1. Art and Diseño

Determining components of a sustainable
What is a territorial sustainable
development approach
development project ?
that allows collective creation,
implementation and evolution
of a strategy for continuous
improvement. Following such
an approach is fundamental in
leading the project to success.
Evidence from a number of
interveners who already have
undertaken a local agenda 21 or initiatives of similar character results in focusing analysis on five
determining elements :
Whether it is called «local agenda 21» or not, a territorial
sustainable development project must meet certain
requirements.
It is an initiative of voluntary character, carried out by a
town or other institutional grouping, which is translated
into a strategy and a territorial action plan. The first
ambition of such a project must be to commit a territory
and its inhabitants to a continuous improvement process
according to the principles of sustainable development.
That process commits all users of the territory, elected
representatives, decision-makers and citizens, to be
responsible towards others, towards the rest of the
planet and future generations.
At the same time, such a project is the place to build
a common and attractive vision of the future for the
territory in all its dimensions (physical, economic,
symbolic, social, etc.)
Through each of its activities, a territorial sustainable
development project aims at meeting one or more of the
five purposes of sustainable development without being
detrimental to any of them.
Many experiments already undertaken by some
territories, qualified to be «pioneers» regarding sustainable
development, show the need to devote attention to
the methods used in preparing, implementing and
evaluating the project, as well as to the contents of the
strategy and the action plan, through which the project
is carried out :
The Agenda 21 of the region Franche-Comté calls for ambition and pragmatism,
aiming at a gradual but lasting change of culture within the administration. It
is organized in six transverse orientations, including the challenge of setting
sustainable development as the framework for all of the territorial actors and
supporting economic development in service of mankind and respectful of its
environment.
 Participation of local interveners and population
is needed to take into account the complexity of
the local system, to allow all inhabitants and people
involved to make the project their own and give it
life. It must be sought at all steps, from the diagnosis
stage to the action plan. It requires financial and
human means and thus must be integrated in the
timetable and the budget from project inception.
 Steering (from decision to implementation) of a
sustainable development project must be organised
to fit the project and be flexible. The objective
is on the one hand to ascertain coherence and
complementarity, in time and space, of the policies
followed, and on the other hand to ensure that
the various interests be represented and that an
arbitration process among them be provided.
 Transversality of the process is essential, since the
goal is to implement a territorial project that reconciles
economic development with an improvement of
the population’s well-being and social cohesion, as
well as with environmental resources and climate
protection. This transverse character must be
formally expressed in the preliminary assessment, in
the strategy and in the territorial action plan. It also
should appear in the working methods and modes
of organization of involved institutions.
 An evaluation of the project and of the activities
carried out is essential. The evaluation should aim
at verifying the adequacy and the relevance of
project policies, regarding local issues, sustainable
development principles and popular expectations,
and also at checking the effectiveness of assigned
resources and their evolution. It should be designed
from project inception, and will gain in effectiveness
if involved institutions and the local population
are called in to take part in the definition and the
implementation of the selected evaluation method.
 All the above components should contribute
towards turning the territorial project into a real
strategy for continuous improvement : to bring about
improvement on the initial situation regarding the five
goals of sustainable development and to enhance
working methods, making them more open, more
transverse, more participative, such are the stakes
of a territorial project of sustainable development,
the progress of which must be sized up to allow
appropriate steering. To that effect, it is essential to
set project objectives clearly and to accompany
them with appropriate means.
Convinced that the strategic vision of the Agenda 21 not only the competence
of the administration, the strategy of the Departement of Martinique addresses all
actors of the territory. It is laid out in 5 orientations : Restore social bonds and cultural
identity, for example by creating a « museum outside the walls » ; Reinforce territorial
coherence and environmental balance ; Integrate further the territory in its regional
and international area ; Secure economic modernity. To do so, workshops on social
responsibility of organizations have been organized ; Reinforce the capacity of
adaptation to climate change by reducing vulnerabilities.
Prospective outlooks aiming at the 2030 horizon in the metropolitan area of Beauvaisis
(Oise departement) resulted in the combination of the territorial project and Agenda
21 for the metropolitan area under the name of « Prospective 21 ». The strategy aims
at transforming Beauvaisis into an attractive economic crossroads and pave the
way for innovative practices through partnerships.
