Establishing national mechanisms for coordinating implementation of Agenda 21

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 indicates that states may wish to consider setting up a national coordination structure responsible for the follow-up of Agenda 21. Within this structure, which would benefit from the expertise of non-governmental organizations, submissions and other relevant information could be made to the UN.

At a conference in 1992, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) adopted a plan to include concrete measures to be taken at the parliamentary level, to ensure the continuation and strengthening of the UN's Agenda 21. A four-year IPU programme (1994-1997) to gather information on the steps taken by Parliaments to implement the Rio recommendations is underway.