With the tools of democracy
Sustainable Development and Local Agenda-21
in Panevezys, Lithuania
Best Practice UN-Habitat 2002

Lead Idea

Panevezys is a good example of managing the economy with democratic tools. A comprehensive information campaign and several restructuring measures were carried out to meet the objectives of Local Agenda 21. As a result, environmentally-conscious consumers are now in a position to directly influence the economy of their city. The full programme consisted of educational measures, introduction of ISO and EMAS standards for production methods, changes in life style, traffic master plans, as well as health, safety and tourism concepts.

The issue at stake

The city of Panevezys in Lithuania was in a bad way environmentally as made evident by health statistics, yet its inhabitants, because of a general lack of information and no obvious way to influence matters, hardly thought about how to improve the situation. This is why responsible authorities and experts from Sweden and Germany got together to establish a comprehensive programme that would meet the objectives of Local Agenda 21.

Possible solutions, resources

The programme included youth projects, "clean production" concepts for businesses, media campaigns for life-style changes, as well as framework programmes for health, tourism and safety. Right from the start, much emphasis was placed on adhering to democratic processes of participation, which attracted the interest of inhabitants as well as that of the EU. The project is now supported by the PHARE programme.

Process, effects

Approximately 69% of the population participated in the measures, including secondary schools, the main publicly-owned companies and large part of the private sector too. The waste dump and the water purification plant were improved. All of the decisions concerning the issue were previously discussed in public and residents also participated in the implementation of the measures.

Experiences, transferability

The system developed in cooperation with EU sister cities is easily applicable to other cities in the region. Members of local councils and residents found new methods of democratic and responsible participation which have also shown positive economic effects. Knowledge on environmentally friendly production methods and other areas is distributed via a network which all businesses in the region have access to.

Size of municipality: small town
Participation: project initiated by city administration and international experts, rate of public participation 69%
Financing: local, EU (PHARE)