Aalborg Charter

The Charter of European Sustainable Cities and Towns Towards Sustainability otherwise known as the Aalborg Charter (1994) is an urban environment sustainability initiative approved by the participants at the first European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns in Aalborg, Denmark.^[1] It is inspired by the Rio Earth Summit’s Local Agenda 21 plan, and was developed to contribute to the European Union’s Environmental Action Programme, ‘Towards Sustainability’.^[2]

The Charter is based on the consensus of individuals, municipalities, NGOs, national and international organisations, and scientific bodies.

Approximately 2700 local authorities from more than 40 countries have signed the Charter.^[3] This has resulted in the largest European movement of its type.

There are three related parts to the Charter. Part 1 is a consensus declaration of European sustainable cities and towns towards sustainability. Part 2 relates to the creation of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign. Part 3 is declaration of intent that local governments will seek to engage in Local Agenda 21 processes.^[4]

The Aalborg Commitments

Ten years after the release of the Aalborg Charter, the 4th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns was again held in Aalborg (2004).

The purpose of the event was to develop a common understanding of sustainability, and as a consequence to develop a framework to be used at the local level that would better articulate how to embed sustainability across municipality sectors. By consensus of participants, including organisations such as Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling (ACRR); Climate Alliance -Klima-Bündnis -Alianza del Climae.V; Council of European Municipalities & Regions (CEMR); Energie Cités; EUROCITIES; ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability; Medcities; Union of Baltic Cities (UBC), and the World Health Organisation (WHO) - Healthy Cities, the Aalborg Commitments were agreed on and have so far been signed by more than 700 mayors from across Europe.^[5]^[6]

The Commitments are:^[7]

1. Governance

2. Urban management

3. Natural common goods

4. Responsible consumption

5. Planning and design

6. Better mobility

7. Local action for health

8. Sustainable local economy

9. Social equity and justice

10. Local to global

References

Aalborg

Neighborhoods and administration	Aalborg Øst Gug Hasseris Nørresundby Skalborg Vejgaard Aalborg Hospital Hospital of the Holy Ghost, Aalborg Aalborg Municipality Aalborg Charter Almen Kirkegård

Landmarks	Aalborghus Aalborghallen Aalborgtårnet Aalborg Teater Aalborg Zoo Abbey of Our Lady, Aalborg Budolfi Church Jens Bang's House John F. Kennedys Plads Jomfru Ane Gade Jørgen Olufsen's House Karolinelund Kildeparken Musikkens Hus Nordkraft Nytorv Square Old City Hall Østre Anlæg Utzon Center

Culture	Aalborg Carnival Aalborg Symphony Orchestra

Museums	Aalborg Historical Museum Aalborg Søfarts- og Marinemuseum Defence and Garrison Museum Gråbrødrekloster Museum KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art Aalborg Lindholm Høje

Education	Aalborg Business College Aalborg Cathedral School Aalborg University Aalborghus Gymnasium Academy of Music Tech College Aalborg University College of Northern Denmark

Sports	AaB Fodbold Aalborg Golf Klub Aalborg Håndbold Aalborg Pirates Aalborg Boldspilklub Aalborg DH Aalborg RK Gigantium Nordjyske Arena Team Esbjerg

Companies and retail	1000Fryd AaB A/S Aalborg CSP Aalborg Portland Aalborg Storcenter Bladt Industries Cembrit Danish Distillers Huntsmen Corps Nordjyske Stiftstidende North Flying Spar Nord

Transport	Aalborg Air Base Aalborg Airport Aalborg station Aalborg Vestby station Lindholm station Skalborg station Aalborg Shipyard Port of Aalborg Marina Fjordparken Østre Havn Skudehavnen Vestre Badehavn

Sustainability

Principles	Ecological modernization Environmentalism Human impact on the environment Planetary boundaries Stewardship Sustainable development

Consumption	Anthropization Anti-consumerism Ecological footprint Ethical Over-consumption Simple living Sustainability advertising Sustainability brand Sustainability marketing myopia Sustainable Systemic change resistance Tragedy of the commons

Population	Birth control Family planning Control Overpopulation Zero growth

Technology	Appropriate Environmental Sustainable

Biodiversity	Biosecurity Biosphere Conservation biology Deep ecology Endangered species Holocene extinction Invasive species

Energy	Carbon footprint Climate change mitigation Conservation Descent Efficiency Emissions trading Fossil-fuel phase-out Peak oil Renewable

Food	Forest gardening Local Permaculture Security Sustainable agriculture Sustainable fishery Urban horticulture

Water	Conservation Crisis Efficiency Footprint

Accountability	Sustainability accounting Sustainability measurement Sustainability metrics and indices Sustainability reporting Standards and certification Sustainable yield

Applications	Advertising Architecture Art Business City College programs Community Design Ecovillage Education for Sustainable Development Fashion Gardening Geopark Green marketing Industries Landscape architecture Living Low-impact development Organizations Packaging Practices Procurement Tourism Transport Urban drainage systems Urban infrastructure Urbanism

Management	Environmental Fisheries Forest Natural resource Planetary Waste

Agreements	UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm 1972) Brundtlandt Commission Report (1983) Our Common Future (1987) Earth Summit (1992) Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Agenda 21 (1992) Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) ICPD Programme of Action (1994) Earth Charter Lisbon Principles UN Millennium Declaration (2000) Earth Summit 2002 (Rio+10, Johannesburg) United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20, 2012) Sustainable Development Goals (pending, September 2015)

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