Paper apresentado no World Planning School Congress - Perth, Australia, 4-8 Julho de 2011. O trabalho traz uma reflexão sobre os desafios que os municípios enfrentam para o desempenho de uma boa governação, tendo como estudo de caso o município de Águeda, Portugal.

1. The challenges of municipalities in performing goodThe challenges of municipalities in performing good
environmental governanceenvironmental governance
WPSC 2011
4-8 July 2011, Perth – Western Australia
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
Daniela Salgadoa, danielasalgado@ua.pt
&
Teresa Fidéisb, teresafidelis@ua.pt
a,b Department of the Environment and Planning University of Aveiro, Portugal.
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2. Departure IssuesDeparture Issues
Local authorities face a challenge of tremendous importance: managingmanaging
environmentalenvironmental issuesissues..
Governance of environmental affairs must be analysed in smallersmaller scalesscales..
There is a dearth of studies which examine environmental governance at the local
level, especially with regard to the principlesprinciples ofof goodgood environmentalenvironmental governancegovernance..
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
Aim of the study:
Provide some relevant insights and a critical analysis regarding principles of good
environmental governance at the locallocal levellevel..
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3. Research questionsResearch questions
1. What are the locallocal instrumentsinstruments adopted by the municipality and in which way
they contribute to improve environmental governance?
2. Based on the analysisanalysis ofof locallocal environmentalenvironmental instruments,instruments, is the municipality
under study working towards ‘good environmental governance’?
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
3. If so, what are the mostmost visiblevisible principlesprinciples and how the municipality has been
following them?
4. Finally, what are the aspectsaspects toto bebe improvedimproved towards good environmental
governance?
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4. Paper structurePaper structure
11stst sectionsection:: principles of good environmental governance, the role of municipalities in
governing environmental issues and some local instruments to promote good
environmental governance.
22ndnd sectionsection:: case study – municipality of Águeda, Portugal.
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
33rdrd sectionsection:: instruments related to the management of local environmental issues
adopted by this municipality.
LastLast sectionsection:: critical analysis and conclusions.
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5. BackgroundBackground
Principles of good environmental governancePrinciples of good environmental governance
Some relevant insights from the literature review:Some relevant insights from the literature review:
Environmental governance has been widely discussed by academics and by
institutions, especially at the global level;
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
Re-incorporation of the term ‘governance’ in academic literature in the 1980s -
emerged with a different meaning;
‘Governance’ highlights the shift from the traditionaltraditional conceptconcept ofof ‘government’‘government’ toto aa
broaderbroader conceptconcept basedbased onon sustainabilitysustainability;;
Environmental governance the way societies cope with environmental problems.
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6. The EC White Paper (2001) challenges for good governance in Europe:The EC White Paper (2001) challenges for good governance in Europe:
BackgroundBackground
i) openness: EU actions and decisions are to be communicatedcommunicated toto thethe generalgeneral publicpublic
in an accessible language;
ii) participation: wide publicpublic participationparticipation throughout the policy-making chain;
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
iii) accountability: all Member States and institutions responsible for the development
and implementation of EU policies should be transparenttransparent andand responsibleresponsible;;
iv) effectiveness: policies must be effectiveeffective and well-timed, with clearclear objectives,objectives,
based on previous experiences;
v) coherence: policies and actions must be coherentcoherent andand easyeasy toto understandunderstand..
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7. BackgroundBackground
SomeSome definitionsdefinitions regardingregarding ‘Good‘Good environmentalenvironmental governance’governance’::
Principles of ‘good environmental governance’ are similarsimilar worldwideworldwide and may vary
according to the purposes under consideration.
Regarding the compliancecompliance toto andand enforcementenforcement ofof environmentenvironment--relatedrelated measures,measures,
good environmental governance includes (Harman, 2005):
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
»» (i) providing information to the general public, allowing transparency and accessible
decision-making;
»» (ii) promoting the participation of stakeholders to ensure that practices meet
expectations, and
»» (iii) adequate environmental regulation.
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8. Effective delivery of basic environmental services in a transparent,transparent, accountable,accountable, andand
participatoryparticipatory manner (Malayang, 2004).
Working instrument for assessing performance of local environmental governance
may involve (Malayang, 2004):
»» (i) effective delivery of basic environmental services;
BackgroundBackground
»» (i) effective delivery of basic environmental services;
»» (ii) transparency;
»» (iii) accountability, and
»» (iv) participation.