In Sancé (Saone et Loire departement), a shared diagnosis, of the territory met a
high participation that laid the foundations for 3 jointly led projects: the Agenda 21,
the land use plan and the operation Heart of Village. The Agenda 21 is set up in three
orientations, among which to solidify the town in its central position and to define the
role and place of Sancé in the intercommunality.
In response, national, and local stakes of sustainable development; the Agenda 21 of Mouans-Sartoux (Alpes-Maritimes
departement) consists in 5 orientations : Promote solidarity and education for all people ; Live in such a way that housing fits
within a model for sustainable mobility. For instance, social housing integrates the principles of sustainable development ;
Environment : to cope with heritage and natural resources, landscapes, energy, waste, nuisance and risks ; Support social
and economic changes while supporting agriculture ; Reinforce the exemplarity of the administration through quality
public services.
General Council of the Sustainable Development – Tour Séquoia 92055 La Défense cedex - Tél. : +33(0)1 40 81 21 22
A framework for action
Editorial Board : Magali Bardou, Liliane Duport, Philippe Senna - Photos credits : Geneviève Baumont, Christian Brodhag, Liliane Duport, Pierre Grenand, Stéphane Le Bourhis,
Hubert Lelache, Philippe Senna - Graphic design : Christophe Cazeau, Annick Samy, Philippe Senna - Translation : Dominique Larré, Bénédicte Pachod - Édition 2015
Sustainable
development
is
above all a process: a true cultural
change for the community or
institution responsible for the
activity, it implies new working
methods that run across issues and
are more collective. It means the
setting-up of a new organization
Territorial Sustainable
Development Projects
and Local Agenda 21
Ministère
de l'Écologie,
du Développement
durable et de l'Énergie
Ministry
of Ecology,
Sustainable Development
and Energy
www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr
France committed to Rio’s Agenda 21
In 1992, among 177 other countries,
France committed itself to promote
sustainable
development,
by
signing the Rio Declaration
and validating ‘Agenda 21’, an
action plan of global scale for
sustainable development, defined
as “development that meets
the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own
needs”.
On a territorial scale (local government, towns and groups of towns)
the Agenda 21 programme recommends, on a voluntary basis,
the setting-up of ‘local Agenda
21’, aiming at local design and
implementation of the global pro-
gramme. This typically involves a
territorial development project
and an action plan both shared
by residents.
Through its strategy and action,
the State supports these initiatives
and works towards widely spreading them.
The expression of sustainable development goals in territorial projects
Manage natural resources in a sustainable manner
Preservation and management of natural resources should be at the
heart of local policies meant to be global and coherent. Shared with
all stakeholders, policies need to be driven by principles of subsidiarity,
accountability and , among other goals, endeavour to : use waste,
according to the level of deposits available ; reuse and recycle
resources ; manage the impact of extraction of resources on environment and
health of populations ; take into account the issue of climate change and its
consequences on the management of resources and adaptation of territories.
Lay out the compact town and rural areas to develop
sustainable housing
Each territory is in a particular situation. Nevertheless, one
can define a few priorities and leverage tools on which to
concentrate, to make progress towards the five goals of
sustainable development. Such orientations and priorities
had been listed together in sixteen «fields of action», which
remain accurate. Yet, the current 10 “themes of action” foster
connections between these domains, shedding light on the
transversality to be maintained.
Create the conditions of a sustainable mobility
Value biodiversity, natural areas and the ecosystem
Mobility is an increasingly important condition in order for people to have access to
It is necessary to move away from a policy of conservation of biodiversity to a
everyday life services, consumer goods, employment, leisure, social relations, etc. As
management strategy of the whole region. A dynamic vision of biodiversity has to
a crucial element, the territorial project of sustainable development has to guarantee
be adopted, taking into account the issue of climate change, and promoting an
access to services and mobility for all, across the region, to
ambitious strategy of development of the ecologic capital rather than only stopping
provide access to transportation and guarantee a certain
the erosion of biodiversity.
quality of life, to adapt transportation systems to climatic and energy
This goal should also be enhanced in every policy and project led by the
As a precondition
challenges, to favour the emergence of intermodal nodes and
local government. To do so, it is essential to improve knowledge related to biodiversity and to
to a local Agenda 21 project, each
active mobility, and lastly, to reduce the impact of transportation
enable data sharing (including all stakeholders) while staying aware of ecosystem services.
territory must identify priority issues or stakes,
infrastructures on the environment.
in consultation with people who are active in the territory
Five purposes or goals are put forward in a number
of international texts and declarations regarding
sustainable development. Each has transverse
character across social, environmental and economic issues and stakes. They are interdependent
and must be jointly exercised. Lastly, the operational implementation of these goals aims at a continuous and long-term improvement of the local
situation, that stresses the reversibility of selected
development patterns, and expresses solidarity
towards human beings and their planet.
