Agenda 21

What is Local Agenda 21?

Local Agenda 21 is people planning their own sustainable communities for the 21st century

• “Agenda 21” came from the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 when the world’s nations got together to discuss the Earth’s enviromental and development. “Agenda 21” is a list of measures to address issues like global warming, infant mortality, food and fuel crises, poverty and disease and people’s livelihoods. In short it is about quality of life
• “Local Agenda 21” is the part which can be done by local communities. It is about individuals, community groups and local government working together to improve their own quality of life.

The three main areas of concern are:

• Fairness and equal opportunities
• Economic security for all
• Protecting and enhancing the natural enviroment

All over the world local authorities (like Lewes District Council) have been asked to work with local people to make a local action plan for a sustainable community. These action plans are not about councils telling people what to do, they are about empowering people to get things done in their local communities, with the help and support of their local council

What is a sustainable community?

What we might to find in a sustainable community:

Care of the enviroment

• People use only what they need and minimise waste. Materials are reused.
• People can travel without damaging the enviroment and without a car.
• The richness of nature is valued and protected.

Health Care

• Health Services work to prevent illness as well as caring properly for sick people.
• Nobody lives in fear of violence, crime or persecution.
• We don't make ourself ill with our own pollution.
• Everyone can get good quality food, water, shelter and fuel they can afford

Community

• Local needs are met as far as possible.
• All parts of the community play a part in making decisions in the community.
• People enjoy the spaces and objects they use, value thei local distinctiveness and enjoy their spare time without harming the envrioment.
• Everyone has the chance of satisfying work, fairly paid work and unpaid work is recognised.
• Skills, knowledge and information are available to all.

A sustainable community meets today's needs without harming the chances of the next generations being able to meet theirs.

What can your community do?

• Neighbourhood groups are making a "wish list" of ways to improve their quality of life
• People are monitoring local pollution
• Young people have worked together to paint murals to cheer up subways
• Local people are setting up a forum for their small area so everybody can have a say
• Children have worked with adults to make safe routes to walk to school
• People have collected recyclables to pay for something else
• People are deciding how they will know when their neighbourhood has improved in some way
• Some neighbourhoods are producing their own community magazines and information leaflets

You do not have to do any of these things - it is your community. You decide what is important and use ideas from all the people around you.

What can the Council help with?

• Further training
• Help set up a local forum
• Provide links with groups in other countries
• Share news of other Local Agenda 21 work
• Credit Unions (banking facilities based on a person's character)
• Find a hall for your meetings
• Publicity across the district
• Producing a survey
• Producing information packs about your neighbourhood
• Information about LETS (Local Exchange and Training Systems)
• Grant applications
• Publicity to recruit volunteers