Agenda 21

Agenda 21 is an action plan of the United Nations (UN) related to sustainable development and was an outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It is a comprehensive blueprint of action to be taken globally, nationally, and locally by organizations of the UN, governments, and major groups in every area in which humans directly affect the environment.

Development of Agenda 21

The full text of Agenda 21 was revealed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), held in Rio de Janeiro on June 13, 1992, where 178 governments voted to adopt the program. The final text was the result of drafting, consultation, and negotiation, beginning in 1989 and culminating at the two-week conference. The number 21 refers to an agenda for the 21st Century.

Rio+5

In 1997, the General Assembly of the UN held a special session to appraise five years of progress on the implementation of Agenda 21 (Rio +5). The Assembly recognized progress as 'uneven' and identified key trends including increasing globalization, widening inequalities in income and a continued deterioration of the global environment. A new General Assembly Resolution (S-19/2) promised further action.

The Johannesburg Summit

The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit 2002) affirmed UN commitment to 'full implementation' of Agenda 21, alongside achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and other international agreements.

Implementation

The commission on Sustainable Development acts as a high level forum on sustainable development and has acted as preparatory committee for summits and sessions on the implementation of Agenda 21. The United Nations Division for Sustainable Development acts as the secretariat to the Commission and works 'within the context of' Agenda 21.

Implementation by member states remains essentially voluntary.

Structure and contents

There are 40 chapters in the Agenda 21, divided into four main sections.

Section I: Social and Economic Dimensions

which deals with combating poverty, especially for developing country, changing consumption patterns, promoting health, change population and sustainable settlement in decision making.

Section II: Conservation and Management of Resources for Development

Includes atmospheric protection, combating deforestation, protecting fragile environments, conservation of biological diversity (biodiversity), control of pollution and management of biotechnology and radioactive wastes.

Section III: Strengthening the Role of Major Groups

Includes the roles of children and youth, women, NGOs, local authorities, business and workers and strengthening the role of indigenous peoples, their community and farmers.

Section IV: Means of Implementation

Implementation includes science, technology transfer, education, international institutions and financial mechanisms.

Local Agenda 21

The implementation of Agenda 21 was intended to involve action at international, national, regional and local levels. Some national and state governments have legislated or advised that local authorities take steps to implement the plan locally, as recommended in Chapter 28 of the document. These programs are often known as 'Local Agenda 21' or 'LA21'.^[1] For example, in the Philippines, the plan is 'Philippines Agenda 21' (PA21).

Agenda 21 for culture

During the first World Public Meeting on Culture, held in Porto Alegre in 2002, it came up with the idea to draw up document guidelines for local cultural policies, a document comparable to what Agenda 21 meant in 1992 for the environment.^[2]

The Agenda 21 for culture is the first document with worldwide mission that advocates establishing the groundwork of an undertaking by cities and local governments for cultural development.

In the various subsections of the Agenda 21 document, the agenda will be carried out through a wide range of sub-programs, and various Acts which will be enacted starting in various G8 countries, etc.

Political opposition in the United States

In the United States, where Agenda 21 is sometimes viewed as a conspiracy or plot, a few state and local governments have considered or passed motions and legislation opposing Agenda 21. ^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

In the same vein, in 2012 the Republican National Committee (RNC) drafted a resolution opposing Agenda 21, calling it "a comprehensive plan of extreme environmentalism, social engineering, and global political control."^[8] The language for this resolution, and others introduced in various state houses around the country, was drafted by the John Birch Society as a "model resolution" to oppose Agenda 21.^[9]

See also

• Ecologically sustainable development
• EarthCheck
• Earth Summit
• Education for sustainable development
• ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA
• National Strategy for a Sustainable America
• Polytely
• Global Map

References

• Lenz, Ryan (Spring 2012). "Antigovernment Conspiracy Theorists Rail Against UN’s Agenda 21 Program". Intelligence Report (Southern Poverty Law Center) (145). http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2012/spring/behind-the-green-mask. 
• Strzelczyk, Scott; Rothschild, Richard (October 28, 2009). "UN Agenda 21 - Coming to a Neighborhood near You". American Thinker. http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/10/un_agenda_21_coming_to_a_neigh.html. 

External links

• Agenda 21 website of the United Nations.
• Agenda 21 text.