 Fighting climatic change and protecting the
atmosphere
With the aim of limiting the rise of the world’s temperature, France took the objective to divide by
four its emissions of greenhouse effect gases before
2050. To that effect, territorial development priorities should include energy demand management
and renewable energy promotion. In addition, action in several fields should aim at preventing the
unavoidable effects of global warming that are
already visible
 Preserving biodiversity, protecting eco-systems
and resources
Goods and services brought about by biodiversity are innumerable and, for the most part,
irreplaceable. If we wish to leave a liveable planet
to future generations, it is urgent to preserve
biological diversity as much as possible, and also to
implement smart management of the environment
and natural resources. That requires alternative
patterns of behaviour as well as strong economic
and political support.
 Social cohesion and solidarity among territories
and generations
A national priority always re-asserted, social
cohesion means to renew or reinforce links among
human beings, among societies and among
territories, and to ensure a fair division of wealth.
 Fulfilment of all human beings through access to
a good quality of life
To allow fulfiment of the expectations of people,
through access to essential goods and services,
without endangering the fulfilment of future generations nor of men and women who live elsewhere
on the planet, is key to harmonious development
of territories
 Development dynamics based on responsible
production and consumption patterns
To be more responsible, consumption and
production should together be less polluting, less
predatory in terms of natural resources, and limit
risks for the environment and living conditions on
earth. Social progress and fulfilment for all should
be the guiding objective of economic policy and
innovation.
Favour employement and sustainable local economic
Prevent risks, pollution and nuisance
and identified with it, according to its characteristics, to the
Eco-industries aim at becoming the cutting edge of
Local governments, including towns, in concertation with other
legal competence of the institution responsible for the project, and
green growth and energy transition. In a wider sense,
public players, the private sector, civil society and the State,
also according to relations established with other territories, whether
the pressure of economic activities on environment
should promote a procedure of coherent management aiming
they are adjacent or of different scales.
and biodiversity needs to be reduced. To do so, five
at reducing vulnerability, without harming neighbouring areas,
Each territory is in a particular situation. Nevertheless, one can define
challenges have to be met :
improving the resilience of the territory and minimizing the
a few priorities and leverage tools on which to concentrate, to make
Increase efficiency of local resources and better
human and financial consequences in time of crisis.
progress towards the five goals of sustainable development.
specify how to welcome enterprise on a territory ;
Concretely, this has to deal with surveillance, systems
Anticipate changes and develop solidarity-based
of alert in crisis time, information and responsibility of involved parties
Such orientations and priorities had been listed together in
activities ; Support « green » economic sectors and
and inhabitants, elaborating urban planning integrating the issue of
sixteen «fields of action», which remain accurate. Yet, the
sustainable systems of production and consumption ;
risk, getting ready for a risk management and the capitalization of
current 10 “themes of action” foster connections between
Reduce energy consumption, fight against and adapt
experiences.
these domains, shedding light on the transversality to be
to climate ; Reduce the pressure of economic activities on
maintained.
environment and biodiversity.
Reinforce solidarity and social policies
Local actors are at the forefront of efforts to limit the impact of the global
economic crisis.
Changes in individual and collective behaviour, needed to aspire to a
sustainable way of life, require the anticipation of public players.
On the local scale, solidarity aims at a fair share of amenities and services
among inhabitants in the region: access to resources, security, health, hygiene,
quality of life, public debate, employment, …
Solidarity should also be expressed between urban and rural areas, through
the observation of economic exchanges and relations in terms of services,
employment, leisure activities, etc. which link the territories.
Enhance health-related policies with every actor
Territories play a key role in reducing inequalities in the
matter of health.
