What is agenda 21 or program 21? The concept of Program 21 It was gestured at the World Environment and Sustainable Development Conference organized by the United Nations Organization in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 1992, also known as Earth’s Summit. It was about supporting initiatives that build a sustainable development model for the 21st century, hence its name. In Ecology Verde, we explain a Summary about what is agenda 21 and what are its objectives.
Why the 21 or program 21 was created
The UN Agenda 21 was signed by 172 United Nations member countries. These countries are committed to Apply environmental, economic and social policies at the local level aimed at achieving sustainable development. Each region or each locality, meanwhile, develops its own local agenda 21, in which both citizens, companies and social organizations, with the aim of generating and agreeing to a sustainable policy program.
The UN Agenda 21 could be defined as a global strategy that is carried out locally and that implies all sectors of a community: social, cultural, economic and environmental. It is, in short, a commitment towards the improvement of the environment and, therefore, of the quality of life of the inhabitants of a community, municipality or region.
Next, we detail the principles and Objectives of Program 21 o Agenda 21, general and locally.
Objectives of the UN Agenda 21
In principle, agenda 21 or program 21 must contemplate three aspects: Environmental sustainability, social justice and economic balance. All of them depend on citizen participation. Agenda 21 is not possible without the participation of citizens, although effectively encouraged by public authorities and different public or private associations.
There are many themes that are addressed and the objectives of the program 21. Regarding The themes and objectives of the UN Agenda 21 more strictly environmental are, among others:
- The protection of the atmosphere.
- Planning and ordering land resources.
- The fight against deforestation.
- The fight against desertification and drought.
- The sustainable development of mountain areas.
- The promotion of rural agriculture and development.
- The conservation of biological diversity.
- The protection of the oceans and the seas, as well as the coastal areas.
- The quality and supply of fresh water resources.
- The rational management of toxic chemicals.
- Hazardous waste management whether or not they are radioactive.
- Solid waste management.
As we see, any community can launch its own local agenda whenever the participation of the social forces that compose it is achieved. Next, we will explain the methodology and principles of the basic local agenda 21 when implementing it in a specific territory.
Principles of local agenda 21
Now that we have already seen the objectives of the program 21, we comment that there are different procedures that are recommended at the time of Apply the principles of the most basic local agenda 21:
- Political commitment: Sign documents such as Aalborg’s commitment or create a local statement of sustainability that, as a symbolic act, be a political commitment to the objectives of the 21 or program 21.
- Citizen participation: Create instruments so that citizens can participate in the elaboration and drafting of documents.
- Diagnosis: Of the sustainability problems facing that particular community.
- Preparation of actions: Design the plan, objectives and strategies to improve diagnosed problems.
- Execution: Of the actions provided for in the previous plan.
- Assessment: and monitoring of the plan and if the objectives have been met.
This, written in paper, seems to be very easy. However, time and experience has shown us that in order for them to successfully fulfill the Objectives of the local agenda 21 There is necessary:
- That there is stable political support.
- That the designed plan has the necessary economic support.
- That there is an active citizen participation and collaboration.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is agenda 21: summary and objectiveswe recommend that you enter our environmental policy category.

