Speech by Minister of Environment Knut Arild Hareide at the 48th International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP) World Congress, Oslo 5 September 2004.

Governance for Urban Change

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is said that the "Human Footprint" can be seen on 83 percent of earth's land surface.

This number is likely to increase. Earth's growing population continues to demand more space. Land continues to be transformed to grow food and graze animals. New roads and power infrastructure continue to improve access into "new" areas.

Urban sprawl is progressing at high rates. Over half of the world’s population lives in cities. This percentage is growing rapidly.

Rapid urbanisation is one of the most significant changes taking place in low- and middle -income countries today. We are witnessing an "urbanisation of poverty". One billion people are currently living in urban slums and informal settlements. Unless action is taken, this number may rise to 1,6 billion by 2020.

In higher income nations, the majority of the population already lives in cities. Urban sprawl and car use is the main challenge facing Norwegian cities - seen from a sustainability perspective. Unless action is taken, asphalt and cars will dominate in and around city centres.

Cities are important engines of growth and innovation. Cities offer economic, social and cultural opportunities – to those that are in a position to grasp them. Unless action is taken, rapid urbanisation will have serious ecological and social effects.

In terms of the environment, changes in land-use is probably the single greatest threat to biological diversity. Natural habitats – upon which plants and animals rely - are lost as a result of physical destruction, pollution and introduced species. The "urban jungle" can in particular put stress on a region's water resources.

We know that roads, parking lots and buildings do not absorb rainfall as well as soil and vegetation. This increases the potential for flooding. Toxic substances and sewage find their way into surface waters. Land is eroded. Hill slopes are prone to landslides.

Urbanisation can even alter the nature of the atmosphere, including temperature and rainfall patterns. Cities demand more energy and typically have high levels of air pollution.

In terms of social effects, cities can easily marginalize groups and individuals. In cities like ours, a key focus is on promoting vital city centres. We want attractive public meeting places to create a sense of identity and belonging for all.

In the slums of the cities, social exclusion can involve all parts of life. Slum dwellers typically have inadequate shelter and insecure tenure. Basic energy, water and sanitation infrastructure may be lacking. These people are "non-existent" in terms of basic public services. Yet these people really do exist and - unless action is taken - the "voice" of these poor slum dwellers will not be heard.

The fight against poverty is also a fight to be seen and heard. It is a fight for the right to shape ones future and to be represented. Cities will not be sustainable unless efforts are made to eradicate poverty and to promote democratic rights for all.

Rapid urbanisation also calls for pro-active urban management and long-term land-use planning. We need good "governance for urban change" to unleash the resources and potential of all groups, including women and children, local entrepreneurs and others.

Ladies and gentlemen,

What is good urban governance and how can urban governance be improved to handle rapid change? How can we make sure that all "voices" are heard in planning processes?

I am very glad to be at this Congress that has gathered such an impressive group of planners, developers, architects and other experts to debate these very important issues. Your local lessons and experiences are also of national and international interest.

As you are aware, the international community has set itself ambitious goals and targets on sustainable development – including in the area of human settlements. Today, the international focus is not so much on creating new goals and targets. The main focus is on following -up on commitments already made.

"Moving from words to action" is today's key message.

I am convinced that we can only move from words to results if we move from a "top-down" to a "bottom-up" approach. Governments must offer political goals, commitment and resources, but governments cannot succeed alone.

Governments cannot "move from words to action" without the active participation of local authorities and grass root organisations.

The local level is where different interests and user-groups meet in practise. The local level is where different stakeholders sort out cross-sectoral challenges in partnership on a daily basis - whether it be to decide upon the future fate of a local playground or to discuss a local community's response to global challenges like climate change.

I am sure that good urban governance will be one of the key messages to emerge from UN HABITAT's World Urban Forum in Barcelona next week, dedicated to human settlements issues.

Let me add that Norway is deeply committed to UN HABITAT and the human settlements agenda - which was brought to the centre of the sustainable development debate after the World Summit in Johannesburg in 2002. In its follow-up of the Summit, the UN Commission for Sustainable Development made human settlements one of its priority topics for its first period of work (2004-2005).

