that mandates a green building rating system standard that
applies to all new municipal buildings. Action 8
Adopt urban planning principles that advance higher density, mixed use,
walkable, bikeable and disabled-accessible neighborhoods which coordinate
land use and transportation with open space systems for recreation and ecological restoration. Action 9
Adopt a policy or implement a program that creates environmentally
beneficial jobs in slums and/or low-income neighborhoods. Urban
Nature Action
10 Ensure that there is an accessible park or
recreational open space within half-a-kilometer of every city resident by
2015. Action
11 Conduct an inventory of existing canopy
coverage in the city; and then establish a goal based on ecological and
community considerations to plant and maintain canopy coverage in not less
than fifty per cent of all available sidewalk plating sites. Action
12 Pass legislation that protects critical
habitat corridors and other key habitat characteristics (e.g. water
features, food bearing plants, shelter for wildlife, use of native
species, etc.) from unsustainable development. Transportation
Action 13
Develop and implement a policy which expands affordable public
transportation coverage to within half-a-kilometer of all city residents
in ten years. Action 14 Pass a law or implement a program that eliminates leaded gasoline (where it is still used); and that phases down sulfur levels in diesel and gasoline fuels, concurrent with using advanced emission controls on all buses, taxis, and public fleets to reduce particulate matter and smog-forming emissions from those fleets by fifty per cent in seven years. Action 15 Implement
a policy to reduce the percentage of commute trips by single occupancy
vehicles by ten per cent in seven years.
Environmental
Health Action 16
Every year, identify one product, chemicals, or compounds that is used
within the city that represents the greatest risk to human health and
adopt a law to provide incentives to reduce or eliminate its use by the
municipal government. Action 17
Promote the public health and environmental benefits of supporting organic
foods . Ensure that twenty
per cent of all city facilities (including schools) serve locally grown
and organic food within seven years. Action 18
Establish an Air Quality Index (AQI) to measure the level of air pollution
and set the goal of reducing by ten per cent
in seven years the number of days categorized in the AQI range as
"unhealthy" to "hazardous." Water
Action 19
Develop policies to increase adequate access to safe drinking water,
aiming at access for all by 2015. For
cities with potable water consumption greater than 100 liters per capita
per day, adopt and implement policies to reduce consumption by ten per
cent by 2015. Action 20
Protect the ecological integrity of the city’s primary drinking water
sources (i.e. aquifers, rivers, lakes, wetlands and associated
eco-systems). Action 21 Adopt municipal wastewater management guidelines and reduce the volume of untreated wastewater discharge by ten per cent in seven years through the expanded use of recycled water and the implementation of sustainable urban watershed planning process that includes participants of all affected communities and is based on sound economic, social, and environmental principles. Text-Only Sidebar / City of Berkeley Home / Departments / Housing Department Home / Energy and Sustainable Development
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