21 Down to Earth Action Steps

Three major trends characterize progress on Agenda 21 implementation over the last 10 years. First, the concept of sustainable development prompted a shift from focusing on single issues toward appreciating complex interactions between a wide range of environmental and developmental factors. Third, Agenda 21 demands place-based scientific and technical knowledge, which has resulted in increasing involvement of research-based institutions such as universities and private enterprises Juma, At the present time at least 85 countries have developed national strategies for implementing Agenda 21 UN, a.

Some common strategies include the development of the following:. In a number of developing countries sustainable development principles have been introduced in existing national frameworks, such as conservation strategies, environmental plans, national vision statements, and national Agenda 21 initiatives UN, a.

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The role of local governments is critical in educating, mobilizing, and responding to the public Lake, Chapter 28 of Agenda 21 focuses on the local government role. The first survey was in , the second in UN, b. Between and the Local Agenda 21 LA21 incentive grants project provided grants, training, and program support to LA21 planning initiatives in 18 cities in Africa, Latin America, and Europe.

ICLEI, in partnership with the Open Society Institute, designed the project to learn how open societies can be fostered and how quality of life can be improved. The African Sustainable Cities Network ASCN aims to build the capacity of local governments to institute participatory environmental planning as an integrated function of public administration. The ASCN also focuses on capacity building and exchanges between these cities and between African and European cities. The European sustainable cities and towns campaign unites and assists local governments in engaging in LA21 activities.

The campaign aims to promote sustainable development at the local level by strengthening partnerships. To date, over 1, local and regional governments from 38 European countries have signed the charter. The campaign is the largest European initiative for LA Between and the Local Agenda 21 charters project aimed to establish partnerships between local governments in developed and developing countries to assist each other in the implementation of their LA21 action plans.

Six African countries participated in the project: Support was provided through regional training and technical assistance programs and the creation of a global monitoring and reporting system. Between local governments the assistance programs were linked through sustainable development agreements or Local Agenda 21 charters. By the end of nearly 6, local governments in over countries were involved in LA21 Table Of these local governments 44 percent had active programs and the remainder had committed to the process.

In the four years between surveys the number of LA21 activities more than tripled driven primarily by activities in Europe , and the number of participating countries nearly doubled. LA21 initiatives often have evolved at the local level in the absence of a national campaign. Indeed, 59 percent of the initiatives progressed without national-level impetus. Progress can also be measured by an increase in the number of LA21 processes that have moved from the vision statement stage into the action planning stage—from 38 percent in to 61 percent in Table Most of these have focused on the environment Figure Prominent environmental issues addressed include air quality and water resources management Table Over the next three to five years the prominence of natural resources management issues will increase Table Companies, especially multinational corporations, dominate the transformation of natural resources into products and services.

Increasingly they find it in their own interests to meet sustainable development goals. Level of community participation a. Average document time frame b. The goals of Agenda 21 have met with limited success UN, a. According to the U. The concept of sustainable development integrates environment and development in the long term Box The current fragmented approaches to sustainable development arise from policies and programs at national and international levels that often are short-term and inadequately merge environmental and developmental considerations UN, a.

Commonly, short-term considerations are placed above the long-term use of natural resources, and policies are often compartmentalized. Adapted from UN b. Unsustainable consumption and production is rooted in value systems that drive how natural resources are used. Such value systems have proven slow to adapt.

Overseas development assistance has declined over the last decade, and debt burdens limit the opportunities of many developing countries to address sustainability issues. Additionally, private-sector investment has been volatile and focused on certain countries and sectors. Challenges to implementation of Agenda 21 objectives have also been identified at the local level UN, b , and financial barriers are the largest impediment there. Some private enterprises have demonstrated their commitment to sustainable development by signing on to the U.

The compact calls on enterprises to adopt nine universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, and the environment. Several hundred companies from all over the world have pledged their support to the compact and are implementing the nine principles. In addition, enterprises are securing certification of environmental management systems under the ISO standard of the International Organization for Standardization or the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. Rising stakeholder participation has led to initiatives including the global reporting initiative, which is developing a common framework for voluntary reporting on the economic, environmental, and social aspects of organization-level activities, products, and services.

The last of these challenges reflects the urgent need for capacity-building to strengthen decision-making on economic, social, and environmental development in an integrated, place-based manner. Successful implementation of Agenda 21 entails two kinds of transition. First, there remains a need to convert international obligations into national policy. Existing knowledge can also be applied in innovative ways. The need to reorient technology to respond to sustainability challenges was noted in Our Common Future. First, the capacity for technological innovation needs to be greatly enhanced in developing countries so that they can respond more effectively to the challenges of sustainable development.

Second, the orientation of technology development must be changed to pay greater attention to environmental factors WCED, The relationship between environment and development means that sustainable development requires scientific input to decision-making as well as the application of technologies. Since , science has been central to addressing Agenda 21 challenges in such areas as climate change, global warming, ozone depletion, water purity, land integrity, and air quality. Efforts to implement Agenda 21 occur at continental, regional, national, and local levels.

