PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Local authorities have a key role to play in the move towards sustainability, a role which has been emphasised through the development of Local Agenda 21. However, there are clearly considerable barriers to achieving sustainability at the local level. ATLAS draws upon previous experience from the Leicester Environment City campaign, which concluded that there are four barriers to be overcome if environmental action is to be taken: the costs of the action must not be prohibitively high; the action must be feasible and relatively convenient; there must be good information about possible actions; and a desire or motivation to take the action must exist. Within a local authority context there is little that can be done to make action for local sustainability more convenient or affordable, but we can improve information about possible actions and provide training to key decision-makers to increase awareness and motivation. The ATLAS project aims to test the effectiveness of providing training, information and networking to facilitate local action towards sustainability. The project focuses on five mid-sized European cities and seeks to promote progress towards susutainability through: · innovative motivational training targeted at heightening environmental commitment and awareness amongst key policy and decision makers; · a computer-based environmental information package that provides clear policy guidance and extensive case study information, and which acts as a manual for sustainable development at the local level; and · computer based networking which will allow exchange of information and experience between cities. ATLAS will be monitored rigorously to test the effectiveness of this approach. The work is being carried out through a partnership of De Montfort University, Environ, Leicester City Council, Derby City Council, Nottingham City Council, City of Espoo in Finland, and City of Dublin Corporation.