Agenda 21 is a comprehensive global action plan for socially, economically and environmentally sustainable development in the 21st century.

Agenda 21, endorsed by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (known as the “Earth Summit”) held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, constitutes an unprecedented commitment by the international community to an integrated framework of shared values, objectives, priorities and actions. Recognized as the most important output of the Rio Conference, Agenda 21 reflects the emerging global consensus over two decades on the concept of sustainability introduced by the 1972 Stockholm Conference, interlocking environment and development, as well as introducing a new understanding of human-centered sustainable development.

Agenda 21 also signifies “the beginning of a new global partnership for sustainable development”. This approach constitutes a milestone in separating Rio from its predecessors to acknowledge that the fundamental prerequisite for achieving global sustainable development is to involve all “major groups” and ensure broad public participation, with a view towards establishing effective partnerships at all levels, and moving towards sustainable local communities.

As indicated in the Preamble of this far-reaching document, “Agenda 21 addresses the pressing problems of today and also aims at preparing the world for the challenges of the next century. It reflects a global consensus and political commitment at the highest level on development and environment cooperation”.

Agenda 21 consists of 40 chapters encompassing the basis of action, objectives, activities and cost evaluation in relation to priority topics, grouped under the following four sections:

Section I. Social and economic dimensions: Covers Chapters 2-8 (Including pertinent chapters on demography, poverty and human settlements that prepared the ground for the subsequent UN conferences in Cairo-1994, Copenhagen-1995, and Istanbul-1996). Section II. Conservation and management of resources for development: Covers Chapters 9-22 (Including, inter alia, protection of the atmosphere, combating deforestation, managing fragile ecosystems, conservation of biological diversity, and protection of the marine environment.)

Section III. Strengthening the role of major groups: Covers Chapters 23-32 (Including women, culminating in the UN conference in Beijing-1995, children and youth, NGOs, local authorities, workers and trade unions, businesses and industry, and others.)

Section IV. Means of implementation: Covers Chapters 33-40 (Including, inter alia, financial resources and mechanisms, technology transfer, capacity-building, education, public awareness and training, and information for decision-making.)

It is the celebrated Chapter 28 of Agenda 21 that encourages local authorities to meet the challenge of Local Agenda 21. Four significant objectives with profound repercussions are stipulated in this Chapter:

As first objective, local authorities in each country are called upon to undertake a consultative process with their populations and achieve a consensus on a “Local Agenda 21” for their communities.

Secondly, the international community is urged to initiate a consultative process aimed at increasing the cooperation between local authorities.

Thirdly, the associations of local authorities are urged to increase levels of cooperation and coordination.

The fourth and final objective calls upon local authorities to augment the role of women and youth in the decision-making, planning and implementation processes. The target years given as deadlines to realize these objectives are already left behind. On the other hand, the imperative need to continuously nurture and augment the rather modest achievements in relation to these objectives will apparently perforate deep into the next century.

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