Sustainable Development and Agenda 21
The Council is committed to the principles of sustainable development and Agenda 21.What is Agenda 21?
Agenda 21 was an Agenda for the 21st Century, which was a plan drawn up and agreed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Over 120 nations signed up to Agenda 21, an agenda for sustainable development.
Sustainable development considers the impact on our future, of the balance between environmental, economic and social issues of today's activities, policies and new developments. The Agenda 21 agreement covered a wide range of issues and gives responsibilities to different groups. This included an obligation for local councils all over the world to draw up and implement Local Agenda 21 plans. Part of this Local Agenda 21 process was concerned with engaging the local community and raising awareness of issues relating to sustainability such as energy efficiency, recycling, transport and water and environmental conservation.
What Agenda 21 covers Internationally
The Agenda 21 plan included a very wide range of subjects. The list below gives the main headings of the International Agenda 21 illustrating the topics and themes that it covers.
Social and Economic Dimensions
- International Co-operation
- Combating Poverty
- Changing Consumption Patterns
- Population and Sustainability
- Protecting and Promoting Human Health
- Sustainable Human Settlements, Making Decisions for Sustainability
Conserving/Managing Resources
- Protecting the Atmosphere
- Managing Land Sustainability
- Combating Deforestation
- Combating Desertification and Drought
- Sustainable Mountain Development
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Sustainable Rural Development
- Conservation of Biological Diversity
- Management of Biotechnology
- Protecting and Managing the Oceans
- Protecting and managing Fresh Water
- Safer Use of Toxic Chemicals
- Managing Hazardous Waste and Sewage
- Managing Radioactive Waste
Strengthening Major Groups
- Women
- Children and Youth
- Indigenous People
- Partnerships with Non Government Organisations
- Local Authorities
- Workers and Trade Unions
- Business and Industry
- Scientists and Technologists
- Strengthening the Role of Farmers
Means of Implementation
- Financing Sustainable Development
- Technology Transfer
- Science for Sustainable Development
- Education, Training, Public Awareness
- Creating Capacity
- Organising for Sustainability
- International Law
- Information for Decision-making
The UK plan set out four main issues that need to be addressed, these are:
- Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone, by strengthening major groups such as women, children, local authorities and trade unions.
- Effective protection of the environment - such as protecting the atmosphere, tackling deforestation, conserving biodiversity and managing radioactive waste.
- Prudent use of natural resources, for example consumption of fossil fuels (such as oil coal and gas) in energy production and transport.
- Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment by increasing education, technology and law.
The Council's Local Agenda 21
The council produced its LA21 Plan in 1997 and established various working groups made up of the Council, local environmental groups and interested individuals. The principles of Agenda 21 are now embodied into Solihull's Unitary Development Plan and its Community Strategy - a Place for People. Sustainable Development forms part of the remit of the Community Strategy's Place to Live theme group.
Read the Local Agenda 21 in Solihull
Contact Details
Telephone:0121 704 6874