First steps to local sustainability

Local Agenda 21

The earth summit in 1992

In June 1992, the Worlds leaders met in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the future of the Planet. One of the global agreements they signed at this conference was called Agenda 21 plan to tackle the Worlds environmental problems well in to the 21st century.

In 2002 we are celebrating 10 years since the adoption of Agenda 21. Find out more about whats going on worldwide at the Earth Summit website.

Sustainable development

Agenda 21 is based in the principles of a process called sustainable development. Put simply, this means living today with tomorrow in mind. By linking economic, social and environmental solutions, Agenda 21 aims to conserve the environment, to ensure that the resources we rely on are used carefully and to improve the quality of life for us all.

From global to local

Following the Earth Summit, local authorities all over the World were encouraged to lead their communities in developing their own Local Agenda 21 (LA21) Plans.local versions of the global plan. Without the help of local people, Local Agenda 21 Plans cannot be written.

The national picture

The United Kingdoms National Strategy for Sustainable Development was published in 1999. Four key sustainability objectives have been adopted together with 15 Headline Indicators to monitor progress.

The Government runs a sustainable development information website and, if you want to know what's happening at a regional level visit the Our South West website.

Local Agenda 21 in Plymouth

Plymouth City Council agreed to a Local Agenda 21 Plan in 1993. Since then, over 8000 people have taken part in developing the document. Plymouths Local Agenda 21 Plan is called For Generations Ahead.

Working in partnership

Like many other plans and strategies in Plymouth, For Generations Ahead is based on partnerships between local people and local organisations. The final Plan was carefully reviewed to ensure that it could complement and support Plymouths most important city-wide strategy Pathfinder.

Sustainability principles from the Local Agenda 21 Plan have now been adopted by Plymouths Local Strategic Partnership, Plymouth 2020, and are being used to guide the development of Plymouths Community Strategy a successor to Pathfinder.

Care has also been taken to ensure that the Plan can support the Councils Best Value process (through a sustainability checklist) and the future sustainability of new proposals, strategies and projects (through sustainability appraisals).

Plymouth City Council's role in leading For Generations Ahead is set out in the Councils Environmental Policy and Action Plan, a five-year programme that is reviewed every year.

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