INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO

CONVENTIONS & AGREEMENTS

Agenda 21 is a comprenhensive plan of action to be taken Globally, Nationally and Locally by organisations of the United Nations System, Government, and Major Groups in every area which human impacts on the environment.

Agenda 21, a programme of action reflecting a global consensus and political commitment was agreed to by 179 states at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in June’92. The global plan of action aimed at achieving a high quality environment and a healthy economy for all people of the world. Agenda 21 therefore is a guide to enable the Transition to more sustainable form of development and life styles. Agenda 21 embodying the conclusion and recommendations of the UNCED points to the role of information on the environmental impacts of consumer products for making “environmentally sound purchasing decisions”. Agenda 21 has emphasised the need to reduce wasteful consumptions and to promote more environmental - sound products. Agenda 21 states that countries also need to identify balanced patterns of consumption, develop policies that encourage the transfer of environmentally sound technologies. This could include legislation requiring, for example ecolabeling of products or environmental taxing systems.