It is through caring about living conditions (housing,
habitat, transportation, food, sports..), working conditions, the quality of the
environment and social relations that a global and socially fair approach to
health policy can be implemented
All the points introduced in this pamphlet are expanded in a document entitled: «The frame of reference of
territorial sustainable development projects or Local Agenda 21».
Culture and sport to become leverage towards sustainable development
Access to culture, participation in sports in the community are not
the only means for human self-fulfilment. They help through the
conviviality they bring and values they carry, favouring meetings
with and knowledge of others. They develop or support social
cohesion. Local government, towns and groups of towns are the
main financial supporters of sport and culture in France. They play a key role in their
development, regarding artistic creation, facilities, etc. Such support to community life
and actions in favour of those groups are all policies at the service of local social cohesion.
To lay the foundations of sustainable development on knowledge and training
Development will only be sustainable with the involvement of responsible citizens. The
challenges of sustainable development also demand innovative solutions in numerous
fields. Building of knowledge and access to all to know-how have to be supported,
stressing on research while caring about transversality and the collaboration of the
stakeholders.
It is thus about getting to know the territory, build expertise and knowledge networks.
What’s more, conditions of participatory democracy stand on a good level of
knowledge, by all the inhabitants, of what is at stake in terms of sustainable development
on their territory. Lastly, access to a manifold information for all has to be assured. To
do so, new technologies are tools that can be invested.
France committed to Rio’s Agenda 21
In 1992, among 177 other countries,
France committed itself to promote
sustainable
development,
by
signing the Rio Declaration
and validating ‘Agenda 21’, an
action plan of global scale for
sustainable development, defined
as “development that meets
the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own
needs”.
On a territorial scale (local government, towns and groups of towns)
the Agenda 21 programme recommends, on a voluntary basis,
the setting-up of ‘local Agenda
21’, aiming at local design and
implementation of the global pro-
gramme. This typically involves a
territorial development project
and an action plan both shared
by residents.
Through its strategy and action,
the State supports these initiatives
and works towards widely spreading them.
The expression of sustainable development goals in territorial projects
Manage natural resources in a sustainable manner
Preservation and management of natural resources should be at the
heart of local policies meant to be global and coherent. Shared with
all stakeholders, policies need to be driven by principles of subsidiarity,
accountability and , among other goals, endeavour to : use waste,
according to the level of deposits available ; reuse and recycle
resources ; manage the impact of extraction of resources on environment and
health of populations ; take into account the issue of climate change and its
consequences on the management of resources and adaptation of territories.
Lay out the compact town and rural areas to develop
sustainable housing
Each territory is in a particular situation. Nevertheless, one
can define a few priorities and leverage tools on which to
concentrate, to make progress towards the five goals of
sustainable development. Such orientations and priorities
had been listed together in sixteen «fields of action», which
remain accurate. Yet, the current 10 “themes of action” foster
connections between these domains, shedding light on the
transversality to be maintained.
Create the conditions of a sustainable mobility
Value biodiversity, natural areas and the ecosystem
Mobility is an increasingly important condition in order for people to have access to
It is necessary to move away from a policy of conservation of biodiversity to a
everyday life services, consumer goods, employment, leisure, social relations, etc. As
management strategy of the whole region. A dynamic vision of biodiversity has to
a crucial element, the territorial project of sustainable development has to guarantee
be adopted, taking into account the issue of climate change, and promoting an
access to services and mobility for all, across the region, to
ambitious strategy of development of the ecologic capital rather than only stopping
provide access to transportation and guarantee a certain
the erosion of biodiversity.
quality of life, to adapt transportation systems to climatic and energy
This goal should also be enhanced in every policy and project led by the
As a precondition
challenges, to favour the emergence of intermodal nodes and
local government. To do so, it is essential to improve knowledge related to biodiversity and to
to a local Agenda 21 project, each
active mobility, and lastly, to reduce the impact of transportation
enable data sharing (including all stakeholders) while staying aware of ecosystem services.
territory must identify priority issues or stakes,
infrastructures on the environment.
in consultation with people who are active in the territory
Five purposes or goals are put forward in a number
of international texts and declarations regarding
sustainable development. Each has transverse
character across social, environmental and economic issues and stakes. They are interdependent
and must be jointly exercised. Lastly, the operational implementation of these goals aims at a continuous and long-term improvement of the local
situation, that stresses the reversibility of selected
development patterns, and expresses solidarity
towards human beings and their planet.
