Functions of Local Governments for the Implementation of Sustainable Development: The Case of Turkey

Functions of Local Governments for the Implementation of Sustainable Development: The Case of Turkey

PEKTAS, Ethem Kadri

The term “Sustainable Development” was used for the first time in 1987 by Brundtland Report known as “Our Common Future”. Being about meeting the needs of today without diminishing the capacity of future generations to meet their needs, sustainable development is the most important common goal of human being today. There have been many international efforts to reach this common goal since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. This conference established a connection between Sustainable Development and Local Governments in its main concluding document Agenda 21. Titled as “Local Authorities’ Initiatives in Support of Agenda 21”, Chapter 28 of this document calls each local authority to enter into a dialogue with its citizens, local organizations and private enterprises and adopt “a Local Agenda 21”. In accordance with this call, the Local Agenda 21 Program has been carried out in thousands of cities all over the world, including Turkey. In this country, local governments especially municipalities provide several services to their inhabitants to ensure Sustainable Development in their cities on the basis of the related legislation. This study aims to examine the functions of local governments towards Sustainable Development. In doing so, the study depends on the case of Turkey.

Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed

2009-06

280