International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) was established at the inaugural United Nations World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future conference in 1990.

 

The information about ICLEI is important to know since this organization directly targets local government to implement AGENDA 21. ICLEI is a powerful movement of 12 mega-cities, 100 super-cities & urban regions, 450 large cities, 450 small & medium-sized cities & towns in 84 countries dedicated to sustainable development. Many US cities are members of this international organization.

 

Read about this organization and their policy statements ---- Do your own homework and find out if your city is a MEMBER of ICLEI -  http://bit.ly/cGX7Md.  

 

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)

ICLEI World Secretariat

Kaiser-Friedrich-Str. 7
53113 Bonn
Germany

 

The following are excerpts from their own documents:

I have highlighted specific sections in red to illustrate important ICLEI statements and policies
I have added my comments in green for your consideration.

ICLEI’s 8-AGENDAS

“ICLEI advocates for cities' greater involvement in international decision making processes by representing their interests at major sustainable conferences and multilateral bodies such as UN Commission on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 and the European Commission, as well as working with our global partners including UNEP, UN-Habitat and Aalborg Commitments Network.”

 

“A sustainable city is marked by a green economy, a healthy and happy community, smart infrastructure, and are biodiverse, low-carbon, resilient and resource-efficient.”

 

Do your own homework. Go to the White House website and research how the administration is promoting the ICLEI agenda which also promotes UN Agenda 21. When you use power, legislation, funding, and regulations, anyone can change our traditions, dreams and visions. But by doing so, our personal choices become so much more limited that personal freedom and personal responsibility will continue to erode away.

 

1. Healthy and Happy Community

Healthy and Happy Community looks beyond GDP growth and is clean, healthy, inclusive, peaceful and safe. It is where people enjoys quality life and good governance, education, infrastructure and culture.

 

From www.Whitehouse.gov      President Obama’s Council on Environmental Quality,  January 18, 2013 : This program will provide local governments an innovative model for working with the private sector to broaden green infrastructure options. These kinds of partnerships are an encouraging step to support clean and healthy cities, and save taxpayer dollars.

  

2. Sustainable City

A sustainable city is marked by a green economy, a healthy and happy community, smart infrastructure, and are biodiverse, low-carbon, resilient and resource-efficient

 

From www.Whitehouse.gov      PRESIDENT OBAMA at STRASBOURG TOWN HALL April 3, 2009  PRESIDENT OBAMA: “Yes! I don't care how green you are, you are -- you have a much bigger carbon footprint than the average Indian, or the average person from China. And so we in developed countries then -- it's critical for us to lead by example by becoming more energy efficient, and we also have to harness technology and shared scientific breakthroughs in order to find more sustainable energy patterns.

  

3. Resilient City

A resilient city is low risk to natural and man-made disasters. It reduces its vulnerability by building on its capacity to respond to climate change challenges, disasters and economic shocks.

From www.Whitehouse.gov      Executive Order -- Establishing a White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities

 

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to forge a partnership with local communities to provide them with comprehensive technical assistance to use and compete for Federal resources more effectively and efficiently, which will enable them to develop and implement economic strategies to become more competitive, sustainable, and inclusive, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Cities, towns, and regions across our Nation continue to face difficult economic challenges. Enhancing current Federal assistance is helping to lift communities out of distress.

SIGNED BY BARACK OBAMA        THE WHITE HOUSE        March 15, 2012.

 

4. Biodiverse City

A Biodiverse city considers its relationship with nature both within and beyond its administrative boundaries, and delivers sustainable solutions to natural risks and urban development challenges.

 

From www.Whitehouse.gov      “………….to transform our energy technologies from polluting and wasteful to clean and efficient. We must create new incentives and agreements to accelerate this transformation and to reduce deforestation and other destructive land-use change around the world. And we must invest in adaptation, to reduce our vulnerability to the degree of climate change that can no longer be avoided.”

John P. Holdren is Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy

 

5. Low-carbon City

Low-carbon, low-emission or even carbon-neutral cities are signposts to sustainability and global climate change mitigation.

 

From www.Whitehouse.gov      President Obama’s speech on July 9, 2009: “Finally, we've agreed to create a new Global Partnership to drive the development of transformational clean energy technologies around the world.”

 

6. Resource-efficient City

Resource-efficient City goes beyond minimizing the use of natural resources, and is productive, competitive and sustainable.

 

From www.Whitehouse.gov      The President’s 2013 Budget is built around the idea that our country does best when everyone gets a fair shot, does their fair share, and plays by the same rules. We must transform our economy from one focused on speculating, spending, and borrowing to one constructed on the solid foundation of educating, innovating, and building

 

Invest in Regional and Community Planning Efforts for Sustainable Development. The Budget continues to support the multi-agency Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which aims to lower the cost of living while improving the quality of life for families and is one of the pillars of the Administration’s place-based agenda.

Creating the Clean Energy of Tomorrow and Protecting the Environment – Office of Management and Budget

  

7. Smart Urban Infrastructure

Smart Urban Infrastructure is eco-efficient, low-carbon and resilient. It is the key to developing greener cities and economies.

 

From www.Whitehouse.gov      The Administration is committed to working across federal agencies, with states, cities, counties, towns and private sector and non-profit partners, to promote healthy and prosperous communities and help make sustainable, resilient green infrastructure options more accessible across the Nation.

  

8. Green Urban Economy

A Green Urban Economy is productive and socially inclusive. It pursues to improve human well-being and local natural resource use, while reducing future costs, ecological scarcities and environmental risks.

 

From www.Whitehouse.gov      President Obama has taken unprecedented action to build the foundation for a clean energy economy, tackle the issue of climate change, and protect our environment

 

DID YOU KNOW? President Barack Obama established the following council by executive order on March 15, 2012?

ESTABLISHING A WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON STRONG CITIES, STRONG COMMUNITIES

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to forge a partnership with local communities to provide them with comprehensive technical assistance to use and compete for Federal resources more effectively and efficiently, which will enable them to develop and implement economic strategies to become more competitive, sustainable, and inclusive,

More on ICLEI………. Next week.