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
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9. BackgroundBackground
TheThe rolerole ofof municipalitiesmunicipalities inin governinggoverning environmentalenvironmental issuesissues::
Implementation of sustainabilitysustainability at the local level (Thomas, 2010; Fidélis and Pires, 2009; Pires
2011);
Local government units are key actors in the implementationimplementation ofof EUEU integrationintegration
policiespolicies (Kosecik and Sagbas, 2004).
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
policiespolicies (Kosecik and Sagbas, 2004).
Local governments are responsible for providingproviding publicpublic servicesservices andand enforcingenforcing
democracydemocracy;;
Localocal stakeholdersstakeholders andand thethe generalgeneral publicpublic »» key actors in governance actions.
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10. SomeSome locallocal instrumentsinstruments toto improveimprove environmentalenvironmental governancegovernance
BackgroundBackground
The instruments adopted by Águeda, some of them widely used in the international
context, can help municipalities to improveimprove environmentalenvironmental governancegovernance::
» Local Agenda 21 (LA21);
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
» Environment-related strategies and plans;
» Local government instruments for communication and public participation;
» Environmental Management Systems of the ISO 14000 family.
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11. ÁGUEDA
Case study and methodologyCase study and methodology
The municipality of ÁguedaThe municipality of Águeda
Europe
ÁGUEDA
Fig. 1: Location of Águeda, Portugal.
Source: Águeda Local Council (2010).
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
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12. Case study and methodologyCase study and methodology
Location: central region of Portugal, Aveiro district.
Population: aprox. 50,000 inhabitants;
Territorial features: 335.3 km2, 20 parishes;
Brief descriptionBrief description
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
Natura 2000 Network: 12% of its territory;
Embedded in a complex lagoon ecosystem called “Ria de Aveiro”;
High number of local associations, almost 200 (emphasis on the culturalcultural and socialsocial
areas).
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13. MethodologyMethodology
Case study and methodologyCase study and methodology
Identification and critical analysis of the instruments related to the management of
local environmental issues adopted by Águeda City Council.
From the instruments previously presented, Águeda has adopted:
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
“State of Sustainability 2010” (LA21 process);
Municipal Water Plan;
Local structure for communication and public participation: ‘Green Line’ and Citizen
Service Office.
131313

14. » LALA2121
It has started to be set up in 2008 with the adhesion of the municipality to the
AalborgAalborg commitmentscommitments;;
AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal strategiesstrategies
AnalysisAnalysis ofof locallocal strategiesstrategies
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
CitizenryCitizenry andand locallocal organizationsorganizations are considered to be key actors;
Águeda has formed a coordinator group with the involvement of some City Council
members and locallocal communitycommunity..
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15. AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal strategiesstrategies
i) Governance;
ii) Local management for sustainability;
iii) Responsible consumption and lifestyle choices;
The Local Council has elaborated the report “State of Sustainability in Águeda”,
which characterizes the municipality according to the following areas:
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
iii) Responsible consumption and lifestyle choices;
iv) Planning and urban design;
v) Better mobility, less traffic;
vi) Natural common goods;
vii) From local to global.
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16. AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal strategiesstrategies
Areas Main ongoing actions
i) Governance
For a sustainable city: Municipal Master Plan (PDM),
LocalLocal AgendaAgenda 2121..
Participation capacity of local community : Local
Council Website, SMS, MMS and e-mail services,
CitizenCitizen ServiceService OfficeOffice (certified by ISO 9001),
TelephoneTelephone lineslines for direct contact with the municipal
Table 1 – Local sustainability characterization in Águeda.
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
TelephoneTelephone lineslines for direct contact with the municipal
services.
Openness, accountability and transparency of
decisions: Award for Best Practices in the Public
Sector, thethe levellevel ofof satisfactionsatisfaction withwith administrativeadministrative
services,services, amongst others.
ii) Local Management for
sustainability
ContinuousContinuous improvementimprovement cyclecycle for local
sustainability system: participated planning,
implementation, checking, reviewing.
Source: Águeda Local Council (2010).
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17. AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal strategiesstrategies
Areas Main Ongoing Actions
iii) Responsible Consumption
and Life Style Choices
Recyclable waste collection, energy certification of municipal
buildings, computerizedcomputerized proceduresprocedures andand informationinformation
management,management, amongst others.
iv) Urban Planning and Design MunicipalMunicipal MasterMaster Plan,Plan, Noise Charter, Natura 2000 Network.
v) Better mobility, less traffic MobilityMobility plan,plan, studies on traffic and mobility, promoting the
use of public transport and cycling.
