LOCAL AGENDA 21 – LOCAL PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE ...

10MUNICIPALITYINTRODUCTIONThe concept of sustainable development was definedin the “Our common future” report of the UnitedNations Commission for Environment andDevelopment (UNCED) as the “development whichmeets the needs of the present without compromisingthe ability of future generations to meet their ownneeds”. Development and the environment are closelyinterconnected, and the improvement of livingstandards must be accomplished within the limits ofthe life-sustaining natural systems. As such,sustainable development is more of a process ofchange rather than a goal in itself. The concept of“sustainable development” was agreed upon at theRio de Janeiro Conference in 1992, where more than170 states endorsed an international action plan forglobal development in the 21 st century. The plan,known as the Agenda 21, is currently beingimplemented in Romania, among other countries.Giurgiu is one of the nine Romanian pilot cities, whichhave been working on local strategies for sustainabledevelopment since 2000. The National Centre forSustainable Development in Bucharest supportsefforts at local level as part of the ROM 98/012project of the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme.Drafting of the final strategy for sustainabledevelopment assumes the completion of severaldistinct stages. First of all, an assessment of thesocial and economic systems is carried out andthen a list of objectives and potential scenarios areidentified. The latter will result in policies and policyapproaches, which will further on set the fundamentsfor the Action Plan. A portfolio of projects willeventually be compiled in order to attract potentialinvestors.The local community - business people, managers,NGOs, labour unions, professional associations,citizens - reacted positively to this initiative andengaged in communication and consultations with theLocal Agenda 21 representatives. Elaboration of theagenda is fundamental to Giurgiu Municipality andprovides a chance for achieving better living standardsin the community, and also for promoting publicparticipation in decision-making processes.Local residents have arrived at the commonly heldbelief that only together can people build thefuture. Inter-communal communication andconsultation resulted in well-structured objectives andscenarios, which will provide the fundamentals for theLOCAL ACTION PLAN.