Flogging a dead horse or the nine lives of cats?

Abstract

Local Agenda 21 (LA21) was first mentioned in chapter 28 of Agenda 21, which was adopted at the 1992 Rio Conference. The ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) adopted a working definition of the Local Agenda 21 process: “Local Agenda 21 is a participatory, multi-sectoral process to achieve the goals of Agenda 21at the local level through the preparation and implementation of a long-term, strategic action plan that addresses priority local sustainable development concerns.” The main thrust of LA21 was that most environmental problems could be traced back to local communities and that local governments could play an important role in implementing sustainable development programmes and mobilising community support. “As the level of governance closest to the people, [local authorities] play a vital role in educating, mobilizing and responding to the public to promote sustainable development.” Chapter 28, Agenda 21 (1992).