L O C A L A C T I O N
The word LEAP, according to the Random House English Dictionary, may be interpreted in a number of ways, beginning with its most popular usage as a 'jump' and ending with its more sophisticated connection with a 'leap year' (one containing 366 days). To make LEAP even more confusing, the England-based 'Body Shop Company' has just produced a soap called 'LEAP.'
As for its environmental context, LEAP is an acronym formed from the initial letters of the Local Environmental Action Program - a term directly derived from the Environmental Action Program (EAP) which was endorsed by the Ministers of Environment at the Second Ministerial Conference of the Environment for Europe in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1993. Developed for Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, the EAP combines 25 years of environmental protection experiences from around the world to support efforts in solving urgent CEE environmental problems. More precisely, the EAP provides a framework for sound environmental action planning at the national, regional or local levels, focusing on a three-legged approach which includes an optimal mix of policies, institutional reforms and investments.
At the local level, some selected local municipalities have already taken advantage of the EAP process with the help of foreign assistance. For example, projects have been supported by USAID in Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland. In parallel, activities have also been undertaken within the framework of Local Agenda 21 which evolved out of the 1992 'Earth Summit' held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both processes refer to the preparation of comprehensive environmental action programs and try to integrate economic and social goals into environmental planning.
There have also been a number of local environmental initiatives undertaken by municipalities alone or in cooperation with NGOs in the CEE region. Some of these have focused on the preparation of comprehensive local environmental programs while others have targeted only selected sectors or environmental problems.
In order to provide for the exchange of these experiences, the REC organized a Senior Fellowship Program on the Best Practices in Municipalities in August, which was attended by representatives from Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia and Poland. Case studies of local environmental initiatives were exchanged while participants visited the Hungarian town of Gomorszolos, which represented an interesting example of a sustainable village, as well as the communities of Graz and Weiz in Austria which had developed their own Local Agendas 21.
Firstly, preparations for the action program should start with a simple activity that can help can bring you considerable success in a short time. It will also secure the support of various stakeholders for your activities and will develop your skills in project management. In Graz, for example, Local Agenda 21 preparation began with an "Eco-profit program" - aimed at companies which could profit by reductions in their use of materials and energy. Companies participated on a voluntary basis with the underlying principle that nobody knows a company better than its employees who, with help from external consultants, performed 'eco-assessments' of their companies. Results from this program served as the basis for the introduction of more environmentally friendly practices in companies and the community.
Another example of a simple project was the replacement of plastic cups with china mugs in coffee machines, and 'eco-coffee roasting' where coffee grounds were used as compost and diverted from waste landfill sites. A third project was the modification of the local "tram wash." Instead of using drinking water for washing, industrial-grade wash water was used and re-used again for more washes. The use of detergents was also reduced.
Secondly, projects should be creatively designed to ensure the involvement of major stakeholders in the LEAP process. In Weiz, an "Eco-Shop Label" initiative, promoting environmentally friendly shops, was begun in which the ecological performance of shops was evaluated using criteria such as whether environmentally unfriendly plastic bottles and aluminum packages were used, if bottles were returnable or whether the shop used a bicycle for small errands and deliveries. And in Graz, the Graz Environment Department ensured the involvement of local politicians by encouraging them to produce, and to use in their own homes, 'make-your-own solar batteries.'
Thirdly, and most importantly, it should be demonstrated that you as the municipal authority undertake environmentally friendly activities, be it using recycled paper, low-energy light bulbs, or an electric-powered motorbike.
These are only a few simple, possible approaches for being successful at the local level and for getting the active involvement of the public into environmental action planning. In most cases, they require little effort and recipes may even be available in the neighboring municipality.
Finally, in order to help municipalities with their local environmental planning, the REC initiated a collection of case studies of the best practices conducted in the field of environment and sustainable development at the local level in CEE. If you feel that your municipality would be a good example for other communities in the region, please send details to Agata Miazga, Tel: (36-26) 504-000, E-mail: amiazga@rec.org and this information will be shared with other interested parties through the REC's World-Wide-Web page.