 Fighting climatic change and protecting the
atmosphere
With the aim of limiting the rise of the world’s temperature, France took the objective to divide by
four its emissions of greenhouse effect gases before
2050. To that effect, territorial development priorities should include energy demand management
and renewable energy promotion. In addition, action in several fields should aim at preventing the
unavoidable effects of global warming that are
already visible
 Preserving biodiversity, protecting eco-systems
and resources
Goods and services brought about by biodiversity are innumerable and, for the most part,
irreplaceable. If we wish to leave a liveable planet
to future generations, it is urgent to preserve
biological diversity as much as possible, and also to
implement smart management of the environment
and natural resources. That requires alternative
patterns of behaviour as well as strong economic
and political support.
 Social cohesion and solidarity among territories
and generations
A national priority always re-asserted, social
cohesion means to renew or reinforce links among
human beings, among societies and among
territories, and to ensure a fair division of wealth.
 Fulfilment of all human beings through access to
a good quality of life
To allow fulfiment of the expectations of people,
through access to essential goods and services,
without endangering the fulfilment of future generations nor of men and women who live elsewhere
on the planet, is key to harmonious development
of territories
 Development dynamics based on responsible
production and consumption patterns
To be more responsible, consumption and
production should together be less polluting, less
predatory in terms of natural resources, and limit
risks for the environment and living conditions on
earth. Social progress and fulfilment for all should
be the guiding objective of economic policy and
innovation.
Favour employement and sustainable local economic
Prevent risks, pollution and nuisance
and identified with it, according to its characteristics, to the
Eco-industries aim at becoming the cutting edge of
Local governments, including towns, in concertation with other
legal competence of the institution responsible for the project, and
green growth and energy transition. In a wider sense,
public players, the private sector, civil society and the State,
also according to relations established with other territories, whether
the pressure of economic activities on environment
should promote a procedure of coherent management aiming
they are adjacent or of different scales.
and biodiversity needs to be reduced. To do so, five
at reducing vulnerability, without harming neighbouring areas,
Each territory is in a particular situation. Nevertheless, one can define
challenges have to be met :
improving the resilience of the territory and minimizing the
a few priorities and leverage tools on which to concentrate, to make
Increase efficiency of local resources and better
human and financial consequences in time of crisis.
progress towards the five goals of sustainable development.
specify how to welcome enterprise on a territory ;
Concretely, this has to deal with surveillance, systems
Anticipate changes and develop solidarity-based
of alert in crisis time, information and responsibility of involved parties
Such orientations and priorities had been listed together in
activities ; Support « green » economic sectors and
and inhabitants, elaborating urban planning integrating the issue of
sixteen «fields of action», which remain accurate. Yet, the
sustainable systems of production and consumption ;
risk, getting ready for a risk management and the capitalization of
current 10 “themes of action” foster connections between
Reduce energy consumption, fight against and adapt
experiences.
these domains, shedding light on the transversality to be
to climate ; Reduce the pressure of economic activities on
maintained.
environment and biodiversity.
Reinforce solidarity and social policies
Local actors are at the forefront of efforts to limit the impact of the global
economic crisis.
Changes in individual and collective behaviour, needed to aspire to a
sustainable way of life, require the anticipation of public players.
On the local scale, solidarity aims at a fair share of amenities and services
among inhabitants in the region: access to resources, security, health, hygiene,
quality of life, public debate, employment, …
Solidarity should also be expressed between urban and rural areas, through
the observation of economic exchanges and relations in terms of services,
employment, leisure activities, etc. which link the territories.
Enhance health-related policies with every actor
Territories play a key role in reducing inequalities in the
matter of health.
It is through caring about living conditions (housing,
habitat, transportation, food, sports..), working conditions, the quality of the
environment and social relations that a global and socially fair approach to
health policy can be implemented
All the points introduced in this pamphlet are expanded in a document entitled: «The frame of reference of
territorial sustainable development projects or Local Agenda 21».
Culture and sport to become leverage towards sustainable development
Access to culture, participation in sports in the community are not
the only means for human self-fulfilment. They help through the
conviviality they bring and values they carry, favouring meetings
with and knowledge of others. They develop or support social
cohesion. Local government, towns and groups of towns are the
main financial supporters of sport and culture in France. They play a key role in their
development, regarding artistic creation, facilities, etc. Such support to community life
and actions in favour of those groups are all policies at the service of local social cohesion.