Table 1 – (Cont.)
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
use of public transport and cycling.
vi) From Local to Global
(climate protection).
Signing of the ‘Covenant‘Covenant ofof Mayors’Mayors’ (to reduce emissions by
at least 20% by 2020), Zero Carbon City Programme,
distribution of efficient lights.
Area Main Indicators
vii) Common Natural Property
Protect, preserve and ensure equitableequitable accessaccess toto naturalnatural
commoncommon goodsgoods:: consumption of electricity produced from
renewable energy sources, population served by public water
supply, Natural 2000 classified areas, Air Quality Index, etc.
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18. AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal strategiesstrategies
» MunicipalMunicipal WaterWater PlanPlan
Implementation of Water Framework Directive;
Participation of experts and Local Council members: scientific and technical
knowledge associated with locallocal experiencesexperiences..
AnalysisAnalysis ofof locallocal strategiesstrategies
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
knowledge associated with locallocal experiencesexperiences..
The Plan consisted of:
i) a complex DiagnosisDiagnosis regarding the survey of the local environmental problems;
ii) WorkshopsWorkshops where construction of common visions were built, and
iii) ActionAction Plan,Plan, with the identification of measures to be implemented.
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19. AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal strategiesstrategies
Diagnosis Areas
Infrastructure, sewerage and wastewater treatment and characteristics;
sustainable management and integrated water resources;
use of surface water and groundwater;
quality of water for human consumption;
water catchments and private water standpipe, and
quality of watercourses.
Workshops Main problems
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
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Workshops Main problems
Areas without water supply;
low sanitation coverage and treatment;
uncontrolled discharge of industrial effluents, and
contamination of the Águeda river by agriculture practices.
Action
Plan
Areas
Oversighting mechanisms;
plan leisure-tourist activity, and
efficient water use in public buildings.

20. AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal strategiesstrategies
AnalysisAnalysis ofof locallocal instrumentsinstruments
» CityCity CouncilCouncil structurestructure forfor communicationcommunication andand publicpublic participationparticipation
Creation of Citizen Service Office, in 1998 (certified by ISO 9001 Quality Standard
since 2008);
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
Creation of the ‘Green Line’:
direct contact between the public and environmental
services and inspection;
public confidence in relation to municipal
environmental services.
direct contact between the public and environmental
services and inspection;
public confidence in relation to municipal
environmental services.
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21. AA closercloser looklook intointo locallocal instrumentsinstruments
» NetworkNetwork interactionsinteractions
International
context
Networks
Energie-Cités;
“One Billion Tree for the Planet Program from UNEP, and
EuropeanEuropean NetworkNetwork ofof SustainableSustainable CitiesCities andand TownsTowns..
National “+ MARia” project (process of administrative modernization);
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
21
National
context
“+ MARia” project (process of administrative modernization);
AdRA - Waters of the Region of Aveiro;
Águeda 21,Águeda 21, and
NationalNational NetworkNetwork ofof LALA2121..
Local
context
Several associations of social, recreational, cultural, and
environmental, amongst others.

22. CriticalCritical analysisanalysis
11.. WhatWhat areare thethe locallocal instrumentsinstruments adoptedadopted byby thethe municipalitymunicipality andand inin whichwhich wayway theythey
contributecontribute toto improveimprove environmentalenvironmental governance?governance?
LA21: is the most important strategy regarding sustainability goals, with a strong
emphasis on the improvementimprovement ofof locallocal environmentalenvironmental qualityquality..
Municipal Water Plan: reflects a complex environmental diagnosis of the water
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
Municipal Water Plan: reflects a complex environmental diagnosis of the water
resources, contributing to the identification of the aspects to be improved. It is also an
initiative for intermunicipalintermunicipal waterwater governancegovernance..
‘Green Line’ and Citizen Service Office: reflects a great effort in communicatingcommunicating withwith
citizenscitizens and is also a channel for publicpublic participationparticipation..
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23. 2. Based on the analysis of local environmental instruments, is Águeda working2. Based on the analysis of local environmental instruments, is Águeda working
towards ‘good environmental governance’?towards ‘good environmental governance’?
CriticalCritical analysisanalysis
Local instruments reflect a great effort in improving environmental governance with
a strong emphasis on sustainabilitysustainability goalsgoals..
