Local Agenda 21 as a way to influence councils

In 1992, at the UN conference on environment and development ('the Earth Summit') in Rio, over 150 nations including the UK endorsed a 500-page document, Agenda 21, which set out how both developed and developing countries could work towards sustainable development.

Agenda 21 says that sustainable development requires humility to:

- Reduce our use of energy and raw materials and production of pollution and wastes;
- Protect fragile ecosystems;
- Share wealth, opportunities and responsibilities more fairly between North and South, between countries, and between different social groups within each country, with special emphasis on the needs and rights of the poor and disadvantaged.

The key to its subdivision, Local Agenda 21 - and what makes the latter more than just a collection of environmental initiatives at local level - is the ideal of local authorities actively involving the local community in working together towards sustainable development. Local authorities are encouraged to initiate and facilitate this through:

- Awareness raising and education;
- Consulting and involving the general public;
- Partnerships with groups within the local community;
- Measuring, monitoring and reporting on progress towards sustainability.

By the end of 1996, every local authority is due to report its progress on these fronts and to have prepared an action plan for sustainable development locally.

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