Agenda 21
Agenda 21: An agenda for the 21st century
The Council is committed to sustainable development through its Local Agenda 21 process in which the Council continuously improves its services, policies and practices to contribute to a better quality of life for everyone now, and for future generations.
Agenda 21 is an Agenda for the 21st Century, which was a plan drawn up and agreed at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Over 120 nations signed up to Agenda 21, an agenda for sustainable development. Sustainable development considers the impact on our future, of the balance between environmental, economic and social issues of today's activities, policies and new developments. The Agenda 21 agreement covers a wide range of issues and gives responsibilities to different groups. This includes an obligation for local authorities all over the world to draw up and implement Local Agenda 21 plans.
Part of this Local Agenda 21 process is concerned with engaging the local community and raising awareness of issues relating to sustainability such as energy efficiency, recycling, transport and water and environmental conservation.
What does Agenda 21 cover?
Internationally, the Agenda 21 plan included a very wide range of subjects. The list below gives the main headings of the International Agenda 21 document, illustrating the topics and themes that it covers:
- Business and Industry
- Changing Consumption Patterns, Children and Youth, Combating Deforestation, Combating Desertification and Drought, Combating Poverty, Conservation of Biological Diversity, Conserving/Managing Resources, Creating Capacity
- Education, Training, Public Awareness
- Financing Sustainable Development
- Indigenous People, Information for Decision-making, International Co-operation, International Law
- Local Authorities
- Making Decisions for Sustainability, Management of Biotechnology, Managing Hazardous Waste and Sewage, Managing Land Sustainability, Managing Radioactive Waste, Means of Implementation
- Organising for Sustainability
- Partnerships with Non Government Organisations, Population and Sustainability, Protecting and managing Fresh Water, Protecting and Managing the Oceans, Protecting and Promoting Human Health, Protecting the Atmosphere
- Safer Use of Toxic Chemicals, Science for Sustainable Development, Scientists and Technologists, Social and Economic Dimensions, Strengthening Major Groups, Strengthening the Role of Farmers, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Human Settlements, Sustainable Mountain Development, Sustainable Rural Development
- Technology Transfer
- Women, Workers and Trade Unions
The UK plan sets out four main issues that need to be addressed, these are
- Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone, by strengthening major groups such as women, children, local authorities and trade unions.
- Effective protection of the environment - such as protecting the atmosphere, tackling deforestation, conserving biodiversity and managing radioactive waste.
- Prudent use of natural resources, for example consumption of fossil fuels (such as oil coal and gas) in energy production and transport.
- Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment by increasing education, technology and law.
For more information on the International Agenda 21 please visit the United Nations Environment Programme website
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