The Local Agenda 21 process was officially launched in June 2003 in an annual event called “The City in the Garden”, which included “the wall of hopes”, several information materials, debates, an organic fair, etc. A photography contest was also organized and a support line created.

The Local Agenda 21 Participative Forum, involving a wide variety of stakeholders, was created in September 2003. In its second meeting a vision for the future was discussed which lead to the definition of priorities (conclusions from a questionnaire to the population was also taken into consideration). The Forum meets regularly to discuss specific subjects and has proven to be a powerful tool in dealing with conflicts and promoting consensus.

In June 2004, focused and participative diagnosis and action plans (for the period 2004-2010) related to the priority issues (waste management, air quality, citizenship education and green areas) were presented publicly. In 2005 and 2006 complementary plans of action were prepared in order to define more clearly certain actions. These lead to concrete projects which were widely publicised as “Local Agenda 21 products” in order to reinforce the process.

Wide consensus was created around issues like waste management, including new regulatory measures. Recycling is increasing roughly 80% per year.

Public participation has become a part of decision-making in the City Council (e.g. planning processes, mobility and urbanism issues).

Negative points are related to difficulties in including the private sector in the process and the lack of technical coordination that could work directly with the mayor and assure the necessary transversality.

More information is available in www.agenda21sjm.org