Q. With reference to ‘Agenda 21’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:

  1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development.
  2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

  • 1 only
  • 2 only
  • Both 1 and 2
  • Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only

Agenda-21
  • Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.
  • Agenda 21  is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
  • It is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development.
    • The full implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Commitments to the Rio principles, were strongly reaffirmed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 26 August to 4 September 2002.
  • An agenda for the twenty-first century is denoted by the number 21.
  • Implementation
    • The Commission on Sustainable Development serves as a high-level forum on sustainable development and has served as a planning body for summits and sessions on putting Agenda 21 into action.
    • The Commission’s secretariat is the UN Division for Sustainable Development, which operates “within the framework of” Agenda 21.
    • Its adoption has varied, and member state implementation is still discretionary.
    • Action at the world, national, regional, and local levels were meant to be a part of the implementation of Agenda 21.
    • Local level: Some national and state governments have passed laws or given guidance directing local governments to carry out the plan locally, as suggested in Chapter 28 of the document. These initiatives are frequently referred to as “Local Agenda 21” or “LA21.”
    • Regional Levels: The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development tracks and assesses the development of Agenda 21 in each country, and it publishes these reports online for the general public to view.
    • Over 6400 local governments were identified as participating in Local Agenda 21 initiatives in 113 countries by the Rio+10 report, a more than three-fold growth in less than five years. 5120 local governments, or 80% of them, were found in Europe.
    • There has been a noticeable rise in the number of nations with active LA21 procedures, with some even having multiple processes going on at once.
Agenda 21