DEVELOPING LOCAL AGENDA 21: A CASE STUDY OF FIVE LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THE UK

It has become increasingly recognized that effective responses to the environmental challenge demand action by all sections of the community and that much of this action must occur at the local level and involve local government. Following the Earth Summit in Rio (1992), local authorities have become the focus of an attempt to create strategies for 'sustainable development' under the Local Agenda 21 initiative (LA21), endorsed by national governments. Central to this initiative was the proposition that local authorities should create a 'partnership' with representatives of local businesses, voluntary organizations and the local community to produce a consensus on sustainable development within their respective areas. This implies not only the need to raise awareness of sustainability issues, but also an acceptance that the formulation and implementation of effective sustainable development strategies requires the active involvement, support and co-operation of all sectors of society, including groups traditionally disadvantaged in the policy process.