2. WHAT IS
AGENDA 21?
Agenda 21 is a non-binding action plan of the United Nations with
regard to sustainable development.
It is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment
and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
Comprehensive plan of action to be taken Globally, Nationally,
Locally by organizations of the United Nations system, Government
and major groups in every area in which human impacts on the
environment.
The “21” in Agenda 21 refers to the 21st century.
3. MAIN FOCUS
Social and Economic Dimensions
Conservation and Management Resources
for Development
Strengthening the Role of Major Groups
Means of Implementation
4. Social and
Economic
Dimensions
International cooperation to accelerate sustainable
development in developing countries and related domestic
policies.
Combating poverty
Changing consumption patterns
Demographic dynamics and sustainability
Protecting and promoting human health conditions
Promoting sustainable human settlement development
Integrating environment and development in decision-making
5. Conservation
and
Management
Resources for
Development
Protection of the atmosphere
Integrated approach to the planning and management of land
resources
Combating deforestation
Managing fragile ecosystems: combating desertification and drought
Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development
Conservation of biological diversity
Environmentally safe management of biotechnology
Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed and semi-
enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection, rational use and
development of their living resources
Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources
Environmentally safe management of toxic chemicals, including
prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products,
hazardous wastes, solid wastes and sewage-related issues
Safe and environmentally sound management of radioactive wastes
6. Strengthening
the Role of
MajorGroups
Global action for women towards sustainable and equitable
development
Children and youth in sustainable development
Recognizing and strengthening the role of indigenous people
and their communities
Strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations:
partners for sustainable development
Local authorities' initiatives in support of Agenda 21
Strengthening the role of workers and their trade unions
Strengthening the role of business and industry
Scientific and technological community
Strengthening the role of farmers
7. Means of
Implementation
Financial resources and mechanisms
Transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation
and capacity-building
Science for sustainable development
Promoting education, public awareness and training
National mechanisms and international cooperation for
capacity-building in developing countries
International institutional arrangements
International legal instruments and mechanisms
Information for decision-making
8. Tourism and
LocalAgenda
21
Tourism plays an important and often central role for many
local economies, particularly in developing countries.
Local Agenda 21 processes emphasize a cooperative approach
to identifying the community’s goals for tourism and creating
an action plan to achieve these goals.
The International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives
(ICLEI) estimates that more than three and a half thousand
local communities worldwide are now establishing or
implementing Local Agendas 21
Ensuring that tourism follows a sustainable path requires clear
leadership from local authorities and an efficient mechanism
that involves all of the stakeholders -the local private sector,
NGOs, citizens, and other players.
Local Agenda 21 is
Agenda 21 on a local
scale, a saying is "think
globally act locally"
9. “Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of
present tourists and host regions while protecting and
enhancing opportunities for the future.”
The development of sustainable tourism meets the following
requirements:
•Tourist resources - natural, historical, cultural and others - are
preserved in a way that allows them to be used in the future,
whilst benefiting today’s society
•The planning and management of tourist development are
conducted in a way that avoids triggering serious ecological or
socio-cultural problems in the region concerned
•The overall quality of the environment in the tourist region is
preserved and, if necessary, improved
•The level of tourist satisfaction should be maintained to
ensure that destinations continue to be attractive and retain
their commercial potential
•Tourism should largely benefit all members of society.
10. Why prepare a
LocalAgenda
21 for tourism?
Ensure that tourism planning and development address key
issues relating to the economic, social, and environmental
impact of tourism in the long and short term
Place tourism within the overall context of the sustainable
development and environmental management of the
community
Provide a framework for, and give legitimacy to, the
participation of a range of stakeholders in tourism and
representatives of the local community
Raise the profile of tourism and the tourism strategy within
the community
Strengthen the position of the authority as an organisation
that takes sustainable tourism seriously, with national and
international support
Help the destination to attract the attention of visitors and
tour operators keen to visit or work with sustainable
destinations.
11. IMPLEMENTATIONOF
LA21
These programs are often known as "Local Agenda 21" or
"LA21".For example, in the Philippines, the plan is "Philippines
Agenda 21" (PA21).
The group, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, formed
in 1990; today its members come from over 1,000 cities, towns,
and counties in 88 countries and is widely regarded as a
paragon of Agenda 21 implementation.
Europe turned out to be the continent where LA21 was best
accepted and most implemented.
In Sweden, for example, all local governments have
implemented a Local Agenda 21 initiative.