The Aalborg Commitments:
an Opportunity for Innovative City Management and Government
March 21-24, 2007Sevilla
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Lithuania and Kaunas in Europe
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Kaunas in Lithuania
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
A city on two largest rivers of the country
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Basic information:
• 360 000 inhabitants;
• 48 000 students;
• 11 Universities and their affiliations;
• Kaunas area – 157 km2, density – 2427 persons per
km2;
• Waste production – 300 kg per person /per year;
• Water consumption – 80 litras/per day/per person;
• Total drinking water supply – 61 500 m3 /litras per
day
• 335 vehicles per 1000 inhabitants
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Nature heritage elements
• Green areas cover 60 % of total area;
• 20 parks and nature reserves;
• the Zoo;
• the Botanical gardens;
• 149 kinds of birds;
• 11 bat reserves.
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Nature heritage elements
• The Natural Oak tree park (70 ha) with the Europe biggest population of Osmoderma eremita;
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Sustainability profile elements
• Sport stadium with the view to the Oak tree park;
• New sports Arena with the view to confluence of the rivers will be build.
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Kaunas City Master plan
• Kaunas Strategic plan 2005-2015;
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Kaunas City Strategic plan
Development priorities
• Development of science and knowledge economy.
• Creation of balanced and dynamic community.
• Development of the city environment.• Increase of the city attraction.
• Improvement of the city management.
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Towards sustainability The Environmental Policy of Kaunas City, as a part of Baltic Local Agenda 21, was developed in 1999
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Priorities of Kaunas Environmental Priorities of Kaunas Environmental policypolicy
• Protection and improvement of environmental quality;
• Human health protection;• Development of green areas and natural diversity
protection; • Rational use of natural resources;• Waste management;• Public awareness and responsibility for
environmental protection;• Application of sustainability criterions in city
management and planning;
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Challengies and opportunities
• How to create a clean city?
• How to create a green city?
• How to create safe and attractive city?
• How to implement education for sustainable development system?
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Initiatives via projects
• UBC project ,,Managing Urban Europa-25”.
• BSR INTERREG III BUSTRIP (Baltic Urban Sustainable Transport integration and Planning) project;
• BSR INTERREG III ,,MoCuBa” (Mobility Culture in Baltic Sea Region);
• CIVITAS, since 2002,(CIVITAS EU forum planned in October 2007 in Kaunas) – perhaps the EC’s biggest programm for city vitality and sustainability;
• EU funded Environmental Information Centre at Municipality (2006);
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
In July, 20, 2006, Kaunas City Council decided
• To sign Aalborg Commitments (political);• To establish Kaunas Sustainable development Co-
ordination Board (political).
The way for Aalborg commitments implementation became possible (idea-methods and instruments- allocated financial resources- human resources-practical actions).
From ideas to practical actions
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Aalborg commitments signed 2006-09-07
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
City Organisational set-up
City Council(41 member)
Sustainable development
Co-ordination Board (12 members)
Implementation Team (20 members, administration)
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Implementation Team, working on Baseline review and indicators setting
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
INSTRUMENT 1 - STRATEGIC PLAN, ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY, TRANSPORT STRATEGY,
OTHER STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS;
INSTRUMENT 2 – CO-ORDINATION BOARD;
INSTRUMENT 3 – IMPLEMENTATION TEAM;
INSTRUMENT 4 – CITY COUNCIL.
City Sustainability Management
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
General framework (draft)
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Strategic documents
Approves
City Sustainability Management
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Conclusions/suggestions
• Opportunity remains opportunity without implementation measures and actions.
• Well balanced indicators for monitoring and improving sustainable development strategies for innovative city management is a must.
• Aalborg commitments implementation into everyday life is nothing but change of everyday behavior of citizens.
*How shall we encourage citizens to follow Aalborg commitments?
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla
Thank you!
Dr. Povilas Kuprys
Director of Urban development department
Kaunas City Municipality Administration
March 21-24, 2007, Sevilla