Local Agenda 21

What is Local Agenda 21?
The Role of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
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What is Local Agenda 21?

Local Agenda 21 (LA21) was put in place at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1990, international agreement was reached to reduce the levels of gases damaging the ozone layer. This came about after the publication of the Brundtland Report ‘Our Common Future’ in 1987 and, with other factors, provided the drive to hold the Earth Summit. The Summit introduced the concept of Sustainable Development to the world and set out an action plan to promote it. This would be done by a number of signed International Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Sustainable Forestry and Agenda 21.

Agenda 21 provides the basic framework for environmental action at international, national and local levels.

Local Authorities have been identified as the best-placed organisations to promote and co-ordinate this role. In Chapter 28, Agenda 21 asks each Council ‘to enter into a dialogue with it’s citizens, local organisations and private enterprises and adopt a 'Local Agenda 21'.

Local Agenda 21 Strategy (517K)

The Role of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council carries out a range of functions which influence the quality of life in Merthyr Tydfil. These include community regeneration, public health, education, housing, transport, economic development, social services, planning and waste collection among others. Through these functions, MTCBC is well-placed to carry out Local Agenda 21 activities, to co-ordinate actions at different levels, to build on best practice and to seek solutions to problems. Meeting the aims and challenge of Local Agenda 21 must be incorporated into everything MTCBC does.

However, while many opportunities exist for MTCBC in this area and the Council recognises the role it has to play, it cannot achieve the aims of Local Agenda 21 alone. Many other statutory agencies and public, private and voluntary sector organisations are also working towards Sustainable Development and improving the quality of life within the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil. It is essential that everyone living and working within the County Borough share the responsibility for embracing these issues. This will involve working in partnership to look at how choices and decisions are made in relation to Sustainable Development.