To lay the foundations of sustainable development on knowledge and training
Development will only be sustainable with the involvement of responsible citizens. The
challenges of sustainable development also demand innovative solutions in numerous
fields. Building of knowledge and access to all to know-how have to be supported,
stressing on research while caring about transversality and the collaboration of the
stakeholders.
It is thus about getting to know the territory, build expertise and knowledge networks.
What’s more, conditions of participatory democracy stand on a good level of
knowledge, by all the inhabitants, of what is at stake in terms of sustainable development
on their territory. Lastly, access to a manifold information for all has to be assured. To
do so, new technologies are tools that can be invested.
Determining components of a sustainable
What is a territorial sustainable
development approach
development project ?
that allows collective creation,
implementation and evolution
of a strategy for continuous
improvement. Following such
an approach is fundamental in
leading the project to success.
Evidence from a number of
interveners who already have
undertaken a local agenda 21 or initiatives of similar character results in focusing analysis on five
determining elements :
Whether it is called «local agenda 21» or not, a territorial
sustainable development project must meet certain
requirements.
It is an initiative of voluntary character, carried out by a
town or other institutional grouping, which is translated
into a strategy and a territorial action plan. The first
ambition of such a project must be to commit a territory
and its inhabitants to a continuous improvement process
according to the principles of sustainable development.
That process commits all users of the territory, elected
representatives, decision-makers and citizens, to be
responsible towards others, towards the rest of the
planet and future generations.
At the same time, such a project is the place to build
a common and attractive vision of the future for the
territory in all its dimensions (physical, economic,
symbolic, social, etc.)
Through each of its activities, a territorial sustainable
development project aims at meeting one or more of the
five purposes of sustainable development without being
detrimental to any of them.
Many experiments already undertaken by some
territories, qualified to be «pioneers» regarding sustainable
development, show the need to devote attention to
the methods used in preparing, implementing and
evaluating the project, as well as to the contents of the
strategy and the action plan, through which the project
is carried out :
The Agenda 21 of the region Franche-Comté calls for ambition and pragmatism,
aiming at a gradual but lasting change of culture within the administration. It
is organized in six transverse orientations, including the challenge of setting
sustainable development as the framework for all of the territorial actors and
supporting economic development in service of mankind and respectful of its
environment.
 Participation of local interveners and population
is needed to take into account the complexity of
the local system, to allow all inhabitants and people
involved to make the project their own and give it
life. It must be sought at all steps, from the diagnosis
stage to the action plan. It requires financial and
human means and thus must be integrated in the
timetable and the budget from project inception.
 Steering (from decision to implementation) of a
sustainable development project must be organised
to fit the project and be flexible. The objective
is on the one hand to ascertain coherence and
complementarity, in time and space, of the policies
followed, and on the other hand to ensure that
the various interests be represented and that an
arbitration process among them be provided.
 Transversality of the process is essential, since the
goal is to implement a territorial project that reconciles
economic development with an improvement of
the population’s well-being and social cohesion, as
well as with environmental resources and climate
protection. This transverse character must be
formally expressed in the preliminary assessment, in
the strategy and in the territorial action plan. It also
should appear in the working methods and modes
of organization of involved institutions.
 An evaluation of the project and of the activities
carried out is essential. The evaluation should aim
at verifying the adequacy and the relevance of
project policies, regarding local issues, sustainable
development principles and popular expectations,
and also at checking the effectiveness of assigned
resources and their evolution. It should be designed
from project inception, and will gain in effectiveness
if involved institutions and the local population
are called in to take part in the definition and the
implementation of the selected evaluation method.
 All the above components should contribute
towards turning the territorial project into a real
strategy for continuous improvement : to bring about
improvement on the initial situation regarding the five
goals of sustainable development and to enhance
working methods, making them more open, more
transverse, more participative, such are the stakes
of a territorial project of sustainable development,
the progress of which must be sized up to allow
appropriate steering. To that effect, it is essential to
set project objectives clearly and to accompany
them with appropriate means.