At the continental level the most ambitious activity is the establishment of the African Union, successor to the Organization of African Unity set up in Established in , the African Union aims to enhance economic, political, and social integration and development of Africa; promote democracy; and resolve conflicts NEPAD, Currently, the African Union is strengthening 14 regional integration communities to transform them into building blocks for economic coordination in Africa.

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It recognizes that sustainability cannot be achieved until poverty is reduced, and living conditions are improved for the majority of the population. The NEPAD outlines the responsibility of African leaders to articulate national and regional priorities and to manage development by engaging people in their own development. The Southern African Development Community SADC , an intergovernmental group of 14 countries, is one example of a regional organization committed to equitable economic integration and sustainable development Figure Key issues addressed in the report are.

Land-tenure issues, diminishing grazing lands, and land degradation have hindered progress on Agenda 21 implementation. However, several SADC countries have developed environmental management programs aimed at protecting and rehabilitating land resources. Rapid population growth and increased demand for food and energy resources are depleting forests. Groups have been organized to promote sustainable forestry management.

Recurrent droughts, increasing water demands, and water pollution impede the imple. SADC water resources ministers have adopted a regional approach to integrate water resources development and management. This initiative has prevented conflicts over shared waters and improved access to potable water. SADC countries have also implemented reforms aimed at sustainable management of water resources.

Tourism and population pressure in coastal areas have thwarted implementation of Agenda Critical to future implementation will be technology transfer, access to research findings and other information, and capacity-building for policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks. CILSS has launched the Sahel 21 initiative that encourages Sahelians to define the future of development in their region.

Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa have encountered difficulties in gathering and analyzing national and sub-na-. Thus, national-level reporting on these matters is uneven. At the national level only South Africa has formally adopted a national Agenda 21 strategy UN, b. For example, laws have been promulgated on environmental impact assessment; sustainable use of water, forests, and biodiversity; and management of solid wastes. In addition, over 95 percent of African countries have ratified the Rio conventions—the Convention on Biological Diversity, the U. Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the U.

At the local level there are LA21 activities in 28 African countries Table The following challenges were identified at the consultations Dorm-Adzobu, Inappropriate institutional frameworks in most countries, particularly a lack of coordination among ministries and across sectors;. We often cannot choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we react to what happens. They also help us perform better, broaden our perception, increase our resilience and improve our physical health. But so often we compare a negative view of ourselves with an unrealistic view of other people.

Action #1: Perform a Clutter Bust (10-45 minutes)

Learning to accept ourselves, warts and all, and being kinder to ourselves when things go wrong increases our enjoyment of life, our resilience and our wellbeing. It also helps us accept others as they are.

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People who have meaning and purpose in their lives are happier, feel more in control and get more out of what they do. They also experience less stress, anxiety and depression. But where do we find meaning and purpose? It might come from doing a job that makes a difference, our religious or spiritual beliefs, or our family. The answers vary for each of us but they all involve being connected to something bigger than ourselves.

For more about the 10 keys to happier living, check out the 10 keys guidebook and take the happy habits quiz. Do things for others Caring about others is fundamental to our happiness. Action ideas Do three extra acts of kindness today. Offer to help, give away your change, pay a compliment, or make someone smile. Give them a call or offer your support. Let them know you care. Connect with people Our relationships with other people are the most important thing for our happiness. Action ideas Make more time for the people who matter.

Chat with a loved one or friend, call your parents or play with the kids. Make three extra connections today.

Action # 2: Practice Gratitude

Be present and attentive, and don't just wait for your chance to speak. Value someone's right to speak, even if you do not agree with what they're saying. Never turn your back on people or interrupt them while they're talking. Respect people as you would like to be respected. Keep the big picture in mind. Try to not to get too tangled up in the details. Remind yourself that things will work out one way or another, and that even the worst of situations will eventually pass.

Don't give up on the important things, but try to recognize the details that are merely distracting you. Lead a simple life. Separate your needs from your wants, and try to focus on the things that are truly important. Consume only what you need, and be mindful of how much waste you produce. Live within your means, whatever that means for you.

Buy things for their practical function, not for how they look or how they will make you look. Go through your possessions, and sell or donate the things that you don't use or need. Stop holding onto things just because they're "yours. Live in accordance with your values. Connect with the people, the places, and the causes that are important to you.

Care about the planet, the future, and the people in your life. Learn to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle , and think seriously about your impact.

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Be grateful for what you have. Appreciate how wonderfully lucky you are to be alive, breathing, and growing in this moment. Show your gratitude for the people who make your life worth living: Accept your life for what it is. Don't give up on your dreams and aspirations — but do not try to make a fantasy a reality.

Cultivate a gratitude practice. Make a habit of thanking people and complimenting people.

Ten easy steps to happier living

Every morning, write down five things for which you are grateful. Be patient and thoughtful. Accept the things that you cannot change, and work to thoughtfully change the things that you cannot accept. Be aware of your surroundings, particularly the way that your behavior affects the way that other people feel. Don't be afraid to wait, or to go with the flow. Tell them how they're making you feel and ask them to stop putting you down.

If they don't stop after you've talked to them about this, tell them you don't want to be friends anymore.



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