Local Agenda 21: Environmental Sustainability

In 1992, the leaders of more than 100 countries met at the Earth Summit, a United Nations conference in Rio de Janeiro. They discussed issues which affect the environment , such as pollution and climate change, and talked about possible solutions to these problems. At this conference, they adopted a...

In 1992, the leaders of more than 100 countries met at the Earth Summit, a United Nations conference in Rio de Janeiro. They discussed issues which affect the environment , such as pollution and climate change, and talked about possible solutions to these problems. At this conference, they adopted a global strategy for \'sustainable development\'. This means economic and social development which doesn\'t destroy the environment. One of the most important parts of their strategy is now called \'Local Agenda 21\'. The idea behind Local Agenda 21 (21 refers to the 21st century) is that if a lot of people do small things locally, then they can have a big impact nationally and an even bigger impact globally. For example, if one person decides to take the bus to work rather than drive a car, or always recycles their rubbish, it only makes a very small difference. However, if millions of people across the world do the same, the impact is huge. It\'s easy for every individual to do something small every day - at home, at school, or at work. Local Agenda 21 encourages a collective responsibility towards the environment. For it to be effective, everyone in a community needs to work together. Local councils need to provide good facilities , such as recycling and public transport, and people need to use them. If everyone plays their part in a small way, they can both improve their local area and help to save the global environment