Convinced that the strategic vision of the Agenda 21 not only the competence
of the administration, the strategy of the Departement of Martinique addresses all
actors of the territory. It is laid out in 5 orientations : Restore social bonds and cultural
identity, for example by creating a « museum outside the walls » ; Reinforce territorial
coherence and environmental balance ; Integrate further the territory in its regional
and international area ; Secure economic modernity. To do so, workshops on social
responsibility of organizations have been organized ; Reinforce the capacity of
adaptation to climate change by reducing vulnerabilities.
Prospective outlooks aiming at the 2030 horizon in the metropolitan area of Beauvaisis
(Oise departement) resulted in the combination of the territorial project and Agenda
21 for the metropolitan area under the name of « Prospective 21 ». The strategy aims
at transforming Beauvaisis into an attractive economic crossroads and pave the
way for innovative practices through partnerships.
In Sancé (Saone et Loire departement), a shared diagnosis, of the territory met a
high participation that laid the foundations for 3 jointly led projects: the Agenda 21,
the land use plan and the operation Heart of Village. The Agenda 21 is set up in three
orientations, among which to solidify the town in its central position and to define the
role and place of Sancé in the intercommunality.
In response, national, and local stakes of sustainable development; the Agenda 21 of Mouans-Sartoux (Alpes-Maritimes
departement) consists in 5 orientations : Promote solidarity and education for all people ; Live in such a way that housing fits
within a model for sustainable mobility. For instance, social housing integrates the principles of sustainable development ;
Environment : to cope with heritage and natural resources, landscapes, energy, waste, nuisance and risks ; Support social
and economic changes while supporting agriculture ; Reinforce the exemplarity of the administration through quality
public services.
General Council of the Sustainable Development – Tour Séquoia 92055 La Défense cedex - Tél. : +33(0)1 40 81 21 22
A framework for action
Editorial Board : Magali Bardou, Liliane Duport, Philippe Senna - Photos credits : Geneviève Baumont, Christian Brodhag, Liliane Duport, Pierre Grenand, Stéphane Le Bourhis,
Hubert Lelache, Philippe Senna - Graphic design : Christophe Cazeau, Annick Samy, Philippe Senna - Translation : Dominique Larré, Bénédicte Pachod - Édition 2015
Sustainable
development
is
above all a process: a true cultural
change for the community or
institution responsible for the
activity, it implies new working
methods that run across issues and
are more collective. It means the
setting-up of a new organization
Territorial Sustainable
Development Projects
and Local Agenda 21
Ministère
de l'Écologie,
du Développement
durable et de l'Énergie
Ministry
of Ecology,
Sustainable Development
and Energy
www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr
Determining components of a sustainable
What is a territorial sustainable
development approach
development project ?
that allows collective creation,
implementation and evolution
of a strategy for continuous
improvement. Following such
an approach is fundamental in
leading the project to success.
Evidence from a number of
interveners who already have
undertaken a local agenda 21 or initiatives of similar character results in focusing analysis on five
determining elements :
Whether it is called «local agenda 21» or not, a territorial
sustainable development project must meet certain
requirements.
It is an initiative of voluntary character, carried out by a
town or other institutional grouping, which is translated
into a strategy and a territorial action plan. The first
ambition of such a project must be to commit a territory
and its inhabitants to a continuous improvement process
according to the principles of sustainable development.
That process commits all users of the territory, elected
representatives, decision-makers and citizens, to be
responsible towards others, towards the rest of the
planet and future generations.
At the same time, such a project is the place to build
a common and attractive vision of the future for the
territory in all its dimensions (physical, economic,
symbolic, social, etc.)
Through each of its activities, a territorial sustainable
development project aims at meeting one or more of the
five purposes of sustainable development without being
detrimental to any of them.
Many experiments already undertaken by some
territories, qualified to be «pioneers» regarding sustainable
development, show the need to devote attention to
the methods used in preparing, implementing and
evaluating the project, as well as to the contents of the
strategy and the action plan, through which the project
is carried out :
The Agenda 21 of the region Franche-Comté calls for ambition and pragmatism,
aiming at a gradual but lasting change of culture within the administration. It
is organized in six transverse orientations, including the challenge of setting
sustainable development as the framework for all of the territorial actors and
supporting economic development in service of mankind and respectful of its
environment.
