Local environmental sustainability

The importance of local programmes in driving sustainable development has been enshrined in Local Agenda 21, arguably the most influential output of the 1992 Rio 'Earth' Summit. Its importance has been reiterated more recently by the Johannesburg Summit in 2002.Local Environmental Sustainability sets the context for local environmental sustainability and, in particular, considers how local government can promote sustainable development by building partnerships with different groups and organisations in the local community. Using case studies, individual chapters focus on different types of regional and local initiatives, the partnerships that have made them possible, and the key issues in making them effective.Local Environmental Sustainability provides a blueprint for both local governments and local communities to work together effectively for a more sustainable future.

Author Notes

Susan Buckingham is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Brunel University, UK.

Kate Theobald is a Senior Research Fellow at the Sustainable Cities Research Institute, Northumbria University, UK.

S. Buckingham and Brunel University and K. TheobaldElizabeth WilsonP. PinchB. Evans and K. TheobaldM. Clark and S. CoxP. Garside and A. Hughes and K. LynchS. BarrT. J. Aldridge and A. Patterson and J. TookeS. BuckinghamP. E. PerkinsA. Blowers

1 Building alliances for local environmental sustainability	p. 1
1.1 The context for local environmental sustainability	p. 1
1.2 Local government	p. 3
1.3 The local state and local civil society: partnerships for environmental sustainability	p. 9
1.4 Local capacity building	p. 12
1.5 Structure of the book	p. 14
1.6 References	p. 15
1.7 Useful links and web addresses	p. 16
2 Skeletal frameworks: Regional Sustainable Development Frameworks and the issue of climate change	p. 18
2.1 Introduction	p. 18
2.2 Interpretation of sustainable development	p. 19
2.3 Role of regions	p. 20
2.4 Climate change	p. 23
2.5 Climate change as a regional issue	p. 24
2.6 Purpose of RSDFs	p. 28
2.7 Partnership in RSDF preparation	p. 29
2.8 Treatment of climate change in RSDFs	p. 32
2.9 Skeletal frameworks	p. 41
2.10 Conclusion	p. 42
2.11 Acknowledgements	p. 43
2.12 References	p. 43
3 Making the wrecker seem not all malevolent: re-regulating the UK's china clay mining industry	p. 46
3.1 Introduction	p. 46
3.2 The UK's planning regime for minerals development	p. 48
3.3 Re-regulating rural environments	p. 50
3.4 Re-regulating the UK's china clay industry	p. 53
3.5 Conclusion	p. 70
3.6 References	p. 72
4 Local Agenda 21 and the shift to 'soft governance'	p. 74
4.1 The evolution of LA21 in Europe	p. 75
4.2 Participation and civic engagement in local sustainable development policy making	p. 78
4.3 Evaluating LA21: the nature and level of civil society engagement	p. 80
4.4 LASALA and 'soft governance'	p. 82
4.5 LA21, the 'integration of interests' and the move to 'soft governance'	p. 89
4.6 References	p. 91
5 Combating social exclusion: focus groups, local empowerment and development: a Preston case study	p. 93
5.1 Introduction	p. 93
5.2 Defining social exclusion	p. 94
5.3 Policy approaches to address social exclusion	p. 97
5.4 The Preston study	p. 100
5.5 Conclusions on the use of focus groups	p. 107
5.6 Further case study examples of the use of focus groups in policy making	p. 109
5.7 Conclusions and wider questions	p. 111
5.8 References	p. 112
6 Retailing and sustainability: exploring connections using the example of a local town market	p. 114
6.1 Introduction	p. 114
6.2 Skewed meanings: neglecting sustainability	p. 115
6.3 Towards a new sustainable theory of consumption	p. 118
6.4 New approaches to old forms of retailing: the sustainable potential of street markets	p. 122
6.5 Kingston market - a sustainable market culture?	p. 127
6.6 Research themes: possibilities of a research agenda applying the working matrix	p. 131
6.7 Conclusion	p. 134
6.8 References	p. 135
7 Waste minimisation strategies	p. 138
7.1 Introduction	p. 138
7.2 Municipal waste in England and Wales	p. 139
7.3 Individuals and sustainable waste management	p. 142
7.4 The importance of individuals: waste management in Exeter	p. 147
7.5 Policy recommendations	p. 156
7.6 Conclusion	p. 165
7.7 References	p. 166
8 Trading places: geography and the role of Local Exchange Trading Schemes in local sustainable development	p. 169
8.1 Introduction	p. 169
8.2 Cranes, favours, harmonies and thanks: using LETS currencies	p. 171
8.3 LETS development in the UK	p. 172
8.4 LETS and sustainable development	p. 173
8.5 The case studies: Stroud and Hounslow LETS	p. 175
8.6 Case study 1--Stroud LETS	p. 177
8.7 Case study 2--Hounslow LETS	p. 182
8.8 Conclusions	p. 187
8.9 Acknowledgements	p. 192
8.10 References	p. 192
9 Allotments and community gardens: a DIY approach to environmental sustainability	p. 195
9.1 Introduction	p. 195
9.2 Benefits of allotments and community gardens	p. 199
9.3 Conclusions	p. 209
9.4 Acknowledgements	p. 211
9.5 References	p. 211
10 Local economies, trade and global sustainability	p. 213
10.1 Introduction: economics and 'local economies'	p. 213
10.2 Trade and community	p. 215
10.3 Self-limiting trade: theory	p. 218
10.4 Self-limiting trade: practice	p. 221
10.5 Toronto's local economy	p. 223
10.6 The potential of local economies	p. 225
10.7 Conclusions	p. 227
10.8 References	p. 231
11 Inequality and community: the missing dimensions of sustainable development	p. 235
11.1 The discourse of sustainable development	p. 235
11.2 Political modernisation and the environment	p. 236
11.3 The environmental dimension of modernisation	p. 238
11.4 Alternative approaches	p. 240
11.5 Inequality and community in nuclear communities	p. 244
11.6 Environmental change--a new role for planning	p. 246
11.7 References	p. 249
Index	p. 251

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