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AGENDA 21, CHAPTER 1


PREAMBLE

NOTE: This is a final, advanced version of a chapter of Agenda 21, as adopted by the Plenary 
in Rio de Janeiro, on June 14, 1992. This document will be further edited, translated into the
official languages, and published by the United Nations for the General Assembly this autumn.

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1.1. Humanity stands at a defining moment in history. We are confronted with a perpetuation 
of disparities between and within nations, a worsening of poverty, hunger, ill health and 
illiteracy, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems on which we depend for our 
well-being. However, integration of environment and development concerns and greater 
attention to them will lead to the fulfilment of basic needs, improved living standards for 
all, better protected and managed ecosystems and a safer, more prosperous future. No nation 
can achieve this on its own; but together we can - in a global partnership for sustainable 
development.

1.2. This global partnership must build on the premises of General Assembly resolution 44/228
of 22 December 1989, which was adopted when the nations of the world called for the United 
Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and on the acceptance of the need to take 
a balanced and integrated approach to environment and development questions.

1.3. Agenda 21 addresses the pressing problems of today and also aims at preparing the world 
for the challenges of the next century. It reflects a global consensus and political 
commitment at the highest level on development and environment cooperation. Its successful 
implementation is first and foremost the responsibility of Governments. 1/ National 
strategies, plans, policies and processes are crucial in achieving this. International 
cooperation should support and supplement such national efforts. In this context, the United 
Nations system has a key role to play. Other international, regional and subregional 
organizations are also called upon to contribute to this effort. The broadest public 
participation and the active involvement of the non-governmental organizations and other 
groups should also be encouraged.

1.4. The developmental and environmental objectives of Agenda 21 will require a substantial 
flow of new and additional financial resources to developing countries, in order to cover the 
incremental costs for the actions they have to undertake to deal with global environmental 
problems and to accelerate sustainable development. Financial resources are also required for 
strengthening the capacity of international institutions for the implementation of Agenda 21. 
An indicative order of magnitude assessment of costs is included in each of the programme 
areas. This assessment will need to be examined and refined by the relevant implementing 
agencies and organizations.

1.5. In the implementation of the relevant programme areas identified in Agenda 21, special at
tention should be given to the particular circumstances facing the economies in transition. 
It must also be recognized that these countries are facing unprecedented challenges in 
transforming their economies, in some cases in the midst of considerable social and political 
tension.

1.6. The programme areas that constitute Agenda 21 are described in terms of the basis for 
action, objectives, activities and means of implementation. Agenda 21 is a dynamic programme. 
It will be carried out by the various actors according to the different situations, capacities
and priorities of countries and in full respect of all the principles contained in the Rio 
Declaration on Environment and Development. It could evolve over time in the light of changing
needs and circumstances. This process marks the beginning of a new global partnership for 
sustainable development.

1.7. Throughout Agenda 21 the term "environmentally sound" means "environmentally safe and 
sound", in particular when applied to the terms "energy sources", "energy supplies", "energy 
systems", or "technology/technologies".


Notes

1/ When the term Governments is used, it will be deemed to include the European Economic 
Community within its areas of competence.A:21 Preamble (Ch. 1), Advance CopyPage 1




AGENDA 21, CHAPTER 2

SECTION I. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO ACCELERATE SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND 
RELATED DOMESTIC POLICIES



NOTE: This is a final, advanced version of a chapter of Agenda 21, as adopted by the Plenary 
in Rio de Janeiro, on June 14, 1992. This document will be further edited, translated into 
the official languages, and published by the United Nations for the General Assembly this 
autumn.



........../2


INTRODUCTION

2.1. In order to meet the challenges of environment and development, States decided to 
establish a new global partnership. This partnership commits all States to engage in a 
continuous and constructive dialogue, inspired by the need to achieve a more efficient and 
equitable world economy, keeping in view the increasing interdependence of the community of 
nations, and that sustainable development should become a priority item on the agenda of the 
international community. It is recognized that, for the success of this new partnership, it 
is important to overcome confrontation and to foster a climate of genuine cooperation and 
solidarity. It is equally important to strengthen national and international policies and 
multinational cooperation to adapt to the new realities.

2.2. Economic policies of individual countries and international economic relations both have
great relevance to sustainable development. The reactivation and acceleration of development 
requires both a dynamic and a supportive international economic environment and determined 
policies at the national level. It will be frustrated in the absence of either of these 
requirements. A supportive external economic environment is crucial. The development process 
will not gather momentum if the global economy lacks dynamism and stability and is beset with 
uncertainties. Neither will it gather momentum if the developing countries are weighted down 
by external indebtedness, if development finance is inadequate, if barriers restrict access 
to markets and if commodity prices and the terms of trade of developing countries remain 
depressed. The record of the 1980s was essentially negative on each of these counts and needs 
to be reversed. The policies and measures needed to create an international environment that 
is strongly supportive of national development efforts are thus vital. International 
cooperation in this area should be designed to complement and support - not to diminish or 
subsume - sound domestic economic policies, in both developed and developing countries, if 
global progress towards sustainable development is to be achieved.