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
LALA2121::
E.g.: goodgood practicespractices inin thethe LocalLocal CouncilCouncil (reducing paper consumption and
increasing digital information support ) or actions from outside (Mobility Plan).
E.g.: ProximityProximity toto thethe publicpublic:: LA21 Blog, Newsletter, Telephone lines for direct
contact with the municipal services.
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24. CriticalCritical analysisanalysis
KeyKey instrumentinstrument for local environmental governance: guidance for implementation of
sound policies.
Involvement and participation of experts and Local Council members in order to
identify the problems related to water resources and their appropriate measures.
Municipal Water Plan:Municipal Water Plan:
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
identify the problems related to water resources and their appropriate measures.
Adhesion to the ‘AdRA’: more efficient management of water resources by
facilitating the interinter--municipalmunicipal waterwater governancegovernance..
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25. Águeda is strongly connected with local, regional, national and international
networksnetworks in several areas:
CriticalCritical analysisanalysis
Also…Also…
Instruments for communication and public participation - ‘Green Line’ and Citizen
Service Office: allow democraticdemocratic principlesprinciples to be implemented.
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
»» Which makes the municipality dynamic and interactive,dynamic and interactive, enabling the exchange
of experiences and knowledge.
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26. 3. If so, what are the most visible principles and how the municipality has been3. If so, what are the most visible principles and how the municipality has been
following them?following them?
CriticalCritical analysisanalysis
Participation and openness.
Águeda has been striving to engage the public and other local actors to
participate in the LA21 process;
Águeda has been striving to engage the public and other local actors to
participate in the LA21 process;
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
participate in the LA21 process;
creation of a Citizen Service Office and a telephone line for attending
public demands on environmental issues;
high levels of participation in the regional context (citizen
environmental complaints);
creation of innumerable channels for public communication and
participation (LA21 Blog, PDA events ).
participate in the LA21 process;
creation of a Citizen Service Office and a telephone line for attending
public demands on environmental issues;
high levels of participation in the regional context (citizen
environmental complaints);
creation of innumerable channels for public communication and
participation (LA21 Blog, PDA events ).
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27. 4. Finally, what are the4. Finally, what are the aspects to be improved towards good environmental governance?aspects to be improved towards good environmental governance?
CriticalCritical analysisanalysis
Fully implement the specific targets of local strategies;
Evaluation of the practical results of such measures;
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
Monitoring of local activities regarding management of environmental issues.
Make possible the evaluation of
environmental governance practices.
Make possible the evaluation of
environmental governance practices.
!
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28. CriticalCritical analysisanalysis
Accountability,Accountability, effectivenesseffectiveness andand coherencecoherence:: would demand a deep analysis of local
policies and practices.
Local and regional authorities need to give more attention to some local problems
(e.g.: limitations of local groundwater resources).
Furthermore…Furthermore…
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
28

29. ConclusionsConclusions andand recommendationsrecommendations
Good environmental governance depends on specificspecific featuresfeatures from the local level
perspective;
Some principles are essential to provide good environmental governance and
should be in the line of action of local governments (e.g.: those referred to in the EC
White Paper and in the expert literature).
Some relevantSome relevant insightsinsights
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
OpennessOpenness andand participationparticipation are in the line of action of Águeda:
Strongly engaged to communicate
and interact with the public.
Strongly engaged to communicate
and interact with the public.
!
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30. ConclusionsConclusions andand recommendationsrecommendations
The municipality has been extremely willing to work on governance for
sustainabilitysustainability;;
Local instruments reveal a great effort in opening channels for publicpublic participationparticipation;;
Águeda has a strong ability to interactinteract with several networks at various scales and
In brief words…In brief words…
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
Águeda has a strong ability to interactinteract with several networks at various scales and
subjects;
LALA2121 is the local action which can better reach good environmental governance
targets;
Finally, the municipality would take more time to develop their activities and create
conditions to be fully in line with ‘good‘good environmentalenvironmental governance’governance’ practices.
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31. AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” (FCT),
fellowship SFRH/BD/37010/2007, and the Águeda City Council.
Thank you!Thank you!
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
Thank you!Thank you!
Obrigado!Obrigado!
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32. River Águeda Fermentelos Lagoon (“Pateira de Fermentelos”)
Daniela Salgado & Teresa Fidélis Dep. of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro
‘Ria de Aveiro’ÁguedaCity Center – bikes for
community use