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AGENDA 21, CHAPTER 28

LOCAL AUTHORITIES' INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA 21










NOTE:     This is a final, advanced version of a chapter of Agenda 21, as adopted by
          the Plenary in Rio de Janeiro, on June 14, 1992.  This document will be
          further edited, translated into the official languages, and published by the
          United Nations for the General Assembly this autumn.





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                       PROGRAMME AREA

Basis for action

28.1.Because so many of the problems and solutions being 
addressed by Agenda 21 have their roots in local activities, 
the participation and cooperation of local authorities will be 
a determining factor in fulfilling its objectives.  Local 
authorities construct, operate and maintain economic, social 
and environmental infrastructure, oversee planning processes, 
establish local environmental policies and regulations, and 
assist in implementing national and subnational environmental 
policies.  As the level of governance closest to the people, 
they play a vital role in educating, mobilizing and responding 
to the public to promote sustainable development.

Objectives

28.2.  The following objectives are proposed for this programme area:

     (a)  By 1996, most local authorities in each country 
should have undertaken a consultative process with their 
populations and achieved a consensus on "a local Agenda 21" for 
the community;

     (b)  By 1993, the international community should have 
initiated a consultative process aimed at increasing 
cooperation between local authorities;

     (c)  By 1994, representatives of associations of cities 
and other local authorities should have increased levels of 
cooperation and coordination with the goal of enhancing the 
exchange of information and experience among local authorities;

     (d)  All local authorities in each country should be 
encouraged to implement and monitor programmes which aim at 
ensuring that women and youth are represented in 
decision-making, planning and implementation processes.

Activities

28.3.  Each local authority should enter into a dialogue with 
its citizens, local organizations and private enterprises and 
adopt "a local Agenda 21".  Through consultation and 
consensus-building, local authorities would learn from citizens 
and from local, civic, community, business and industrial 
organizations and acquire the information needed for 
formulating the best strategies.  The process of consultation 
would increase household awareness of sustainable development 
issues.  Local authority programmes, policies, laws and 
regulations to achieve Agenda 21 objectives would be assessed 
and modified, based on local programmes adopted.  Strategies 
could also be used in supporting proposals for local, national, 
regional and international funding.

28.4.  Partnerships should be fostered among relevant organs 
and organizations such as UNDP, the United Nations Centre for 
Human Settlements (Habitat) and UNEP, the World Bank, regional 
banks, the International Union of Local Authorities, the World 
Association of the Major Metropolises, Summit of Great Cities 
of the World, the United Towns Organization and other relevant 
partners, with a view to mobilizing increased international 
support for local authority programmes.  An important goal 
would be to support, extend and improve existing institutions 
working in the field of local authority capacity-building and 
local environment management.  For this purpose:

     (a)  Habitat and other relevant organs and organizations 
of the United Nations system are called upon to strengthen 
services in collecting information on strategies of local 
authorities, in particular for those that need international 
support;

     (b)  Periodic consultations involving both international 
partners and developing countries could review strategies and 
consider how such international support could best be 
mobilized.  Such a sectoral consultation would complement 
concurrent country-focused consultations, such as those taking 
place in consultative groups and round tables.

28.5.  Representatives of associations of local authorities are 
encouraged to establish processes to increase the exchange of 
information, experience and mutual technical assistance among 
local authorities.

Means of implementation

(a)  Financing and cost evaluation

28.6.  It is recommended that all parties reassess funding 
needs in this area.  The UNCED Secretariat has estimated the 
average total annual cost (1993-2000) for strengthening 
international secretariat services for implementing the 
activities in this chapter to be about $1 million on grant or 
concessional terms.  These are indicative and order of 
magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by 
governments.

(b)  Human resource development and capacity-building

28.7.  This programme should facilitate the capacity-building 
and training activities already contained in other chapters of 
Agenda 21.


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