This action plan consists of 40 chapters explaining the actions needed to be implemented towards the sustainable development.
A popular definition for Sustainable Development is:
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs”
The plan seeks international cooperation to accelerate sustainable development in developing countries and related domestic policies.
The objectives encompasses SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS and CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT
This include the promotion of economic growth in developing countries that is both sustained and sustainable and direct action in eradicating poverty by strengthening employment and income-generating programmes; meeting primary health care needs, particularly in rural areas, control of communicable diseases, protecting vulnerable groups,meeting the urban health challenge,reducing health risks from environmental pollution and hazards and providing adequate shelter for all; whilst promoting sustainable land-use planning and management, and promoting the integrated provision of environmental infrastructure: water, sanitation, drainage and solid-waste management.
The conservation of land and bio-diversity resources, protection of the atmosphere and water bodies and water resources, promotion of sustainable agriculture and environmentally sound toxic and hazardous waste disposal are part of the sustainable development objectives of the plan.
The last objective of the plan is to empower the role of workers, women, youths, non-profit and non-governmental organizations and local authorities in carrying out the implementation of the plan.
Local Agenda 21 (L A 21) is a programme to forge partnership between the local authorities, private sector and local communities in every country to work together, to plan and care for their surroundings towards sustainable development.
L A 21 is a programme for the civil society, private sectors and the local authority to Work, Plan and Manage their Environment together towards a Sustainable Development.
Malaysia kicked off the L A 21 project in Miri, Petaling Jaya, Kerian and Kuantan in the initial phase.
Besides recycling activities and park celebrations, not much information is available in the public domain on the progress of these projects after 2004.
From occasional reports in the newspapers, Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya are still implementing LA 21 but the extend of the success is not known.
The latest news from the KL City Hall is the signing of a memorandum of understanding between City Hall and several parties in the private sector to undertake the composting of kitchen wastes from hotels.
CETDEM, (Centre of Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia) with the support of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, City Council of Petaling Jaya and sponsorship by a Danish agency has provided home composting guidance to selected households in the city. In addition to that, regular composting courses are held to interested city folks who are keen to contribute to save the environment.
The local authorities should be more proactive in the dissemination of its programme of activities in order to get the participation of city folks. In this way, more people will realise that to be 'green' is to be politically correct as the whole world is turning 'green'. Malaysia will not be left behind in the green revolution.
All is not lost, however, as the architects and engineers have now started to talk about environmental friendly and sustainable projects. The government too has started to give incentives but as there is not much publicity, the average man in the street is still oblivious of these concerns.
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