The problem of sustainability represents at the end of this century a central role as to the analysis on the dimensions of development and the existing alternatives to enable equity and articulation between local and global issues. The social sector is where these challenges become more visible, thus representing a very stimulating arena to articulate different interests at stake. The democratic organization of local power increasingly assumes more space within an agenda that includes the necessary articulation not only between actors, but also between policies. Thus it is fundamental to create the conditions to include increasingly the environmental issues within the universe of local administration, and mainly as to the dynamics of social policies. The socio-environmental framework that characterizes contemporary societies indicates that the impact of humans on environment is causing more and more complex impacts, both quantitative as qualitative. The concept of sustainable development arises as an integrating idea to qualify the need to think development from another perspective of the established order. Within this context, participation becomes a necessary way to institutionalize more direct, flexible and transparent relations that help to recognize the rights of citizens, strengthen ties of solidarity in a context of social pressure and political polarization towards an active citizenship with a permanent questioning of the established order. Local power good practices, mainly by municipal administrations, indicate that granted political will, it is possible to make feasible governmental actions characterized by the adoption of the principles of environmental sustainability associated to outcomes in the sphere of social and economic development A municipality can be seen as a very stimulating locus to experiment an articulation of intersectorial policies of social development as it enlarges the field of action including concepts such as quality of life, practice of rights and expansion of the development of social capital.
Local power; citizenship; participation; environment; sustainable development