Agenda 21
 | This article needs to be updated. (June 2012) |
Agenda 21 is a non-binding and voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations (UN) related to sustainable development. It was a core outcome from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Succinctly, Agenda 21 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. The blueprint has been affirmed and/or slightly modified at subsequent UN conferences.
Structure and contents
Agenda 21 has 351 pages divided into 40 chapters, grouped 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.
Development and evolution 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 (1997)
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 (2002)
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.
Agenda 21 for culture (2002)
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.[1]
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.
Rio+20 (2012)
In 2012, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development the attending members reaffirmed their commitment to Agenda 21 in their outcome document, "The Future We Want".
Implementation of Agenda 21
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 and its adoption has varied.
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'.[2] For example, in the Philippines, the plan is 'Philippines Agenda 21' (PA21).
In other countries opposition to Agenda 21's ideas has surfaced to varied extents. In some cases, opposition has been legislated into regional governments limiting or forbidding the participation of local governments.
Countries with groups opposed to Agenda 21
 | This Section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: incomplete list of countries with groups that oppose Agenda 21. (June 2012) |
Political opposition in Australia
In Australia, the political group Act Australia has labeled Agenda 21 "a threat to freedom" and publishes a series of articles against the agenda.[3]
Political opposition in France
In France, some groups have come out to call Agenda 21 a sham.[4]
Political opposition in the United States
In the United States, some Tea Party linked activists view Agenda 21 as a conspiracy by the United Nations.[5] Several state and local governments have considered or passed motions and legislation opposing Agenda 21.[6][7][8][9][10] Nationally, 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."[11] 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.[12] Alabama became the first state to prohibit government participation in Agenda 21.[13]
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
- ^ Agenda 21 for culture
- ^ Manchester Metropolitan University
- ^ Act Australia
- ^ L'union Champagne Ardenne Picardie
- ^ Roanoke County and Maine
- ^ Tennessee House Joint Resolution 587
- ^ Kansas resolution HR 6032
- ^ Colfax City Council Resolution 12-2012
- ^ New Hampshire HB 1634
- ^ Roanoke County and Maine
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/11592-alabama-adopts-first-official-state-ban-on-un-agenda-21
- Lenz, Ryan (2012). "Antigovernment Conspiracy Theorists Rail Against UN's Agenda 21 Program". Intelligence Report (145). Southern Poverty Law Center.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - Strzelczyk, Scott; Rothschild, Richard (October 28, 2009). "UN Agenda 21 - Coming to a Neighborhood near You". American Thinker.
