Indicators of Sustainable Local Development
Abstract
It is noted in the article that the first discussions about sustainable development, together
with the concept of sustainability, emphasized the problems of globalization, presenting it as a
"challenge of global change". Emphasis was placed on the global nature of sustainability, although
it was recognized that it cannot be ignored that sustainable development must also take place at the
local level, since most environmental problems originate from the local level.
The article argues that currently the concept of sustainable development is a practical tool
by which local authorities can continue to provide normal living conditions in a certain area. It is
defined that sustainable development at the local level is aimed at local economic prosperity and
social well-being through the creation of an enabling environment, as well as the integration of
vulnerable groups into the community, the use of endogenous resources and the development of the
private sector. Thanks to this, local communities not only build, operate and maintain economic,
social and environmental infrastructure, but also influence state environmental policy and
contribute to the implementation of national and regional plans in this area.
At the same time, local sustainable development concerns not only local communities, but
also inter-community, inter-regional and even cross-border levels, which implies the need to
establish and develop appropriate partnerships at the sub-national level. This is especially
important in the context of the fact that the experience gained over the last 30 years of public
administration in Ukraine has shown the fact that maintaining a high level of decision-making at
the central level has negatively affected the functioning mechanisms of the local level of public
administration.
Based on this, the article defines two main indicators of sustainable local development:
1) the extent to which local authorities internalize their impact on the environment and society;
2) the degree of participation in decision-making by all those who will be affected by the decision,
which can be called procedural justice.
Downloads
References
Aberley, D. (1993). Boundaries of home: mapping for local empowerment. Gabriola Island BC: New Society Publishers.
Bartelmus, P. (1994). Environment, growth and development. The concepts and strategies of sustainability. London: Routledge.
Breheny, M. (2014). Defining sustainable local development. Paper presented at the International Conference Towards a Sustainable Future: Promoting Sustainable Development, Manchester.
Camagni, R., Capello, R., Nijkamp, P. (2015). Sustainable city policy: economic, environmental, technological. Paper presented at the International Urban Habitat Conference, Delft.
Conti, S., Dansero, E. (2005). The economy and the environment: itineraries for the construction of a territorial approach. Taylor, M. (Ed.). Environmental change: industry, power and policy, 15-36. Aldershot: Avebury.
Dansero, E. (2006). Ecosistemi locali. Valori del Peconomia e ragioni dell’ ecologia in un distretto industrial tessile. Milano: Angeli.
Dematteis, G. (1993). Mappe invisibili dell’evento . Botta, G. (Ed.). Eventi naturali oggi. La geografia e le altre discipline, 13–22. Milano: Cisalpino.
Haughton, G. (2009). Environmental Justice and the Sustainable City. Journal of Planning Education and Research, vol. 18 (3), 233–243.
Magnaghi, A. (1995). Per uno sviluppo locale autosostenibile. Materiali: laboratorio di progettazione ecologica degli insediamenti. Di partimento di urbanistica e pianificazione del territorio. University di Firenze: Ediz. Centro A-Zeta, P.3–26.
Molotch, H. (1976). The City as a Growth Machine: Toward a Political Economy of Place. American Journal of Sociology, vol. 82 (2), 309–332.
Preuss, L. (2009). Addressing sustainable development through public procurement. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 14 (3), 213–223.
