Part 6 BREAK DOWN: The U.N., ICLEI & The China Solution

Series:
BREAK DOWN: The U.N., ICLEI & The China Solution Part 1
BREAK DOWN: The U.N., ICLEI & The China Solution Part 2
BREAK DOWN: The U.N., ICLEI & The China Solution Part 3
BREAK DOWN: The U.N., ICLEI & The China Solution Part 4
BREAK DOWN: The U.N., ICLEI & The China Solution Part 5
BREAK DOWN: The U.N., ICLEI & The China Solution Part 6

“ICLEI was founded in 1990 as the ‘International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.’ The organization was established when more than 200 local governments from 43 countries convened at our inaugural conference, the World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future, at the United Nations in New York. In 2003, the ‘International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’ became ‘ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability’ with a broader mandate to address all sustainability issues.

Activities specific to the Canadian region started in 1993 with the Ontario Municipal Energy Collaborative (OMEC) project,^[2] which was expanded into a non-profit, fee-for-service consulting unit called ICLEI Energy Services (IES) in 1995. In 2003, ICLEI’s global Executive Committee expanded the IES mandate to become ICLEI’s country office for Canada. As a country office, Canadian staff were able to provide a much broader level of support to Canadian ICLEI Members and more diversified sustainability initiatives.”^[3]

According to “Wikipedia,” (and the author of this report realizes that some information from “Wikipedia” may be questioned), ICLEI could be part of the United Nations and yet the United States “ICLEI” seems to have put some distance between itself and the UN.^[4]

“ICLEI was founded in September 1990 as the "International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives" when over 200 local governments from 43 countries met at the inaugural World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future at the United Nations in New York. ICLEI's World Secretariat headquarters were initially located in Toronto, Canada. ICLEI went on to create an international training center in Freiburg, Germany and has added further secretariats such as the Latin America and the Caribbean Secretariat in Brazil in 2001. ICLEI now has more than 20 offices around the world. The ICLEI World Secretariat is located in Bonn, Germany. 

The United States branch, ICLEI USA, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization of the international organization of the same name. The U.S. office opened formally in 1995. ICLEI USA's Executive Office is based in Denver, Colorado. U.S. local government members include cities, towns, and counties of all sizes, from New York City and Los Angeles County to Dubuque, Iowa, Austin, Texas, Oberlin, Ohio and Burlington, Vermont. 

In 2003, ICLEI's local government members voted to revise the organization's mission, charter and name to better reflect the current challenges local governments face, and the broader topic of sustainability. The "International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)" was renamed "ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability", with a broader mandate to address sustainability issues, not only environmental issues. For its 30th anniversary, ICLEI adopted a new logo (released officially in February 2021) which emphasizes the organization's connections in terms of its members, offices and elements (represented by the logo's colors: water, air and climate (blue), nature (green) and cities (yellow)).”^[5]

And yet is there any denying that ICLEI should be considered as part of the UN, particularly with the promotion, by ICLEI, of the UN Sustainable Development Goals? But how has ICLEI brought the UN information to the various countries, provinces, counties and municipalities? And how much influence and/or pressure has been placed on all levels of Canadian governments? To some, the end-game is quite clear. To others, not so much.

From health care,^[6] education,^[7] municipal planning^[8] it would seem ICLEI and the UN have a plan for everything. This is not to say some of what they have initiated isn’t something of interest but the question should be why are sovereign nations deciding to voluntarily^[9] give over their democracies to this foreign entity and plans?

Some main concerns are with the educational systems in Canada promoting foreign “sustainable development” instructing on “life-style” etc., as this could be an interference with certain cultures and political security. Hasn’t there been too much discrimination and divisiveness in Canada, as it seems to have even been promoted by the highest level of government?^[10]

Education

“4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.”^[11]

Part of the main concerns is the foreign interference in our municipalities. This has been accomplished through the planning process and yet it isn’t local planning – these unsubstantiated plans are coming from the United Nations, enforced through the SDGs, at the front and centre of ICLEI’s mandate and main goals. Section 11.3 of the 169 UN Targets should be very concerning, not only to local residents, but to the highest levels provincial, if not federal governments.

Municipal Planning

“11.3 By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.”^[12]

To be continued in Part 7 of BREAK DOWN: The U.N., ICLEI & The China Solution…

^[1] “11.3 By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.” UN SDG – 169 Targets

https://sdg.humanrights.dk/en/goals-and-targets

^[2] Premier Bob Rae, NDP - 1990 to 1995

^[3] https://icleicanada.org/about-iclei/

^[4] https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/7797/FAQ-ICLEI-Setting-RecordStraight-2?bidId=

^[5] ICLEI WIKIPEDIA

^[6] UN SDG – 169 Targets

3.8.1 Coverage of essential health services

3.8.2 Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income

3.b.1 Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme

3.b.2 Total net official development assistance to medical research and basic health sectors

3.c.1 Health worker density and distribution

3.d.1 International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparedness

^[7] UN SDG – 169 Targets

4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

4.1.2 Completion rate (primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education).

4.1.1 Proportion of children and young people: (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex

4.2.1 Proportion of children aged 24-59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being, by sex

4.2.2 Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sex

4.3.1 Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex

4.7.1 Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development, including gender equality and human rights, are mainstreamed at all levels in: (a) national education policies, (b) curricula, (c) teacher education and (d) student assessment

^[8] UN SDG – 169 Targets

11.1 By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.

11.2.1 Proportion of the population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

11.4.1 Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural, natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal)

11.c.1 Proportion of financial support to the least developed countries that is allocated to the construction and retrofitting of sustainable, resilient and resource-efficient buildings utilizing local materials

^[9] Canada’s Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Voluntary

National Review, 2018.

^[10] “The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa, who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing, do not represent the views of Canadians,” Trudeau said.

‘Fringe minority’ in truck convoy with ‘unacceptable views’ don’t represent Canadians: Trudeau

^[11] UN SDG – 169 Targets

^[12] UN SDG – 169 Targets