 Participation of local interveners and population
is needed to take into account the complexity of
the local system, to allow all inhabitants and people
involved to make the project their own and give it
life. It must be sought at all steps, from the diagnosis
stage to the action plan. It requires financial and
human means and thus must be integrated in the
timetable and the budget from project inception.
 Steering (from decision to implementation) of a
sustainable development project must be organised
to fit the project and be flexible. The objective
is on the one hand to ascertain coherence and
complementarity, in time and space, of the policies
followed, and on the other hand to ensure that
the various interests be represented and that an
arbitration process among them be provided.
 Transversality of the process is essential, since the
goal is to implement a territorial project that reconciles
economic development with an improvement of
the population’s well-being and social cohesion, as
well as with environmental resources and climate
protection. This transverse character must be
formally expressed in the preliminary assessment, in
the strategy and in the territorial action plan. It also
should appear in the working methods and modes
of organization of involved institutions.
 An evaluation of the project and of the activities
carried out is essential. The evaluation should aim
at verifying the adequacy and the relevance of
project policies, regarding local issues, sustainable
development principles and popular expectations,
and also at checking the effectiveness of assigned
resources and their evolution. It should be designed
from project inception, and will gain in effectiveness
if involved institutions and the local population
are called in to take part in the definition and the
implementation of the selected evaluation method.
 All the above components should contribute
towards turning the territorial project into a real
strategy for continuous improvement : to bring about
improvement on the initial situation regarding the five
goals of sustainable development and to enhance
working methods, making them more open, more
transverse, more participative, such are the stakes
of a territorial project of sustainable development,
the progress of which must be sized up to allow
appropriate steering. To that effect, it is essential to
set project objectives clearly and to accompany
them with appropriate means.
Convinced that the strategic vision of the Agenda 21 not only the competence
of the administration, the strategy of the Departement of Martinique addresses all
actors of the territory. It is laid out in 5 orientations : Restore social bonds and cultural
identity, for example by creating a « museum outside the walls » ; Reinforce territorial
coherence and environmental balance ; Integrate further the territory in its regional
and international area ; Secure economic modernity. To do so, workshops on social
responsibility of organizations have been organized ; Reinforce the capacity of
adaptation to climate change by reducing vulnerabilities.
Prospective outlooks aiming at the 2030 horizon in the metropolitan area of Beauvaisis
(Oise departement) resulted in the combination of the territorial project and Agenda
21 for the metropolitan area under the name of « Prospective 21 ». The strategy aims
at transforming Beauvaisis into an attractive economic crossroads and pave the
way for innovative practices through partnerships.
In Sancé (Saone et Loire departement), a shared diagnosis, of the territory met a
high participation that laid the foundations for 3 jointly led projects: the Agenda 21,
the land use plan and the operation Heart of Village. The Agenda 21 is set up in three
orientations, among which to solidify the town in its central position and to define the
role and place of Sancé in the intercommunality.
In response, national, and local stakes of sustainable development; the Agenda 21 of Mouans-Sartoux (Alpes-Maritimes
departement) consists in 5 orientations : Promote solidarity and education for all people ; Live in such a way that housing fits
within a model for sustainable mobility. For instance, social housing integrates the principles of sustainable development ;
Environment : to cope with heritage and natural resources, landscapes, energy, waste, nuisance and risks ; Support social
and economic changes while supporting agriculture ; Reinforce the exemplarity of the administration through quality
public services.
General Council of the Sustainable Development – Tour Séquoia 92055 La Défense cedex - Tél. : +33(0)1 40 81 21 22
A framework for action
Editorial Board : Magali Bardou, Liliane Duport, Philippe Senna - Photos credits : Geneviève Baumont, Christian Brodhag, Liliane Duport, Pierre Grenand, Stéphane Le Bourhis,
Hubert Lelache, Philippe Senna - Graphic design : Christophe Cazeau, Annick Samy, Philippe Senna - Translation : Dominique Larré, Bénédicte Pachod - Édition 2015
Sustainable
development
is
above all a process: a true cultural
change for the community or
institution responsible for the
activity, it implies new working
methods that run across issues and
are more collective. It means the
setting-up of a new organization
Territorial Sustainable
Development Projects
and Local Agenda 21
Ministère
de l'Écologie,
du Développement
durable et de l'Énergie
Ministry
of Ecology,
Sustainable Development
and Energy
www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr