The%20Aalborg%20Commitments%20and%20Action%20%20for%20more%20Sustainable%20European%20Tourism

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The Aalborg Commitments and Action for more
Sustainable European Tourism
Salerno, 15 June 2007
Kirsten Wolfrath Project Coordinator,
International Training Centre ICLEI- Local
Governments for Sustainability
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Actions on Sustainable Tourism.Some questions to
consider

• What are the objectives of sustainable tourism?
• What concept do we follow? Can we find a balance
  between environmental, social and economic
  dimensions in tourism?
• What is the (national) legislative framework?
  What are the local policy conditions?
• How does tourism relate to Aalborg Commitments
  1-10?
• Do we see tourism integrated in Urban management
  or as sectoral planning exercise?
• Do we already know cases to promote? Which ones?
• Other considerations ?

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Pre-conditions at Local Level. How things
developed in Europe

• 1960s and 1980s From remediation to
  environmental protection
• Environmental problems and crises forced local
  governments to react.
• Environmental legislation assigned duties.
• In the 1990s From pollution prevention to agenda
  setting
• Voluntary initiatives commitments beyond legal
  requirements (Greenhouse gas reduction, EMS, LA
  21).
• Think global, act local !
• 21st century From agenda to action
• Towards an unwavering implementation of
  sustainable development (Sustainability
  indicators, reporting Sustainability
  Management)

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Pre-conditions at the Local Level. Realities
Environmental Risks in Europe

How things stand Challenges and threats despite
good environmental achievements e.g. Land
consumption Noise light pollution Air
pollution Soil land degradation Climate change
consequences Bio-diversity losses
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Magic Cube of Local Sustainability
Governace
LA Functions
Own functions
Conservation
Services
Management Loop
Plan
Do
Check
Global Networks
Act
Other spheres of government
Relationships
Integrated Sustainability strategy
Local Networks
Sustainability experiments
Community
The Journey
Ad Hoc green projects
Beginners
Planning Tools
Doing Tools
Checking Tools
Planet

Sustainability
Prosperity
People
Sustainability Tools
Improvement Tools
Sustainability Media
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Environmental Management Tool Box
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Mainstreaming Local Sustainability. Capacity
Development
Political commitment
Public participation
Capacity Building in Local Institutions
Administrative capability
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Mainstreaming Local Sustainability.ICLEI
Activities EU Policy Framework
Lisbon Strategy
Sustainable Development Strategy
ca. 115,000 EU Cities Towns
Implementation Projects
plus 2,500cities towns signed up to Aalborg
Charter (compare EMAS 180 registered public
bodies, below 10 Cities Towns)
490 Cities Towns
Aalborg Commitments
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Mainstreaming Local Sustainability.Processes
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The Aalborg Commitments
8 Vibrant and Sustainable Local Economies We
will work to... (5) promote sustainable local
tourism 2 Urban Management Towards
Sustainability We will work to... (2)
deliver integrated management towards
sustainability based on the precautionary
principle and in line with the Urban
Thematic Strategy. 3 Natural Common Goods We
will work to... (1) reduce primary energy
consumption, and increase the share of
renewable energies. (2) improve water quality,
save water, and use water more efficiently.
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Sustainable Tourism. What should be sustained?
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Sustainable Tourism. What should be sustained?
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Mainstreaming Local Sustainability. Principles
Implementation? Cyclicalprocedure?
Peak
Motivation
Decline
Initiative
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Mainstreaming Local Sustainability. Principles
Periodic cycles
... ensure continuity
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Mainstreaming Local Sustainability. gt The
Sustainability Cycle (www.mue25.net)
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Tourist destination CasesMajor Threats to
Resource Base

• Decreasing forest reserves due to forest fires,
  conversion to agricultural uses
• Destruction of heritage sites and unique
  landscape
• Overexploitation of coastal and marine habitat
  and resources
• Pollution of water tables and permanent
  destruction of valuable aquifers
• Degradation of marine environment due to
  pollution from industries, agriculture, and
  settlements
• Coastal erosion and sedimentation

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The Tubigon Case ecoBUDGET 2006
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The Tubigon Case Measures
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The Tubigon Case Implementation
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The Tubigon Impacts

• Created an enabling environment of appropriate
  policies, procedures and structures
• Strengthened capacity of institutions to
  implement integrated environmental management
  system through procedural discipline, training
  and intellectual support
• environmental budgeting allowed local governments
  to better address local environmental issues and
  coordinate more effectively
• Local authority acts in initiating
  environmentally responsible behavior in the
  whole municipality as well as in the internal
  administrative procedures
• Enhanced political commitment
• Ratified priorities and targets (Environmental
  Master Budget) by political body (council)
• Increased capacity to effectively apply
  environmental management system
• Achieved greater participation necessary for its
  effectiveness and accountability(communication
  and interaction between local authorities and
  stakeholders)

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The Kalithea Case Budget Balance
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The Ferrara Case Indicators
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The Ferrara Case Indicators
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The Ferrara Case Indicators
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Sustainable Tourism Destinations
ICLEI
A Sustainable City

• Viable local economies
• Just peaceful communities
• Eco-efficient cities
• Resilient communities

Creating Sustainable Communities Cities

• Urban Governance
• Sustainability Management
• Sustainable Procurement

Securing unwaveringImplementation

• Climate air
• Water
• Soil food
• Biodiversity
• Health

Protecting Global Common Goods
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Thank you for your attention. For further
information feel invited to visitwww.iclei.org/eu
rope
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Local Action Moves the World
www.iclei.org
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