Ladies and gentlemen,

You will have the chance to see Oslo while you are here. It is more of a construction site now than what is normally the case. We want our capital to look its very best for next year's 100 years celebration of Norway as an independent nation.

Norwegian cities and towns are relatively small and the challenges that we face are moderate in an international context. The government has nevertheless identified a set of objectives for urban development, which you will find are well in line with international trends and thinking.

Important key words are sustainable land-use with developments along the public transport system. Public transport is in itself a high priority, including tracks for pedestrians and bicycles. This will improve mobility and air quality. Physical surroundings are to be made as attractive as possible, with easy access to green areas as well as to business and public services.

"Moving from words to action" is equally important when it comes to national goals.

To promote "action", the government has taken steps to strengthen its contacts and dialogue with stakeholders on urban development - including at the cities level. We have invited major cities to develop pilot projects on solutions to urban development challenges. The placing of the pilot projects reflects the municipalities' main responsibility for urban development - a responsibility that we aim to increase with time.

The pilot projects will give us valuable input on how a successful mix of urban planning and market forces can contribute to urban renewal. They will highlight efficient organisation models and planning tools for the transformation of cities. They will improve our understanding of "governance for urban change".

It is essential that central government base its actions and recommendations on best practises and lessons learnt at the cities and local levels. Central government must work closely with local authorities – which must play an active, leading part in urban development.

We need only look to the city of Trondheim to illustrate the need for close contacts between national and local authorities. Trondheim, our third largest city, is the administrative centre of the Mid-Norway region. The city is also home to a university and a hospital owned by state agencies.

National authorities first considered locating new buildings for the uni­versity, hospital and state agencies on the outskirts of the city. Thanks to the city of Trondheim forcefully taking charge of its own urban develop­ment, all of the planned buildings are now located in the city centre in­stead. This provides easy access to the institutions and limits urban sprawl.

It is also essential that business interests and the public at large be involved in urban development.

This " public-private" relationship is an important part of a large urban renewal project in Stavanger, our "oil capital" situated on Norway's south- western coast. The city used to be best known for its fishing industries. Today the site that used to house 70 factories is being transformed into a modern "urban waterfront".

The municipality of Stavanger has worked closely with local business developers on a renewal strategy for the site in question. The trans­formation area has a very high number of property owners. The main challenge is to organise cooperation between all property owners, developers and the city authorities. This is successfully taken care of by a joint venture.

The municipality of Stavanger has also sought the active involvement of local groups and individuals in the renewal process. Public participation has been encouraged from the planning to the implementation stage. Separate short-term projects, like hosting cultural events in the old factory buildings, have been defined to demonstrate visible progress and results along the way.

It is important that getting involved in urban development be made worthwhile. Those affected by the renewal must be given a sense of ownership to the project. The planning processes in Stavanger promise well for the city's new "urban waterfront".

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In Norway we have a set of old "mountain rules" based on common sense. The most important one is that of always "seeking out and listening to the advice of the locals" before starting out on a trip. The locals will be able to warn you if the ice on the lake is unsafe or if a mountainside is prone to avalanches. They will also know the best tracks and sights, including ones that do not feature in guidebooks.

We are fortunately getting to a point where a set of "guidelines for urban governance" are taking shape – where that of "seeking out the advice of the locals" is a key element. Other key elements are – as we have seen - responsible public leadership at both the central and local levels and broad-based contacts with all stakeholders, including the business community.

There is also a growing awareness that cities need value-based visions for their development. Cities are more than jobs, roads and residential areas. Cities must offer its inhabitants a good quality of life, also from a social and cultural point of view.

It is important that we continue to refine and promote land-use and urban planning processes to manage rapid urban change and to make sure that the visions of sustainable cities become a reality.

I look forward to learning more about the outcomes of the discussions in the coming days. I wish you the best of luck in your important work.

I also congratulate and thank our host, the City of Oslo, for hosting this congress.

Thank you for your attention.