What is Agenda 21 ?

Humanity stands at a defining moment in history; with worsening poverty, hunger, ill health, illiteracy, and the continuing deterioration of ecosystems on which we depend for our well-being. If we do not tackle these issues, we all face higher and higher levels of human suffering and damage to the world we live in.

Agenda 21 is a blueprint for sustainable development into the 21st Century aimed at providing a high quality environment and healthy economy for all the peoples of the world. It provides a guide for individuals, businesses and authorities in making choices for less environmentally destructive developments, and ultimately a challenge to translate understanding into action in developing sustainable lifestyles. The alternative to this action is unacceptable levels of human suffering and environmental damage.

Agenda 21 was one of five documents signed by 179 Heads of State and Government during the "Earth Summit" (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)) at Rio in 1992. They committed to fulfilling basic human needs, improving living standards for all and better protecting and managing ecosystems.

No single person or nation can secure a sustainable future alone; but together in a partnership we can. Agenda 21 requires national strategies, plans and policies together with broad public participation, and the active involvement of the non-governmental organizations and other groups. It requires that local authorities work with local communities involved in sustainable development initiatives.

Agenda 21 is a huge document, with 40 chapters in 4 sections. It deals with:

1. Social and economic dimensions;- developing countries; poverty; consumption patterns; population; health; human settlements; integrating environment and development.

2. Conservation and management of resources:- atmosphere; land; forests; deserts; mountains; agriculture; biodiversity; biotechnology; oceans; fresh water; toxic chemicals; hazardous radioactive and solid waste and sewage.

3. Strengthening the role of major groups:- women; children and youth; indigenous peoples; non-governmental organisations; local authorities; workers; business and industry; farmers; scientists and technologists.

4. Means of implementation:- finance; technology transfer; science; education; capacity-building; international institutions; legal measures; information.

Agenda 21 identifies sustainable development as a way to reverse both poverty and environmental degradation. It recognises the need to give people improved access to the resources they need to live sustainably, including information and skills.