ABSTRACT
For at least the past two decades, well before UNCED, local authorities have been involved in global cooperation in support of sustainable development. But UNCED and Agenda 21 provided an impetus to accelerate programmes of direct international cooperation involving municipalities as instruments for action. It had two important consequences for the roles of cities. First, UNCED increased the awareness of the potential role of cities in dealing with environmental issues. Second, it emphasized the direct link between action on environmental issues and international cooperation between cities.
