Agenda 21, adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, reflects a global consensus and political commitment at the highest level on development and environment cooperation.  The Agenda deals with both the pressing problems of today and the need to prepare for the challenges of the next century.

      It recognizes that sustainable development is primarily the responsibility of governments, and this will require national strategies, plans and policies.  The efforts of nations need to be linked by international cooperation through such organizations as the United Nations.  The broadest public participation, and the active involvement of the non-governmental organizations and other groups should also be encouraged.

      The objectives of Agenda 21 require substantial assistance for developing countries. They need this additional support to cover the incremental costs of actions to deal with global environmental problems, and to accelerate sustainable development.  Money is also needed to allow international bodies to implement the recommendations of Agenda 21.

Philippine Agenda 21

       Philippine Agenda 21 is the nation's blueprint for sustainable development.  In concreting the vision, it describes a path for individuals, families, households and communities; an action plan for each ecosystem (coastal/marine, freshwater, upland, lowland, and urban); and across ecosystems in consideration of the interaction of the various lifescapes and landscapes found therein.  The path is grounded on respect and active advocacy for the empowerment of the various social groupings of society to manage the economy, critical resources, society and culture, politics and governance and in the arena of foreign relations. 

          Philippine Agenda 21 advocates a fundamental shift in development thinking and approach.  It departs from traditional conceptual frameworks that emphasize sector-based and macro concerns.  Philippine Agenda 21 promotes harmony and achieves sustainability by emphasizing.

• A scale of intervention that is primarily area-based.  The national and global policy environment builds upon and supports area-based initiatives.

• Integrated island development approaches where applicable.  This recognizes the archipelagic character of the Philippines which includes many small island provinces.

• People and integrity of nature at the center of development initiatives. This implies the strengthening of roles, relationships, and interactions between and among stakeholders in government, civil society, labor and business. Basic sectors have an important role to play in achieving equity and managing the ecosystems that sustain life.

          PA 21 envisions a better quality of life for all Filipinos through the development of a just, moral and creative, spiritual, economically vibrant, caring, diverse yet cohesive society characterized by appropriate productivity, participatory and democratic processes, and living in harmony and within the limits of the carrying capacity of nature and the integrity of creation.

          PA 21 was adopted on 26 September 1996, with the issuance of Memorandum Order No. 399 by then President Fidel V. Ramos which identified the roles of the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and each sector in the operationalization of PA 21.  The action agenda is based on the imperatives of the current national situation and emerging landscape for sustainable development.

          PA 21 is a dynamic document that will continue to evolve as new challenges and opportunities emerge, as the level of consensus continue to deepen in the Philippine society, as the Filipinos attempt to solidify the framework, as the government continue to refine the processes, and as the Filipinos strive to widen and enrich their understanding of each other to pave the way for new modes of collaboration.  

Local Agenda 21

            The PA 21 emphasizes the importance of localization as a strategy for its implementation.  It defines localization as a process that involves the formulation of local sustainable development action agenda, and the establishment of local SD councils to implement the said agenda.   PA 21 sees that localization will ensure that SD takes root in each region, province, city, and municipality.

            On the 25th day of January 1999, Memorandum Order No. 47 was issued  by the Office of the President to strengthen the operationalization and localization of PA 21 and to monitor its implementation. 

              A number of regions has already formulated their own Local Agenda 21, serving as the region's guide and springboard for the formulation by the local governments, regional line agencies, and all other entities of their respective Sustainable Development Agenda.   

Business Agenda 21

            In 1998, the Philippine Business for Environment (PBE) was commissioned to consolidate the various medium and long-term initiatives of industry associations into an integrated plan to be called Philippine Business Agenda 21.  This was under the project of the the Philippine government called Private Sector Participation in Managing the Environment (PRIME).

            Business Agenda 21 or BA21 was completed and released in May 2000.  It reflects the business sector’s response to Philippine Agenda 21 which provides the broad vision and implementing strategies and parameters for sustainable development in the country.   BA21 is a consolidated plan specifically developed by the business sector consistent with and in support of Philippine Agenda 21.

Related Resources

	The Earth Network for Sustainable Development The Earth Council is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) that was created in September 1992 to promote and advance the implementation of the Earth Summit agreements.
	Environmental Budgeting Local Environmental Budgeting is an instrument for environmental management. It's aim is to set up a system to coordinate the different environmental management instruments like indicators, impact assessments and quality targets. It can make a major contribution to implement the Local Agenda 21.
	Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) Network The role of the ESSD Network is to promote sustainable development within the World Bank by ensuring that actions taken today to promote development and reduce poverty do not result in environmental degradation or social exclusion tomorrow.
	International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development ICTSD was established in Geneva in September 1996 to contribute to a better understanding of development and environment concerns in the context of international trade. As an independent non-profit and non-governmental organization, ICTSD engages a broad range of actors in ongoing dialogue about trade and sustainable development.
	International Institute for Sustainable Development The IISD meets the challenge of integrating environmental stewardship, economic development and the well-being of all people by advancing policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic policy, climate change, measurement and indicators, and natural resource management to make development sustainable.
	Jetzt und Morgen “Jetzt und Morgen” is an independent research group focusing on issues of structural problems and the transformation of social and economical systems. We are committed to the concepts of sustainability and intergenerational equity as well as to holistic approaches.
	National Councils for Sustainable Development Since the 1992 Earth Summit, which had recommended the active participation of citizens along with governments in implementation of the Rio agreements, more than 70 countries have established some form of a multi-stakeholder participatory body, referred to here as National Councils for Sustainable Development (NCSDs), to promote and implement sustainable development at the national level.
	Sustainable Development International Educates the global audience by providing information and knowledge on all aspects of sustainable development and environmental issues through cross-media platforms.