Seventeenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

A 600 page document of 39 Chapters, Agenda 21 is regarded as an Action Plan for combating environmental problems and attaining development without compromising on the environment, which comprised of means ranging from change in consumption patterns to protection of the atmosphere. Despite a plethora of action plan chapters and measurable successes in implementation, Agenda 21 still hasn’t succeeded in many aspects. There hence arises an urgent need to examine the reasons for the failure to meet the aim of sustainable development as under Agenda 21, and put forward a way forward, imposing selectively, responsibilities on member nations for the purposes of the same. Such imposition should be selective and differentiated in nature, owing to demographic and developmental differences. This paper, through methodological triangulation and doctrinal studies, initially addresses the progress towards achievement of the goal of sustainable development under Agenda 21 through statistical evidence to indicate the slump in progress, and identification the reasons for such a slump. Further, the problems caused due to non-inclusion of factors such as energy and mining are highlighted, and provide an alternative to consider in such cases. The study further goes on to address overlooked environmental issues currently, and addresses how the same could be redressed through consideration of Agenda 21, or subsequent specific plans of action in the absence of related mechanisms in Agenda 21. For a way forward, the paper suggests mechanisms to mitigate of the loopholes in the framework, and adoption of related framework to improve the status quo.