The essence of Agenda 21, which was concluded in June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, can be summarized by the term 'sustainability'.
In its forty chapters, Agenda 21 addresses all the major policy areas that influence environmentally compatible and sustainable development. The declaration, signed by more than 170 nations, represents an action plan for the 21st century.
The Agenda provides detailed action blueprints aimed at preventing any further deterioration in the current situation, achieving stepwise improvement and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. The fundamental approach adopted in Agenda 21 is the incorporation of environmental aspects into all other policy areas. The action plan applies not only to the industrialized countries but also to developing nations. It contains important statements on fighting poverty; population policies; trade and the environment; waste, chemical, climate and energy policy; agricultural policy and financial and technological cooperation between industrialized and developing nations.