2.3. The international economy should provide a supportive international climate for 
achieving environment and development goals by:

(a) Promoting sustainable development through trade liberalization;

(b) Making trade and environment mutually supportive;

(c) Providing adequate financial resources to developing countries and dealing with
international debt.


(d) Encouraging macroeconomic policies conducive to environment and development.

2.4. Governments recognize that there is a new global effort to relate the elements of the 
international economic system and mankind's need for a safe and stable natural environment. 
Therefore, it is the intent of Governments that consensus-building at the intersection of the 
environmental and trade and development areas will be ongoing in existing international 
forums, as well as in the domestic policy of each country.


PROGRAMME AREAS

A. Promoting sustainable development through trade

Basis for action

2.5. An open, equitable, secure, non-discriminatory and predictable multilateral trading 
system that is consistent with the goals of sustainable development and leads to the optimal 
distribution of global production in accordance with comparative advantage is of benefit to 
all trading partners. Moreover, improved market access for developing countries' exports in 
conjunction with sound macroeconomic and environmental policies would have a positive 
environmental impact and therefore make an important contribution towards sustainable 
development.

2.6. Experience has shown that sustainable development requires a commitment to sound 
economic policies and management, an effective and predictable public administration, the 
integration of environmental concerns into decision-making and progress towards democratic 
government, in the light of country-specific conditions, which allows for full participation 
of all parties concerned. These attributes are essential for the fulfilment of the policy 
directions and objectives listed below.

2.7. The commodity sector dominates the economies of many developing countries in terms of 
production, employment and export earnings. An important feature of the world commodity 
economy in the 1980s was the prevalence of very low and declining real prices for most 
commodities in international markets and a resulting substantial contraction in commodity 
export earnings for many producing countries. The ability of those countries to mobilize, 
through international trade, the resources needed to finance investments required for 
sustainable development may be impaired by this development and by tariff and non-tariff 
impediments, including tariff escalation, limiting their access to export markets. The 
removal of existing distortions in international trade is essential. In particular, the 
achievement of this objective requires that there be substantial and progressive reduction in 
the support and protection of agriculture - covering internal regimes, market access and 
export subsidies - as well as of industry and other sectors, in order to avoid inflicting 
large losses on the more efficient producers, especially in developing countries. Thus, 
inagriculture, industry and other sectors, there is scope for initiatives aimed at trade 
liberalization and at policies to make production more responsive to environment and 
development needs. Trade liberalization should therefore be pursued on a global basis across 
economic sectors so as to contribute to sustainable development.

2.8. The international trading environment has been affected by a number of developments that 
have created new challenges and opportunities and have made multilateral economic cooperation 
of even greater importance. World trade has continued to grow faster than world output in recent 
years. However, the expansion of world trade has been unevenly spread, and only a limited number 
of developing countries have been capable of achieving appreciable growth in their exports. 
Protectionist pressures and unilateral policy actions continue to endanger the functioning of an 
open multilateral trading system, affecting particularly the export interests of developing 
countries. Economic integration processes have intensified in recent years and should impart 
dynamism to global trade and enhance the trade and development possibilities for developing 
countries. In recent years, a growing number of these countries have adopted courageous policy 
reforms involving ambitious autonomous trade liberalization, while far-reaching reforms and 
profound restructuring processes are taking place in Central and Eastern European countries, 
paving the way for their integration into the world economy and the international trading system. 
Increased attention is being devoted to enhancing the role of enterprises and promoting 
competitive markets through adoption of competitive policies. The GSP has proved to be a useful 
trade policy instrument, although its objectives will have to be fulfilled, and trade facilitation 
strategies relating to electronic data interchange (EDI) have been effective in improving the 
trading efficiency of the public and private sectors. The interactions between environment 
policies and trade issues are manifold and have not yet been fully assessed. An early, balanced, 
comprehensive and successful outcome of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations would 
bring about further liberalization and expansion of world trade, enhance the trade and development 
possibilities of developing countries and provide greater security and predictability to the 
international trading system.

Objectives

2.9 In the years ahead, and taking into account the results of the Uruguay Round of multilateral 
trade negotiations, Governments should continue to strive to meet the following objectives:

(a) To promote an open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system that will 
enable all countries - in particular, the developing countries - to improve their economic 
structures and improve the standard of living of their populations through sustained economic 
development;

(b) To improve access to markets for exports of developing countries;

(c) To improve the functioning of commodity markets and achieve sound, compatible and consistent 
commodity policies at national and international levels with a view to optimizing the contribution 
of the commodity sector to sustainable development, taking into account environmental considerations;